And the goateed schmo minding the store was too busy setting up shop to give any attention to his paying customer, his early bird, the day’s first sucker.

He let it go for a minute or so, but the jerk was starting to piss him off royally.

“Be right back,” he finally told the superbusy “barista” behind the counter, and the guy still hardly noticed him. What an ass and a half. No doubt, an actor out of work. Too good for the job, right? With an attitude—which was supposed to be a good thing these days.

A minute later, he reentered the Starbucks with a piece in his jacket pocket. He was starting to rev-up now. This was probably stupid, definitely not too smart, but God, it felt pretty good.

Hey, pal, my gun is getting thirsty.

Right then and there, the decision was made. This arrogant fuck wannabe actor was going down for the count. He was tomorrow’s headlines today.

“Hey, buddy, I’m waiting here for some coffee. You got any coffee at Starbucks?”

The barista didn’t look up from his busy work even then, just waved a free hand. “Be with ya.”

The Storyteller, the Storyteller, heard the door open behind him. Another sucker arrives.

“Hey, morning, Christopher.” A woman’s chirpy voice came from behind. He didn’t even turn to look at her. Screw her, too.

“Hiya, Sarah,” called the counter guy. And he was suddenly all chirpy, too.

Now the jackass came to the front, now he wakes up. For Sarah.

And that’s when he shot the dude in the chest, right in the Starbucks apron.

“Forget the coffee, Christopher. Don’t need it now. I’m already wired.”

Then he turned to see about the woman. First time he ever looked at her.

Chirpy-looking blonde, maybe midthirties, wearing a black leather jacket over black pedal pushers, black thongs, too.

“Hey, morning, Sarah,” he said, casual-like and friendly as a cocker spaniel off its leash in the park. “Wearing black for the funeral?”

“Excuse me —”

And he shot her, too. Twice. Then one more for the barista.

Just one more kill, right? he was thinking. Well, maybe two more.

He robbed the cash register, took Sarah’s ratty buckskin pocketbook, and off he went into the early morning L.A. smog, heading west, across Stanley, Spaulding, Genessee.

Mary Smith rides again, right?

Chapter 101

Chapter 101

I LOOKED AT JANNIE in the rearview mirror. “The Spy Museum, huh?” I asked.

She nodded. “Absotootly!”

Jannie had drawn Saturday afternoon in our little lottery. Tonight was mine, Sunday day was Nana’s, and Sunday night was Damon’s time to howl. The Cross Family Weekend was all mapped out, and it was already under way.