Excerpt 1.4

      Because Crystal ordered me to post more of the book, here is the next excerpt from Murder by Dewey Decimal.

Excerpt 1.4 from Murder by Dewey Decimal
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

      Leonard Brewer was highly pleased with himself despite the beginning of a hangover headache. As the hot water of his shower streamed down his broad, hairy back, he grinned. He'd finally got Lisa. Although his memory of the night was fuzzy -- most of what happened after he fixed the flat tire was a blank -- he knew she came home with him because her purse was in the living room. And in his experience, any woman who went to bed with him once was easier to get the second time. Teddy, one of the Journal's other pressmen, said the first time lessened Leonard's revulsion factor.
      Leonard grinned, thinking about Teddy's shock when the paper folded. Bet it's going to be hard to keep his brats in food now, Leonard gloated. Leonard wasn't particularly worried about the job loss. He figured to draw unemployment for a while. Maybe he could convince Lisa to move in -- just to share bills. It'd be nice to have a woman around. And with his and her unemployment, they could have some good times. At least until he got tired of her.
      And a man could get sick of Lisa pretty quick, he thought, remembering how she had treated him in the past. Uppity, that's what she is. Always acting like she's so much better than the rest of us when everybody in the county knows what her old man was. And her mother was just a waitress that everyone says got extra tips for being real friendly behind the diner. Still, Lisa does have nice --
      The doorbell rang. Leonard swore and decided to ignore it. He didn't have anyone that he wanted to see particularly this morning; it was probably just a salesman or some religious nut. He reached down for the bar of soap. The doorbell rang again. He soaped his arms and chest, jumping when the bell sounded again. And then again. Again.
      Swearing savagely with all his considerable skill and extensive off-color vocabulary, he stepped out of the tub, slipping on the wet floor and only saving himself from a nasty fall by catching the side of the sink, which certainly didn't improve his mood. He grabbed his towel. Whoever it is, is going to be real sorry when I finish with him, he thought angrily. As he knotted the towel around his waist, the bell rang again.
      "I'm coming," he yelled, stalking in the living room. "Ring that bell again and I'll rip your head off and spit in your neck!" He hit his shin on the coffee table and sent a couple choice words its direction. The bell rang again.
      Reaching the door, he started to jerk it open when a thought hit him: What if it was Lisa wanting her purse? It'd be just like her to lean on the bell. He decided that it wouldn't do to appear angry. Why give her a reason to miss out on a second helping of the Leonard love machine. He put on his best smile.
      He opened the door. It wasn't Lisa; it was some man. "What do you want --"
      A blur of motion. Hot pain tore through Leonard. He raised his hands and clutched the hilt of a knife protruding from his chest. He stumbled back, trying to yell, gaping at the man who lunged forward and pushed him further into the room. Leonard fell to his knees. He couldn't catch his breath. The man leaned over, grabbing at the knife. Leonard swayed and pitched forward to the floor, driving the knife deeper.
      He tried to rise, then darkness covered him and took the pain away forever.

End excerpt. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

      The town of Ryton is apparently a dangerous place. By the way, I mention Ryton in Darkness, Oklahoma. An inside reference for me that now you understand also.
      The play is taking all my time and energy. I hope to have a time for a brief nap this weekend!
      Hope things are going well for you. Talk to you later.