Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

~ John W. Howell
“This is as much fun as Friday, Lucy.”
“Maybe the new turf has something to do with it.”
“I think you have something there.”

 

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week Cortez indicated to Larry that he was ready to move to the cars. He instructed Larry to contact those on the outside to let them know they are coming out. As you can imagine, the vector of this story has taken a turn for the worse. Cortez indicated that if anything went wrong, Larry would be the first to get shot.

Before we join the group, we need to talk about the story for a second. As you have seen, this serial has been laid out using nothing but dialogue with no tags at all. So as a reader, you have had what all the scenes and people look like in your mind. You have been able to construct the backgrounds and sensory cues to your own liking.

This was the purpose of telling the story the way it was told. You have invested of yourself in these 88,600+ words over the last two years. I must honor that investment with the construction of an ending that is satisfactory. Yes, we are coming to an end. All the characters we have met previously are lining up backstage for the curtain call. Our MCs are getting ready for the final scene. As the author of this continuing saga, I think it would be wise to expand to a narrative plus dialogue form to catch all the action leading to the end. With your permission, here we go.

Cortez waves his gun at Larry and tells him to get on the phone. Larry gets out of the chair and holds his palms out in one last gesture of supplication. “Come on, Joachim. Just say the word, and you all can spare yourself a lot of trouble.”

Cortez wipes his face with his hand. “You know it might be easier to just shoot you now. If you don’t start listening to me, I might just do that. I’m in charge here, damn you. Now call.”

Larry holds up one hand and reaches for his phone. “Okay, you win. I’m calling.”

Larry reaches Mike. “How are you doing? Good. Listen. I have a situation here. Cortez does not want to take a deal. In fact, he wants to move right away. Hold on. Yes, Joachim.”

Cortez takes Larry’s arm. “Put it on speaker.”

Larry pulls his arm away. “Sure, Joachim. Anything you say. Hey Mike. You are on speaker. His majesty is listening.”

Cortez does not smile at Larry’s humor. Instead, he waves his gun again. “Just get on with it.”

“So, you heard that, Mike.”

“Yes, I sure did.”

Larry looks at Joachim. “Here’s the deal. Joachim is going to take this whole crowd and move them to the airport. He is warning me that if our team does anything funny, he’s going to shoot me—”

“Say again”

Larry can’t help but smile. “Yeah, that’s right, he’s going to shoot me, so I have an interest in making sure he gets in the car and gets to the airport in one piece.”

Mike is quiet

Larry shrugs his shoulders and turns more toward Cortez. Cortez frowns and waves his gun again. “Looks like the head guy is getting a little upset.”

The escape of Mike’s breath is auditable over the connection. “Yeah, okay. We’ll stand down.”

“Thanks, Mike. His Nibbs has a better look on his face. I’m not sure if we will talk again, but I appreciate anything you can do to keep this situation from getting out of control.” Larry disconnects the call. “Looks like you have a free passage to the airport, Joachim.”

Joachim calls for his right-hand man Juan and gives instruction to gather everyone in the living room. Once the guy leaves to get the hostages, Joachim tells Larry to sit. Larry immediately sits. “You know Joachim, this is not going to end here in Nevada. These guys are going to hunt you down.”

Joachim sighs. “You know as well as I that once I reach my compound, there is no one who can get me back to face charges.”

Larry smiles and crosses his arms. “Have you ever heard of a patriot missile?”

“They wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Holding an ADA hostage is not something the government soon forgets. Besides, who will ever know the source of the missile? It could be one of your rivals.”

Cortez sits across from Larry and hunches forward. “They would harm my wife and daughter?”

“How many Wives and daughters have you harmed?”

Cortez pulls on his chin. He sits in silence until Juan breaks the spell. “Yeah, Juan, what is it?”

Juan explains that everyone is in the living room and that their hands have been zip-tied. Cortez nods and dismisses Juan telling him to keep an eye on everyone. He looks Larry in the eyes. “So if I give up, you are telling me my family will be safe?”

Larry holds Cortez’s gaze. “I think we can arrange for your family to go into a program where they will be protected.”

Cortez’s eyes fill. “Their safety is the only thing that has driven me to this point. My enemies would like nothing better than to get their hands on them. So now you tell me of the possibility of assassination by the US government. You have given me enough to think about.”

Larry sits forward. “I would think it over, Joachim. There has got to be a better way than to keep fighting.”

Joachim’s shoulders slump. His complexion takes on a gray tone of weariness. “You have no idea how long I have been fighting.” He places the gun on a side table and puts his hands on his face. “I have to figure this out.”

75 thoughts on “Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day”

  1. Interesting. Is Joachim about to turn, or is this a double bluff? I did half-expect Larry, at one point, to smile, quote Mr Spock “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few — or the one” and follow it up with “Plan B, Mike. Go go go!”

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  5. A moment of humanity for Cortez? Or another diversion by John? It’s hard to know at this point, but it does seem that the end is near. I’ll see yo next week, John.

    PS, the turf looks pretty good.

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  7. The end approaches and you’ve managed to take all the readers with you. That’s an achievement, John. Well done! 😊

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  9. Yay to the turf – do I see joy in the girls’ faces? Yes, I think I do!

    As for the story, I love how you’ve told the whole story through dialogue only, by the way 🙂
    The switch to a mix of dialogue and tags and such is smart to help bring this saga closer to the end.
    There’s a bittersweet feel to knowing it will.
    Then again, you surely have something else up your sleeve for the next one 🙂
    Let’s just see what Joachim chooses to do next!

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  10. How interesting, John, that I hadn’t even noticed the lack of dialogue tags until you mentioned it. Genius! And I love that Cortez is starting to crack. He’s tired and that’s good for Larry. Great segment and I look forward to a satisfying ending!

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    1. Thank you, Jan. Yes I have been doing stories without tags since 2013. In fact, there was mention of that by a certain club president’s gopher. Had to laugh out loud.

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  16. THAT took a turn for the (hopefully) better. And all Larry had to do was mention the itchy trigger finger the US Govt has when it comes to bad guys holing up in ‘secret’ compounds. . .

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    1. I did a collaboration on a book and declared that would be my last. Of course we never know but for now I have to get my damn book done. I’m honored you would like to collaborate but the timeing is not good for me right now. Thanks, Hook.

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  19. John, thank you for your opening comments. Yes, this series has been long (and wonderful), and I haven’t missed an episode. I have so many scenes in my mind, from Janet and Ned to Sandusky to Cortez. I’m smiling because this is what I tell children in chapter reading, “You make the pictures in your head.” You did a terrific job of allowing the reader to do just that.

    Between last week and this week, we have learned much. A patriot missile, and Cortez possibly willing to negotiate in order to protect his family – brilliant!! I’m excited for the ending, but also sad that that it’s ending. That’s what happens with a good book/series.

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    1. This series started on May 9th 2018 so I was a little conservative in my two year estimate. It is more like three years. I appreciate your comments here and although it is coming to an end, it is so nice knowing you enjoyed it. I certainly will miss Andrew and Larry. I have looked forward to visiting with them every Wednesday, Thanks, Again. Jennie. 😊

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  20. I’m betting that Cortez does not make this deal. I think he knows only one way to live. As much as he may want to protect his family, something tells me this will not end well.

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  23. WHOA … I didn’t see that coming! I didn’t think that Cortez cared that much about anybody, even his family. I am sad to see this story wrapping up, though … I will miss Larry & Andrew and the rest of the cast of characters.

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