Fred Aiken Writing

Are you interested in buying?

Not in the slightest, I said.

Then why are you here?

I thought you could answer that for me.

The man sitting in the car shifts uncomfortably in his seat. He looks over his shoulder, then back at me. You’re not a cop, are you?

I don’t respond. Instead I light a cigarette, but don’t smoke it.

Hey, I’m leaving if you don’t confirm or deny your status in relation to local PD.

…

I’ll shoot you.

I forget to respond. The man shoots me. It stings. But when I regain consciousness, I remember everything.