Rick and Barbara pulled into a parking spot outside The Lo’tion Diner – it was often mispronounced as ‘lotion’, but the owner pronounced it ‘low-she-own’. It was a local restaurant that specialized in home comfort food with a retro style built back in the double-aught ages. Barbara turned the cruiser off. “You’ve been pretty quiet.”
Rick shifted in his seat. “It’s all a lie, Barb. Forrest fed us shit and I’m almost certain the bomber was Walker or a Walker clone.”
“How would a clone get into this country?”
“Like everyone else. False cards . . .”
“But what about retina scan?”
“New eyes. Even in this country, we’ll use cloned organs and limbs.”
She nodded. “Okay, supposing it was a clone, the question is why a clone?”
“Why? Barb! Think about it. The ultimate suicide bomber. An unlimited supply!”
“An expensive supply. More expensive than a Titan Hawk cruise missile.”
Rick had to concede that. “Yeah, but almost untraceable.”
“Nothing’s untraceable these days.”
Rick laughed, “I did say ‘almost’?”
Barbara’s voice took on a serious tone. She turned her upper half to face Rick. “If we follow your thinking then what you are suggesting is epic.”
He nodded. “No less. But I’ve still got this nag hanging on my back.”
Barbara lifted her chin up and she frowned.
“Why Walker? Why Forever Life?”
“Forrest, that’s why.” She said.
Rick cocked his head to one side. “Forrest?”
“Is a clone.”
“Barb! That’s bull . . .” He stopped in mid-sentence. “It was the reflex.”
Both laughed.
“But, seriously, “Rick said, “Who would send a Pete clone?”
Barbara thought a few seconds. She thought the answer was totally obvious. “Pete Walker.”
“Pete!”
“Yeah. You got this lost twin brother thing going on in the past. Like out of nowhere, there he is. First, oddity. Then the question about birth certificates. Number two. Then, the delivery staff. All claim faulty memory, but all enjoying surprisingly improbable luck with the lottery. And . . .”
“Okay, okay, I’m impressed. I hadn’t known you had an interest in the Walker Conspiracy?”
“Ha! Who hadn’t! That fueled my young teenage mind. All my friends were into it. That’s all we talked about.”
Rick scratched the bottom of his chin. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his gum. He unwrapped the wrapper and popped the gum in his mouth.
Barbara automatically said, “Don’t swallow.”
Rick automatically retorted, “What do you know about swallowing?”
“Fuck you!”
“And, you always threaten. Never follow through.”
Both laughed.
Barbara said as she opened the car door. “I’m hungry. Stop talking and get out.”
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