Expiration Date (65 page)
“Did you wash your hands?”
“Yep.” His son turned up his palms for inspection.
“Good job. Here, have a look.” Clay scooted the chess king toward his son. “A boy about your age found it. We’re gonna go visit him tomorrow.”
“You think it’s worth money?”
“Could be.”
Jason’s interest swerved toward an approaching teen girl in a DQ cap, his eyes widening at the fast-food delicacies on the red plastic tray. Clay uncapped his butterscotch sundae, Josee spread out a napkin and dumped out her fries, while Sarge acted as though his salad was the epitome of indulgence.
Sarge took a bite, then pointed to the black stone king. “I get the feeling there’s more to it than just cash, don’t you?”
Josee’s eyebrow ring swayed with the nod of her head.
“After all that’s gone on in the last few weeks,” Clay said, “I can’t put a lot of trust in my feelings. But yeah, in this case I’d have to agree.”
“Well then, I hate to say it.”
“Say what, Sarge?”
“It’s not over yet.”
Josee’s fingers slipped around the big man’s elbow as he rolled his neck like a prizefighter prepping himself for another round. Clay could relate. He thought of the work ahead and sucked in air to combat his weariness.
It’s your story, Lord. Do with it what you will
.
Dudley Delffs, Don Pape, Carol Bartley
,
Michael Warden, and the incredible crew (WaterBrook Press)
for personalizing this industry, showing care for art and artist alike.
Dave Robie (Big Score Productions)
for meeting me early on, knocking on doors, and getting replies.
Ted Dekker and Randy Singer (award-winning authors)
for slicing fact and fiction into manageable bites.
Cindy Martinusen and Tricia Goyer (authors and sisterchicks)
for encouraging e-mails, Austrian tales, and a sisterchick pin of my own.
Barbara Guise, Blanche Monaghan, Lynn Frost, Jacquie Manning, and numerous others (unofficial publicists)
for going out of your way to help me on mine.
Shaun Wilson (brother and lifelong friend)
for leading me along the Pacific Crest Trail, despite snow up to our knees.
Scott Shelton (scholar and gentleman)
for pointing to Hughes’s poems and Hawthorne’s short stories.
Johnson “Jay” Bell and Robin Taylor (coffee moguls in their own right)
for flexibility, sincere friendship, and the caffeine to fuel creativity.
Tim Stone and the FedEx Kinko’s crew (West End, Nashville)
for paychecks, helpful schedules, and a copy of the last draft.
New River Fellowship (Cool Springs, Tennessee)
for spiritual nourishment, connection, and creativity joined with integrity.
Bill, Shannon, and Caleb Cushman (family friends)
for laughs, long-term hospitality, and inspiration in the “blue room.”
The Connollys, Firas, Griffins, Hahns, Howes, Langs, McClendons, Ogles, Surratts, and many others (friends and spiritual family)
for meals together, tick-infested hikes, advice of all sorts, and shared war stories.
Rick Moore, Charliy Nash
,
Brian Reaves, and Sean Savacool (fellow writers)
for encouraging words, inspiring articles, and books in progress.
Chuck at Café Coco (Nashville location)
for a spot to plug in the laptop while writing and people watching.
Temah and TraVonda (friends and co-workers)
Temah, for sharing your art; TraVonda, for sharing your name.
Elena Gadomski (Russian translator/advisor)
for keeping a straight face while correcting my mistakes.
Corporal Larry Larson (Junction City Police Dept.)
for investigative insights, despite any of my oversights.
Edmondson, Hermitage, and Donelson Public Libraries (Nashville, Tennessee)
for great service, selection, research tools, and enthusiasm.
Coldplay, Skillet, Jeremy Camp, Superchick, Thousand Foot Krutch, Toby Mac
,
Pillar, Grits, and Chevelle (recording artists)
for chasing away my lethargy with sonic and spiritual energy.
Readers everywhere (fans new and old)
for delving with me into the mysteries of life and death … May you, too, reach out to feel God’s hand of providence!
I welcome your feedback at my Web site or e-mail address:
wilsonwriter.com
[email protected]