Page 121 of Shhh…It’s A Killer Story

The laptop chimed again.

Editorial Reminder

Current Project: Joey Pendleton

Target: Chapter 9

I stared at the blinking cursor.

Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

Some days words arrived like rain. Other days they stood behind locked doors. Today...

Today they were hiding.

"You've killed fifty-seven fictional people," Gerald said.

"I'm sure one more won't hurt."

Frank sighed dramatically.

"Technically sixty-two."

"I forgot the florist."

"You always forget the florist."

I rubbed both hands over my face.

"I don't think I can write today."

"You can," Frank said.

"You just don't want to feel there is a difference."

Gerald nodded.

"The keyboard is considerably less frightening than your own thoughts."

"Rude."

"...Accurate."

I laughed despite myself. A tiny laugh but enough. I pulled the keyboard onto my lap. The cursor blinked again. Waiting.

Always waiting.

Finally...

My fingers touched the keys.

JOEY

Serial killers are remarkably boring people.