R.D. Armstrong on the Other Side of the
DEATH HAS NO WRIST WATCH
"Is this Chris Williams?"
"No, you've got the wrong number."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"What about Charlie Layton?"
"Nope. Say, what is this all about?"
"Oh, I'm with the county coroner's office and this number was found with his
name on it and I'm just trying to confirm who he is."
"Who, who is?"
"Chris Williams."
"Well he sure as hell isn't here!"
"Hey, no need to get hostile, here. I'm just doing my job."
I looked at my watch.
"Do you know, it's eleven-twenty at night?"
"Yes I do, but death has no wrist watch."
What could I say to that?
"Look I'm sorry, I don't know either of those two names."
"Is this Alamitos?"
"No, Long Beach."
"Oh well."
"Yeah."
He hung up. So did I. Then, I sat back and thought about all of that. I
wondered why the Coroner's office was calling me at eleven-twenty on a
Sunday night. And, how did my phone number end up in the pocket of either,
this guy Williams, or someone he knew named Williams. It just didn't add
up.
One thing, though, I hear death has perfect timing. What's he need with a
stupid watch?
© Copyright R.D. Armstrong 2002