by Dan Ames
Vincent catches Bonnie's eye, and she looks down at her hands. Vincent notices that she just about has a hand free.
He lunges at Miles, catching his heel. He lifts and Miles is thrown onto his back. He quickly springs up and gives a straight left to Vincent, then sends a flurry of punches to Vincent's face and body.
Vincent lands on the tennis court, a bruised, battered and bloody mess.
“Oh, Doc. You never could come through in the clutch, could you?”
Miles is backing up toward the guns.
Bonnie has her hands free and is creeping toward the guns. Miles looks down and sees her. It is Vincent's chance.
He lunges forward and catches Miles in the middle of the chest. Vincent lands on top of Miles and starts punching him in the face, short vicious blows that turn Miles' face into a smear of blood.
But Miles isn't done. He kicks Vincent off him and rolls free. They are both equidistant from the guns, and are now between Bonnie, so she is no longer a factor.
“Here's what's going to happen you little shit. We are both going to go for a gun, but you aren't going to grasp it correctly. You're going to fumble, you're going to drop the gun. I on the other hand, am not going to hesitate. I am going to pick it up in one smooth, fluid motion and shoot you full of holes. Because I believe in myself, and you are destined to fail.”
Suddenly, Miles laughs, but it's a hollow laugh, like he's having just a hint of doubt.
They both dive for the guns, and it happens just like Vincent said it would. Vincent gets his gun and rises in one swift motion, while Miles makes a crucial fumble, bringing the gun up a hair later than Vincent.
Vincent takes careful aim and pumps bullet after bullet into Miles. Miles is thrown back, his gun arm swinging wildly to his side.
Miles falls to the court, blood spreading in a pool beneath him. Vincent stands over him.
Miles is choking on his own blood.
With a final, convulsive heave, blood pours from Miles mouth and he dies, his eyes wipe open. Vincent rushes to Annabel and Bonnie, and takes the tape off their mouths.
Ponko and the cops rush through the door to the open court.
“Freeze, doctor!”
Vincent puts his arms around Annabel and Bonnie. They huddle together in a tight hug, looking very much like a family once again.
THE END
Also by Dan Ames
Dead Wood (A John Rockne Mystery)
Hard Rock (John Rockne Mystery #2)
Cold Jade (John Rockne Mystery #3)
Long Shot (John Rockne Mystery #4)
The Killing League (A Wallace Mack Thriller)
The Murder Store (Wallace Mack Thriller #2)
Death by Sarcasm (A Mary Cooper Mystery)
Murder with Sarcastic Intent (Mary Cooper Mystery #2)
Gross Sarcastic Homicide (Mary Cooper Mystery #3)
The Circuit Rider
Killer’s Draw
Killing the Rat
To Find a Mountain
Choke
Beer Money
Dr. Slick
Head Shot
Afterword
For special offers, free ebooks, exclusive content and to hear about new releases, sign up for the official Dan Ames Newsletter:
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
About the Author
Dan Ames is an international bestselling crime novelist and winner of the Independent Book Award for Crime Fiction.
@AuthorDanAmes
AuthorDanAmes
www.authordanames.com
[email protected]
Foreword
ENJOY FREE BOOKS AND LEARN ABOUT NEW RELEASES:
Sign up here for the Dan Ames Newsletter
Copyright © 2014 by Dan Ames
DR. SLICK is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.
DR. SLICK
A Killer Comedy
by
Dan Ames
1
Chaos reigns in the classroom as Ms. Calisi, a very attractive woman in her late twenties, brings her group of five and six-year olds to order.
“All right, kids. Can I have your attention, please?” she says.
The kids quiet down and we see that one child, a girl named Lisa Goddard, is sitting on the lap of her father. Tom Goddard is a typical Dad in his early thirties. He’s handsome in an everyman kind of way, despite the beginnings of a small spare tire.
“We have a very special guest today, a parent volunteer,” Ms. Calisi says.
The kids all look at Tom Goddard, who gives a semi embarrassed wave.
“Lisa, why don’t you introduce today’s special parent helper?” Ms. Calisi prompts.
Lisa Goddard stands up. She’s cute as a button and very confident. She speaks with good volume and displays a lot of poise.
“It’s my Dad,” she says.
The kids clap.
“Okay, Mr. Goddard, why don’t you tell the kids a little about yourself?” Ms. Calisi says.
Goddard stands and he seems less confident than his daughter. He stands awkwardly and doesn’t quite know what to do with his hands.
“Well, I’m a writer at an advertising agency–“
“Louder, please. Use your big boy voice,” the teacher says.
Tom is caught off guard and embarrassed as some of the kids snicker at the grown-up being reprimanded by the teacher.
“Yes, I’m a writer at an ad agency. I write commercials mostly, and I’m very happy to be here. I think I can learn a lot from you.”
A girl raises her hand. Tom nods to her.
“Why does your stomach stick out like that?”
Tom’s face turns beet red and he is at a loss for words.
Luckily, his daughter comes to the rescue.
“Mom says he eats too much and doesn’t exercise enough,” Lisa says.
“It sort of looks like he has boobs!” a boy shouts out. “Like a woman!”
Even Ms. Calisi is now laughing.
Tom sits there, unable to speak, totally humiliated.
“Men can have breasts,” another boy points out. “My brother calls them man titties.”
The classroom erupts with laughter and Ms. Calisi gets to her feet.
“Okay, okay, that’s enough.”
The kids laugh and Tom looks at Ms. Calisi, who is failing to conceal her laughter as well.
Tom looks at his daughter, his face red, looking like he wants to crawl under a rock.
The class finally quiets down and Tom manages to breathe a sigh of relief that the torture of embarrassment is over.
“And to settle this argument, Ms. Calisi says, “The politically correct term is man breasts.”
She looks at Tom smiling, and Tom closes his eyes.
2
Tom’s office is pretty typical for an ad agency creative: desk, bookshelves, and computer. A Nerf basketball hoop hangs on the wall. There are a few advertising trophies and pictures of the family on the desk.
Tom sets down his briefcase and turns on his computer, just as his friend steps into the doorway.
“Nice of you to finally join us.”
“Hey Dylan,” Tom says. “Yeah, I helped out at my daughter’s school.”
“I hope they helped you with your penmanship.” Dylan does an imitation of a Neanderthal trying to use an implement, complete with guttural speech.
Tom ignores him.
“Got time for a game?” Dylan asks.
“We’ve got a 12 o’clock meeting. American Oil. We’re supposed to have print and television ideas,” he says.
“Ah, it’s just the first round, they’re not looking for much,” Dylan points out.
Tom looks unconvinced.
“You scared of me? That the problem?” Dylan taunts.
“The meeting’s a half-hour away!”
“Run away, little man, run away.”
Tom looks pissed. He makes a decision. “Let’s go, right now,” he says.
“I’m gonna spank you,” Dylan says. He leaves Tom’s office and Tom double-clicks an icon on his desktop. An image of a sniper rifle and the word SNIPER! appear on the screen followed by a cyber battlefield with a sniper rifle.
The cyber version of Tom steps forward and suddenly the screen fills with red as his player falls to the ground, his head blown clean off.
Through the wall, Tom hears Dylan howling with glee.
The computer game’s announcer speaks.
“Head shot!” it says.
Dylan pounds his fist on the wall that separates his office from Tom’s.
“Want some more?” he calls out.
Tom ignores him as his cyber character regenerates but then his head is blown off again.
“Eat it baby,” Tom hears through the wall.
“Head shot,” the game announcer points out.
Tom grits his teeth in anger.
Suddenly, Tom’s boss appears in the doorway.
Morgan Wolcott is in his late forties, early fifties, clinging to the notion that he’s still very hip. He’s dressed in casual clothes with Camper shoes and thick black glasses.
His mostly gray hair is combed forward and moussed into a little point at the front.
Tom hurriedly quits the SNIPER game, not doing a good job hiding the fact that he’s just been busted.
“Tom?” Wolcott asks.
“Hey, Morgan.”
“Everything okay in here?”
Suddenly, there’s a pounding on the wall and Dylan’s voice can be heard.
“Head shot!”
Tom is frozen at his desk and Morgan glances sideways at the wall.
“Tom, I just wanted to let you know that I’m expecting big ideas on this American Oil project,” Wolcott says.
“I’m looking forward to it, too,” Tom says. “Good thing this is just the first round and we’ve got time–“
“First round?” Wolcott says, surprise in his voice.
“Yeah, I thought–“
“No, this is it, Tom. First round and last round. One shot only. This is why we get paid the big bucks. They moved the deadline up. It’s crunch time, baby.”
“But–“ Tom starts to say.
“Just bring your A-game, Tom,” Wolcott says, cutting him off. “Everybody else is. And between you and me, Tom? You’ve had plenty of at-bats, it’s time you hit a home run.”
Morgan leaves without saying a word. Dylan ducks into the doorway, pointing an imaginary sniper rifle at him.
“Head shot!” he says.
3
It’s the big American Oil meeting at Tom’s ad agency and the giant round conference table is full of people.
Morgan is sitting at the head of the table, clearly holding court. Tom is sitting halfway down the table.
He looks pale and nervous.
Kelly Moore, a hip, stylish woman in her late twenties is finishing up her presentation. She’s very poised and confident.
“And I think if American Oil really wants to...push the envelope...if they really want to...rattle people’s cages...I think this campaign is it,” she finishes.
She sits down and there’s silence as all heads turn toward Morgan. He taps a pencil against his lips, puts his hands behind his head and stares at the ceiling.
“Do you see that?” he finally says.
He points to Kelly. No one answers.
“That’s how it’s done, my friends. The gold star goes to Kelly,” he says
The room breathes a collective sigh of relief. We see Tom sitting next to Dylan.
“Gold star?” Dylan says to Tom under his breath. “ What are we in, first grade?”
“Sssshhhh,” Tom says.
Wolcott again addresses the group. “I agree with Kelly. American Oil needs something edgy, something that’ll kick the oil industry in the ass. I think Kelly’s campaign is perfectly strategized and perfectly executed. A few tweaks of the copy and we’re good to go. Well done.”
The assembled masses clap begrudgingly for Kelly.
“Well, luckily, no one has to follow that huge idea as I believe everyone has presented so-“
Suddenly, he notices Tom, who is practically slinking into his seat.
“Oh...Tom.”
“You know, Kelly really nailed it, so if there isn’t enough time–“
“Nonsense. I want to hear what you’ve got,” Wolcott says. “We all do, right team?”
No one answers.
“You know, I haven’t really had a chance-“ Tom starts to say.
“Come on Tom, suck it up and show us what you’ve got!” Wolcott barks.
Tom looks around the room. Most everyone is looking away from him, shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Even Dylan can’t look at him.
“Well, all right then.”
4
Tom walks out of the conference room looking like a beaten man.
Kelly walks out and pulls him aside.
“He had no right to be so brutal. I liked your idea,” she says.
Tom looks at her with a dazed expression on his face. “I thought this would just be the first round.”
Kelly shrugs her shoulders and walks away.
“Tom, in my office,” Wolcott says from behind him.
Tom’s mind is filled with dread as he follows his boss to the corner office.
Unlike Tom’s space, Morgan’s is the epitome of upper management. Hardwood floors, chrome desk, floor-to-ceiling windows with great views of downtown Chicago.
“Dr. Slick?” Wolcott says to Tom, his face filled with anger and repulsion.
Tom feels his face flush.
“Yeah, you know, it was supposed to be a play on oil slick - you know - Dr. Slick - the bad guy-“
“I think I got it - outwitted once again by American Oil?” Wolcott says, his voice thick with sarcasm.
Tom nods like a kid who got caught with a Playboy magazine by his parents.
“Are you out of your mind, Tom? With environmentalists crawling out of the woodwork? American Oil has a spotty record with the environment. It was in the brief, did you read it?”
“Of course I read it,” Tom counters. “In my idea, Dr. Slick is the competition - not American – not our client.”
Wolcott throws his hands in the air. “Oh come on. We both know the public remembers virtually nothing about commercials. Half the time they can’t even tell you what company it was for. The most anyone would remember about your spots would be Dr. Slick and American Oil. If I presented that piece of shit idea, we’d lose the goddamn account!”
“I guess I should have been more aware of the strategy, but since I thought it was the first round-“
Morgan spins in his chair and punches a button on his phone.
“Mary, can you bring me a latte?” he says into the intercom.
Morgan stands up, looks out over the impressive view of Chicago.
Tom sits, fidgeting.
Finally, Morgan turns around.
“Tom, you’re just not twirling my balls.”
“Pardon me?”
“Your work,” Wolcott continues. “It’s not twirling my balls.”
“Oh...”
“I think you’ve got talent, don’t get me wrong, but I think you’re not doing consistently good work. You’re not working hard enough, thinking hard enough.”
“Well-“
“I’m not saying you’re complacent-“
Tom winces at the word.
“Well, actually I am. I need you to be more driven. I think the answer is twofold. One, if you don’t turn things around in one week, you’re fired.”
“Fired?” Tom can barely manage.
“Fired,” Wo
lcott repeats, his hand slapping the top of his desk.
“And the second thing?” Tom says.
“Outside help.”
“Outside help?”
“This is a good company, Tom. With lots of resources. Books, video, audio programs, references. I want you to look into the resource center, find out some things that will help you. In the next week I want you to start...”
Wolcott holds his hands out, looking for just the right words.
“...twirling your balls?” Tom offers.
Morgan looks at Tom with a cool expression.
“Exactly.”
5
Tom goes to a door with a sign on it reading Human Resource Center. The office looks more like a library. Books, desks and a woman seated at a central desk. She looks up as Tom approaches.
“May I help you?” she says.
“Um, I’m supposed to get some information on...achievement. Improving myself.”
“You’re Tom Goddard, right?” the woman asks, a small smile on her face that makes Tom feel uncomfortable.
“How’d you know?” he asks.
“Oh, we’ve been wondering when you’d come down for quite awhile now. We’ve got a file all ready for you!”
Tom doesn’t know what to make of this.
The woman pulls out a huge stack of material with Tom’s name clipped to it.
“Most of it isn’t due back for a month or so,” she says.
Tom takes the stack and walks out cautiously.
“And, oh yeah, someone dropped this off for you, too,” she adds.
Tom gets an additional envelope from her and walks to the door. He peeks in the envelope and pulls out a business card. He checks the envelope for a note, but there is nothing else in there besides the business card. He looks at and in bold type it says: ROCKY SUTTON, SUCCESS COACH. Tom puts the card in his pocket.
