Double Deal

By Drew Beatty

Kenneth was flying high when he pulled into Vegas, but a run of bad luck has him working of a debt to the mob in the slowest way possible. He's hoping for a change in his luck, and the latest tenant of the Desert Oasis Motel might be hiding more than he suspects behind her mirrored sunglasses. Can she turn his luck around?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Drew Beatty
• Release date: Apr 5, 2010
• ISBN: 9780980939835

Drew Beatty

Drew Beatty has been writing fiction seriously since the birth of his first son four years ago. His works have appeared in Aphelion-Online, Alien Skin Magazine, and Sinister Tales. Additionally, his first two novels are available as audiobooks on Podiobooks.com. He also writes a monthly podcasting column for Popsyndicate.com, and is working on a series of artices for Dad-O-Matic.com as well. When not writing, Andrew works as a teacher, reads too much, and juggles babies. Not literally, but sometimes it feels that way.

Book preview

Double Deal

First Published in Canada by Fractual Publications, 2010

Smashwords Edition

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/12495

63 Havenbrook Blvd.

North York, ON

M2J 1A7

Canada

Copyright © Drew Beatty

Some Rights Reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-9809398-3-5

I stumbled out of the motel door, bright desert light feeling harsh on my skin, used as it was to the dimmer sun of Canada. I passed the row of doorways, peeling paint and tired curtains keeping desperate stories safe from prying eyes. At the end of the motel was an old vending machine that spat out tolerable coffee. The sun bleached image that graced the front of the machine was so faded it almost looked like milk. I hunted around in my pocket for change, I had just enough for one cup. My nails were cracked and dirty, catching on the frayed ends of my pants pocket, a far cry from the delicate hands that gripped the steering wheel as I drove down here six months ago.

The machine spewed out my coffee with a dispiriting clatter. But it was hot and sweet, and that was all I needed to start my day. Not that I really had big plans. Behind me I heard the standard creaking hinges of a door opening. Jilly, a one time show girl, shuffled out of her room, looking older than her sixty-one years. She still had a dazzling smile, though.

What’s going on, Canada? she asked. She never called me anything but