Death; Juxtaposed

By George W. Parker

Mary and Al Martin’s marriage is failing. Mary is a successful lawyer; she is looking outside the marriage for her answers. Al, a not so successful graphic designer, is looking in the past; searching for his personal validation. And then the storm arrives.

Long before the disaster of Katrina an estimated category 5 hurricane struck Galveston, Texas in 1900. Its thirty-foot wave surge and 100mph winds leveled the city and killed over eight thousand people. That is only part of the story.

“The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of heav'n.”
- John Milton, Paradise Lost

• Language: English
• Publisher: George W. Parker
• Release date: Jan 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301650972

George W. Parker

George W. Parker has published an intertextual cycle of American genre novels: Death; Juxtaposed, The Letters, The Krew, Conversations at Night, and Vanishing Trick. Additionally he has authored The Boy in the Box and The Law the second and third novels in the Marvin Davis PI series along with Choice Cut, a zombie/noir novel. He lives in Austin and is currently working on Chop Shop, a zombie/noir follow up novel to Choice Cut. You can purchase paperback editions at Amazon.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Just leave him, Mark said setting his half empty glass down on the bar of the Stoneleigh P. It's easy.

He turned slightly in his chair toward Mary. You just pack a bag and as you walk out the door you stop, turn around and say, 'Al, I don't love you anymore. I'm moving in with Mark Edwards. You know Mark, the tall, good looking guy at the office.' Then you leave. It's as easy as that. Mark tucked his elbows in at his sides, raised his hands, palms up, and shrugged his shoulders emphasizing the point. He turned back to the bar and picked up his drink.

Mary was thirty-six, two years older than Mark. She sat sideways in her chair staring at him. Her bright green eyes blazed. Small framed and very attractive, her light brown hair was cut short and parted on the left side.

It's not as easy as that and you know it. This is not some college live-in compatibility test I've been taking. We're talking about ten years of marriage. You don't just pack a bag and tell someone to take a hike.

Sure you do, Mark said turning to face her. That's exactly the way you do it. People do it all the time.

Well I'm not one of them, Mary snapped back. She picked up her margarita from the counter and took a long drink.

Mark watched, allowing a little time for her to cool down. He was a tall man with dark brown eyes. His short black hair was swept back from his forehead giving him a formidable look. It went well with his up and coming reputation at the law firm where he and Mary worked.

He put his right hand on Mary's knee and asked, Do you love Alfred Martin?

Mary looked down at the floor shaking her head, I don't know.

Mark moved his hand to her face and touched her cheek. Mary slowly brought her eyes up to meet his. Do you love me? he asked. She smiled slightly and nodded her head.

Then everything will work itself out, won't it?

Mary nodded again.

So I won't push anything faster than it can go, alright? He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. We need to get on out of here, he said as he stood up. Got a long day ahead of us tomorrow.

I don't even want to think about tomorrow, Mary said, reluctant to leave.

We can't stay here all evening. You want to go over to my place?

Yes, I do, Mary answered, but I guess I should go home. It's getting late and Al will be worried.

You could still call him, say you're stuck at the office, Mark suggested. His right-hand softy brushed the nape of Mary's neck.

No, she sighed and stood up. You're right, tomorrow will be a tough day. Her green eyes smiled up at him. And you'll need all your strength. Mary moved away toward the front door before Mark could answer. He tossed some money on the bar and hurried after her.

Catching up he slipped his arm around her waist and asked, What is that suppose to mean?

Mary laughed and moved closer to him. Well it means, you can't drink all day and love all night and still expect to set the world on fire in the morning.

They reached the front of the bar. Mark released his hold on Mary and opened the door. He followed her out onto the sidewalk where he again wrapped an arm around her. The traffic on Maple Avenue was light. The lights of the high-rises downtown reflected against low hanging clouds. The mid-November night was warm and moist.

That's what you say, but you know better. I can drink all week and love all month and still beat any D.A. in this town, Mark laughed. You know I'm a fusion device. I can't be stopped. He pulled Mary close and they kissed.

When they separated Mary said in a low voice, That is all very well sir, but, that, is a personal opinion. Can you present expert witnesses to support that opinion?

Yes I can Counselor. They kissed again. I can call twenty or thirty witnesses if you want me to. He laughed as Mary pulled away in mock anger.

You cad! You've been toying with me.

Mark smiled, Well, yes I have been. Would you care to be toyed with some more?

Mary moved back close, Yes I would, thank you.

My pleasure.

They walked down the sidewalk toward their cars.

I hate this kind of weather, Mary said. It makes all my clothes stick to me.

I can help you with that, Mark laughed.

I know you can, but for the moment, I wish it would just rain and get it over with.

Give it a chance, it will.

At their cars they kissed again, pressing against each other tightly. Holding Mary close Mark said, I really don't mean to push so hard. I just want to be with you all the time. You know that don't you?

Yes, I know that. Now just hush. They kissed again. Before pulling away she poked a finger into Mark's chest and said, You be careful driving home.

Yes, Ma'am, Mark saluted.

Laughing at his antics Mary opened her car door and slid in behind the BMW's wheel. She closed the car door and said, See you in the morning, through the window.

Mark smiled as he watched her start the car and back out. They waved good-bye as she pulled onto the street and sped away.

Mark felt a light misting of rain on his left cheek. Suddenly, in a span of seconds, the night sky opened up and released a terrific downpour. Mark scrambled into his Porsche.

The rain beat heavily against the windshield of Mary's BMW, flooding the glass surface faster than the wipers could clear it. She drove cautiously through the downtown streets leaning forward, squinting through the windshield, combating the effects of both the rain and the drinks, her mind racing from her conversation.

Mark's right, all I have to do is tell him. It's not like it would surprise him. I can't remember the last time we actually enjoyed being together. She stared forward resolutely.

Jesus, you'd think after ten years you'd find something to keep you together. She slowed the car even further as she made her way onto Pearl Street. Downtown was empty.

The wipers beat rapidly back and forth. The rain pounded down on the car. Visibility was a few feet.

All I have to do is tell him, she said firmly.

Well ahead of her the traffic signals at the intersection of Bryan and Pearl Streets went through their cycle: green lights to yellow, the white walk figure changing into a pulsing red, then yellow lights to red with the red figure stricken solid by the slash through his body.

Mary was at the intersection before she saw the lights through the rain. Instinctively she slammed on the brakes, locking up the wheels on the BMW, sending it skidding wildly on the flooded street into the intersection. Frantically she fought to control the car, to keep it from ramming one of the light poles.

The car's low speed was Mary's savior. The momentum drained quickly away and car came to a stop.

Shit! Mary swore slumping forward onto the steering wheel in nervous exhaustion. God, I can't believe I didn't hit something, relief filled her voice. She rose up and looked through the rain-encased windows of the car. I'd better move before some fool out here runs into me.

Shifting the car into reverse Mary backed up several feet and turned the car back to its original direction. She headed for home leaving the lights cycling their color patterns in the rain.

Chapter 2

Al walked along the beach, the ocean on his right. The night was cloudless. The moon brightly illuminated the shore. The sand was dark near the water, loose and white away from it. Long, low breakers rolled in from the sea. Al stopped and watched.

Out in the sea the moonlight shimmered silvery. Beneath the sheen, swells joined and moved to the beach where they pounded against the miles of white sand. Repeatedly the sand stole their power and returned the waves to the ocean as a thin foam.

The battle of the shoreline was calming. Al turned away only after securing for himself the knowledge the fight would continue unaltered in his absence.

He walked along the beach past driftwood formed into fantastic images by the moonlight. Small sand dunes topped with wildly tasseled grasses rose on his left. Small animals scurried in the dunes unconcerned. Stopping, he bent and freed a small, fan shaped shell from the sand. He smoothed the loose grains away from its sides. In the soft light the shell was a light, pastel pink. For a long time Al examined the shell, then with a short step and a quick toss he cast it into the surf.

Al walked a long distance. The sky began to change. The wind rose in strength. The beach darkened, the moon disappeared behind dense clouds. White caps formed out on the ocean. The waves grew in their turbulence and crashed against the beach. Al walked faster.

Out in the ocean a wave grew and rushed forward, gaining height and power. Al, running, watched over his shoulder, as the wave leaped from the sea.

The wave fell on him like a brick wall, knocking the wind out of him. Engulfed in the onrushing water, he turned over and over and over, fighting to find the surface and air. The salty taste of the ocean forced its way into his mouth as the receding crest of the wave pulled him down deeper.

A high-pitched, electronic bleeping noise sounded. The alarm on the clock, it never failed to bring Al out of his sleep.

Lying on his left side, his head secured under a pillow, Al's body reacted to the warning call. Fighting out from under the pillow, then half sitting up, he groped for the clock on the nightstand and pressed the small button on its top, squelching the noise. Rising to a full sitting position, he swung his legs out from under the warm covers and got out of bed.

The alarm never woke Mary. She continued to sleep peacefully; her only reaction to Al's rising was to roll onto his side of the king size bed.

Al carefully crossed through the dark bedroom to the bathroom and shut the door. He flipped on the lights edging the mirror. Their brightness flooded the lavatory. He saw nothing but red spots for seconds. When his vision cleared enough to trust his neck to a razor he washed and lathered his face. Leaning over the sink, razor in hand, staring into the mirror he tasted the ocean's brine.

Chapter 3

Al and Mary sat at their small glass and chrome table in the breakfast area, drinking coffee. A few months younger than Al Mary, still wearing her robe, looked relaxed, sipping slowly from her cup. Even just out of bed her face looked calm, unruffled. Without make-up, her lightly colored eyelashes were almost invisible; her green eyes brightly exposed.

Her elbows rested on the table. She held her cup in both hands and peered across the table at him, thinking, Just tell him. 'Al I don't love you anymore.' It's as easy as that. That's all it takes. How hard does it have to be? Her stomach churned at the thoughts. Her mouth was dry, unmoistened by the coffee she drank.

Al stood up from the table to refill his cup. He was dressed in a Dallas business uniform; dark blue suit, white shirt, quietly patterned silk tie, and a pair of tasseled, Bostonians. I went to bed a little early last night. What time did you get in?

Mary looked at him thinking, What does he mean by that? She sipped her coffee before answering, her court training at work.

It was a little after eleven. We've got that bankruptcy thing going on so we ate Chinese in the office. And that rain. Mary shook her head. I wasn't sure I would make it home.

Al picked up the coffee pot. Did it finally rain?

Well yes. Cats and dogs, Mary smiled. Then she added, I guess you were sleeping so soundly you didn't hear me or the storm.

I guess I didn't. He poured coffee into his cup. In an off hand fashion he said, I went to the coast again last night. He turned quickly to replace the coffee pot on the counter hoping to dodge the inevitable.

Oh Lord, here it goes again, Mary thought to herself. Why can't he just be sensible like he used to be? God, give me the strength to tell him I'm leaving!

Al walked back to the table without looking at Mary. He sat back down at the table and looked across to Mary, waiting. Al cut his eyes away when she looked at him.

She watched him a long time, calming herself, before asking, Was it like before?

Al looked up at her and bobbed his head in a yes reply, adding, Pretty much so. He told her what had happened in his dream.

She sat quietly watching his mouth as he talked. Inside she fought against screaming at him.

Al finished his story. They were quiet.

Mary said, I don't know where you get those dreams. I wish you wouldn't have them. You know they upset me.

They upset me too. That's why I have to talk about it. Al paused gathering his thoughts. They're not dreams. They're more than that. His fear of the dreams showed itself as he snapped, And it's not like I ask for them you know.

He