Present Day
Sitting at a table in the meeting room, I sip coffee from a Styrofoam cup, God I miss Starbucks. The coffee here is piss. At least I get to relax with a cigarette. How does the worst habit in the world feel so good? I don’t think I will ever quit, I love smoking too much. The orderly escorts a young man in and introduces him as Josh Prichard. This guy is dressed in an obviously over priced suit. He was too well groomed to be straight. He smiles and sits across the table from me, pulling a small tape recorder out of the breast pocket of his clown suit and setting his briefcase on the table next to him.
Josh looks at me and smiles “, no cuffs or shackles?” “Nah, I’ve been a good boy this week,” I reply and continue “, the orderly is watching from the back of the room if you are that uncomfortable.” “No, no I’m fine. It was just an observation.” “Very observant,” I sarcastically reply. “Yeah, investigative reporter at your service,” Josh says just as sarcastically. We both laugh and give a small chuckle. Josh reaches out to shake my hand. I grab his and our eyes lock for a brief moment. I smile and let my grip go.
“Investigative reporter turned would-be bestselling author, right?” I accuse. “If everything goes as planned, then yes.” “You are pretty used to that, things going your way,” I sit back and drag on my cigarette. “What do you mean?” he asks me. “Never mind, I’m just saying it isn’t every day that the breaking story of your career falls into your lap by coincidence. It’s pretty remarkable if you ask me,” I’m speaking now with smoke billowing out with every word. It’s kind of rude, but I don’t give a fuck. “I suppose it is remarkable,” Josh says as he takes his pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and lights one up for himself. “Look, Michael, whatever it seems to be, I am just trying to win with the great hand that was dealt to me. It would appear very ungrateful of me if I didn’t at least try. Besides, this story may touch someone and change their life. Isn’t that worth more than anything?” Good, he was being rude too, billowing his smoke as he spoke. “Good then, that was all I needed to know,” I smiled and sipped my coffee.
“May I start recording now?” Josh asks me. “Sure, why not,” I relaxed, leaning back in my chair. Josh checks the tape in the recorder and presses record. “Okay, let’s begin with ‘that day’. What do you know about it?” I close my eyes. This is going to be painful. It’s not like I don’t think about it every day, so it shouldn’t hurt so bad to talk about it; but it does.
