"I didn't know you smoked," the guy said.

She could've admitted that this was her first time. People either made a big deal about how they were smoking their first cigarette, or lied that they had smoked before.

She took the second path. Not saying it explicitly, but instead brushing it off.

She...

Yes, she thought.

Happened all the time. Especially behind the counter as a barista. So many customers came in eager with 'unique' ideas. And almost all of them would be uninteresting. In those cases she always felt like suzy described.

"I get it," Imogen said with a smiile.

It looked like the lady...

The thought of somebody knowing his location knawed at him. This loss in anonymoty ruined him any enjoyment of the Caspian Sea. His mind detached from the body and wandered into the Muscle Bound skull heading east in the large SUV.

He wondered why Jack was driving this far east? Why...

The thought that had been swimming inside of the  Blue Man 's mind now swam faster. So fast that it reached land. Escaped the mind of the Blue Man. The thought had now become a reality. The thought beamed across physical space. Exited  Italy yyyyyyyy, flew across the air of...

Oakland   California .
Oakland California.

Oakland. He said it again and again. Paid attention to the way it felt when it rolled off his tongue.

Oakland California.

How long had he been here now? A month now. Less actually. But the past few weeks had replaced the rest of his life before. The only...

The facial hair he drew grew into a full beard with side chops. His whole face covered in black sharpie. he couldn't tell if it looked real or not. But he didn't need a mirror to know. It looked fake as fuck.

He went overboard once he heard the bristle sound...

"Wagwan Capo. I know you the boss. But. I'm just sayin. Meeting at a public place like this? Ting doesn't sound so safe."

Chubbs smirked at Baka. Shook his head. "Nothing happening here. Just linking up before we talk more business." Chubbs made a sign with his right hand and a...

Baka looked at Dave. Dave nodded.

No words were said. But Keith had a sense of what they were doing.

"I'll be right back." dave said quiet. He slid out the door like a phantom.

Baka didn't kiss his teeth for once. This surprised Keith. He was used to Baka always being upset...

Her hand still held the  gun but she felt a calm. her fingers were relaxed. Strange.

Her mind though was racing. What the hell did Keith mean.  Imogen Howe worried that she may never see him again. Who was that man. This Baka. That brute. She had never imagined Keith hanging...

"Keith?"

She didn't even say "is that you?". She knew right away. He could tell her voice right away.

"What are you doing here?" he asked?

"I had to come back. I'm..." she paused, "I'm actually not staying here. Staying down at the Ritz actually. But I like to drive here every other...