Wrestling the Kraken

Mahone

Mahone

City of Fox Hollow

March 31, 1963

The diner was packed. It usually was for breakfast. Having missed dinner with his wife the previous day, Mahone made sure he could at least take her out for a quick bite before heading into work. Quick bites. Doctor offices. These few stolen moments were all they had, but they made the best of it. Sure a candlelight table in some fancy place would be better, but this was real. Everyday life, instead of dreams and wishes. Sometimes, he even preferred it this way.

He watched her from across their table. Her eyes still had that news in them from yesterday, but her smile didn't waiver.

"What on earth are you looking at? Do I have something in my teeth? I swear, I spent all afternoon at Gail's house with practically an entire head of broccoli in my teeth and she never said a word. Let me walk around like that, talking with that monstrous thing poking out."

Mahone laughed. "No, nothing but pearly whites."

She was not convinced. Picking up the cup of coffee, she tried to see her reflection and decide for herself.

"Just admiring the view."

She set her mug down and smiled.

The waitress came over and refreshed their cups of coffee. "Can you believe that?" She said, pointing the pitcher at the television set. A news report had come on.

"We are here at the scene where moments ago a body was found at the steps of the local theater here in Fall River. The body was found by circus owner Armand Rossini, who had been holding performances at the theater all week. Sources say that the victim is a performer from the circus and rumored to have been intimate with the owner's son, Dante Rossini. She was found with a rose in hand and many are now calling it the Rose Murder."

Mahone shook his head. "Sheesh. We've got plenty of nutjobs in our city, but I'm glad we don't have to deal with anything like that."