The following day, when Max came home from school, Detective Bernos was waiting for him outside the guest house on the front steps. “Hey Max, how was school?” The fourth grader looked up at his dad apprehensively. “Pretty good. Dad, what’s going on?” His dad was sitting with his camera over his lap. Surveillance was…

BZZZ. BZZZ. Spider dotted away small drops of blood as he manipulated the tattoo gun across one of the few ink-free spots on Tex’s back. Buddha had drawn the picture, which incorporated the ancient symbols of fire, water, earth, and air with a heart with wings. He had drawn the picture in reverse and then…

The common area in cell block C3 at the St. Bernard Parish Detention Center was abuzz with activity. Some inmates work out to pass their time, some read, and some gamble. The main currency of gambling was either zoos or whams. Zoos are any type of food sold on commissary that is not sweet i.e.…

It is difficult for me to tell the story of our heroes in modern times to a reader who is not familiar with my body of work. Yet, I think it will be easier to acquaint my audience with my own unique circumstances than my vast poetic historical repartee. In another age, one before cars…

Private Detective Chaz Bernos was heading out of his office when the manager called. “Hey man, I know you have a heavy workload, but we have this lady who wants to hire us for a little surveillance job.” Chaz nodded and said, “Sure man, just add it to my files.” “Well, see, she’s in the…

Behind the voodoo shop was a large courtyard with a few picnic tables. This was their makeshift meeting place in the Quarter. The patio was surrounded by buildings on three sides and had a ten foot high wall with a gate that opened onto St. Ann Street. As George, Buddha, and Max all arrived with…

Beep Beep Mrs. Cara had been holding the comatose Bobby’s hand, letting the pulse of the machine remind her that he lived. There were dozens of tubes and bags all working in conjunction with the machines to sustain Boogie’s life. The room at Charity Hospital was fairly chilly. The hospital liked to keep the rooms…

When he had been roused back to consciousness by Mrs. Muriel, Buddha sat up and Mr. Curtis snatched the old fedora from Buddha’s head. He started trying to shape the hat, then looked at Buddha disapprovingly when the hat didn’t fit just right. Buddha shook his head and thought, ‘Yeah, it’s him.’ Spider grabbed Buddha’s…

A bright yellow school bus creaked to a noisy halt and a platoon of rambunctious uniformed children spilled out, happy to be through another day of school. Prince Love was at his usual place seated across from a pointy-haired punk rocker clad in a leather spiked jacket adorned on the back with a huge Misfits…