Anthology. Robert Deshaies

for a cigarette. When I come back, I hope you can tell me the truth.”

      The tall man hovered over the table as he stood up. He grabbed a pristine pack of unlabeled cigarettes from his jacket pocket and lit one up. In his eyes, a flicker of a shining star struck my soul to the core. I was paralyzed in my seat. I was helpless to him walking away for a smoke break. As I saw him walk out the diner door, I heard two simultaneous rings.

      “Sorry, hon. I took a quick break out back. The coffee and burger will be right up.”

      I almost forgot why I was here. All right, Norman, keep your head on a swivel. Eat the grub, then get the fuck out of here before any more questioning. Thank God, I saw her coming out from the kitchen with a plate and a cup.

      “Care for any room in your cup?”

      “No. Black, please.”

      She set down the order, and instantly I began eating. I forgot how hungry I was. My stomach was practically running inside out at this point.

      “Well, I guess one of us is starving.”

      I looked up, and she still had that cute, little grin on her face. She was the sole person to make this day any more comforting.

      “May I ask you something?”

      “Sure, hon.”

      “That man who was sitting in that booth back there, what time did he come in?”

      She looked at me, perplexed of my question.

      “Ah, I’m sorry, but you’ve been the only customer I’ve had in a few hours. No one has been here since you got here.”

      “No, no, no, that’s not right. A substantial tall gentleman in a large white trench coat, he was sitting right there in that booth when I walked in. For God’s sake, there’s even a coffee cup where he was sitting.”

      “I’m sorry, but that’s my cup.”

      We stared at each other, searching each other’s expression for an answer. Neither of us reached an understanding.

      “It sounds like you have a lot on your mind. I’ll leave you to your food. Ring the bell if you need anything. I’ll be in the back.”

      I needed to go outside. I needed to see if the gentleman was there.

      “Do you have a cigarette? I…I could really use one right now.”

      “Sure, hon.”

      She reached into her apron and pulled out her American Spirit and handed me the minted little cylinder.

      “Thanks.”

      I left everything on the table, and she offered a light. I took it and quickly dashed to get out. As I pushed open the door, I didn’t see any white trench coat smoking outside. Where could the enormous man have gone? As I took a quick rip of the tiny piece of calming, I noticed lights along the horizon. Fortunately, I still had a few more hours of nightfall, so I knew it must be a passing car. As the lights slowly crawled over the hill, I noticed it began to slow down. I thought he was going to pull into the diner. Shit. I don’t need more people showing up. I have three bodies in my car and a few million in duffels.

      The car slowly rolled up, and I took one last rip before I saw the side of the vehicle. It read State Police Highway Patrol. I am so fucked. I flicked the cigarette onto the pile already next to the door, and I headed back in. I needed to get out of here quick.

      I returned to my booth, and the food and coffee were still steaming. Thank God, I needed a warm fucking meal. It was too cold out. This whole night had been too cold. I started scarfing down the food when I heard the diner door fully open. That little jingle of the bell. The voice of the waitress. The sound of boot heels clicking on the plated floor.

      “Be right out!”

      “Take your time, Val.”

      The officer now looked around the diner and looked at me. He gave me a quick nod and took a seat at the restaurant. He must be a regular; he obviously knew the waitress. The waitress came out from behind the kitchen, and she went to take the officer’s order. The words that came out of her mouth, well shit.

      “Hey, darling. How’s my baby girl doing tonight? No weirdos, I hope.”

      “None tonight, Daddy. Jus’ that young fella in the corner. I think he might be a little stressed from the cold.”

      I kept my head down, pretending not to listen in on their conversation.

      “Hey, son. The weather got you a bit shaking tonight?”

      I kept my head down, scarfing down the food. I needed to get out of here.

      “Son?”

      “S-sorry, Officer. I’m on a bit of a schedule, that’s all. I gotta reach the farmhouse by dawn. Otherwise, my father will kill me.”

      “No shit, you have a place around here?”

      “No…no, sir. Across the state line, sir. Pa had me running some errands with a partner of ours two lines over.”

      “Ah, I see. Taking a quick bite before heading back on the road. Say, what’s got you shaking up? Your fork is practically a pendulum.”

      I hadn’t even noticed that my fingers were shaking so hard. My entire body had been buzzing to the tone of this man’s voice.

      “A bit too much coffee, I think, sir.”

      “Heh. We all get there sometimes.”

      The officer and his daughter continued with their conversation. I tuned out. I had to be somewhere else; I didn’t know where. Anywhere seemed better than here, really. I finished the burger, chugged the rest of the coffee, left the cash on the table, and dipped out before anyone could say anything.

      “Thank you for the service.”

      I budged the door open and made a brisk walk to my car. As I peeked my head up, I noticed the man in the trench coat. He’d been out here all this time. He was just here, smoking his cigarette. I heard the diner’s bell, and I turned around to see.

      “Hon, do you need your change?”

      “No, go ahead and keep it.”

      “Thank you. Good luck getting to where you’re going.”

      “Thanks.”

      As I moved to turn back around, Mr. Jacket was now a mere five feet away.

      “You ready to have that discussion now, Norman?”

      “W-where did you go? I…you’re not real.”

      He began to circle me, and I followed him.

      “Son, I’m genuine. Ask me anything. I’ll bet you I’ll know the answer. Here’s a question, Norman. What’s in the car?”

      No. I’m not going to answer that.

      “Nothing.”

      “Really?”

      He halted, his stance sideways. He turned his head, and his starry eyes cut through me.

      “May I check myself? I know you’re hiding, Norman. Just tell me the truth. That’s all I ask.”

      I felt compelled. I wanted to tell him. I…I… No, stop. Don’t tell him. But like a fish I grabbed in a pond, the truth just came out.

      “It’s Billy, John, and Mark!”

      I dropped to my knees. The confession proved its weight—the burden of my friends’ souls on my now grieving and guilty hear. I was helpless. Take me, I thought. Whoever this man is, just…take me. I looked up to see his reaction, but he was no longer there. I looked all around, and there were zero traces of anyone being here. I scanned the ground, and the dust had zero evidence of his heel tracks. I saw one pair, and they were mine. Did I just confess to midair? What was going