Sex, death and a snake in the grass: 19 linked short stories, fiction for the Internet. Read in narrative sequence using the left-hand menu or follow characters through the in-page links
18
'It's the mother,' he said.
'Can she stop you?' Fiona asked
'She might be able to.'
'But it's such a good selling point, surely? Young, handsome author dies suddenly while his book's being published. It's a cert. And you said he was desperate for it to do well.'
After he'd said goodbye to his wife and put the phone down, Dan got out of his chair and walked over to the window.
The book was a cold-hearted story full of graphic descriptions of peculiar sexual practices involving groups of people and household objects. It would sell - there was no doubt about that.
But.
Jake Bergamot had said his mother was a 'high-ranking officer in the God Squad'. She was clearly a woman of faith. She was also articulate and human. Direct, too.
'My son changed his mind. He told me before he died that he didn't want it published.'
He'd reminded Mrs Bergamot politely that a contract had been signed. He'd mentioned the money that had already been spent on the book. Her reply had been fierce and unexpectedly crude.
That had been over 2 weeks ago, and he'd promised to ring her back today.
On the street outside the roadworks that had been going on for months were nearly finished. Soon enough the ground would close over everything. After a while it would be just as though nothing had happened: nobody would remember the disruption.
Dan shivered.
When he rang she answered straight away, as though she'd been sitting waiting by the phone. He spoke calmly, briefly, honestly. He was proud of himself.
He left the office early that day. On the way home he stopped to buy his wife a gift. He took a long time choosing, making sure it was right.
He wanted to see Fiona's eyes light up. He wanted to feel her warm breath on his cheek when she kissed him.
