Page 32 - Diversion Ahead

The Brown Leather

Bag

“THE question Joey, is not what’d I

have done if I were you” said Harrison, “the
question is what would you do now?” The
veil of darkness grappled the room with its
ravaging claws. Even the weather outside
augmented the murkiness of the room as if

the Devil himself had woven the ambience
with his own craftsmanship. The scantily
populated town of Lazonia had witnessed
storms and squalls before but never one as
violent as this. Harrison knew that Joey
would let his passion outweigh his rationality
and just as he expected, Joey fell prey to his
wickedness when he pleaded, “C’mon Harris. You know that only you can help me
here.” Harrison uncrossed his legs and then slowly leaning towards Joey, stared at

him straight in the eye and said “If I were you, I would have killed Mrs. Margaret.”

Joey, since his birth, had already been overburdened with a confounded
mind, which was unsettled, flustered and brought to disquietude by Harrison’s
insinuation. Joey looked up to Harrison as a big brother. His obedience towards
Harrison and reverence for him were unquestionable. When Joey lost his father to

leukemia, such a big man with a child’s brain was cradled by the generous hands
of Harrison. But the idea of committing a murder perturbed Joey to the extent of
stupefaction. His trembling hands could hardly ever hurt an insect; the very same

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