Keith's apartment was the second story of a mixed commercial/residential brick building on a moderately busy part of town. The town wasn't big. The strip he lived on sat mostly empty past eight, unless there was some significant event taking place. Most of the foot traffic came during the day....

He continued to lick his ice cream. He couldn't just move away. That would be awkward. But he gave no sign that he wanted to chat. He hoped she would get the message and sit someplace else on her own accord. But she stayed put. Kept glancing over. Keith tried...

The man drove without the radio. Years up in space will do that to ya. Or at least did to him. Enjoyed the silence. Not really silent since the car made noise. The engine's hum. The tires on the asphalt. But no music needed.

It was his day off. He liked...

Imogen Howe was exiting the zone. For five hours she had driven nonstop. The same ten songs playing on repeat. She had felt like a machine the entire time. There was nothing that was going to stop her. She passed by each car smoothly. Hit no potholes. Hardly touched the...

Sarah was in The Zone. This is what she called the experience of her feeling like she had taken over the person she was controlling. Chases didn't happen like in the old days. Back then the chasers were literally in the car. Or on foot. Following.

Now she simply used a...

Sometimes when they worked late, Carl would make  decaf   coffee in the evening.

Sarah would laugh, scoff. "Why even drink coffee if it has no caffeine?"

Carl and Todd would grin at each other. She would never understand. To Todd, drinking coffee in the evening was sort of like a cheat. But...

About two hours into his shift... well his day off, the manager came in. Patted Dale on the back.

"Dale, you're a good kid."

"Thanks, sir."

"You got a moment?"

"Sure, sir."

He followed the manager into another room. Out of ear from the grill room.

"You know how tough the economy's been." Dale nodded. "And...

When he awoke it was almost 11. 10:40 to be exact. He knew he wouldn't get out of bed right away. So by the time he got to eating breakfast it would already be noon. This morning he didn't want to check his phone like usual. His thoughts were consumed...

She was thinking about Chip from the gas station. He was an older man. Not death bed old, but old enough to be... well older than her dad. He had a walking stick. She didn't see him stand up and walk, but she could imagine him walking with a limp.

She...

She was at a  gas station called Chip's. Out in the middle of nowhere with nothing else around.

Imogen Howe was pleasantly surprised to fill her car up at gas station that didn't belong to a franchise. She couldn't remember the last time she used any station other than Marathon,...