For the first time in my life, I’m in love. And I think she feels the same about me. That’s the good news. The bad news is that we may have to break up … sort of. Shit happens. Allow me to explain.
Her name is Jill; we met early on a Sunday morning. I was jogging along the beach at the water’s edge one minute, and the next I was splayed out in the sand. I had tripped over a woman’s recumbent body.
After the requisite apologies, we started talking. One thing led to another and we ended up having lunch together. That was eight months ago and we’ve barely been out of each other’s sight since.
Today is another Sunday much like the one when Jill and I met, but things are a little different now.
I’m an FBI agent assigned to the Miami Field Office. I was awakened at five o’clock this morning with an urgent phone call to report in immediately. There was a terrorist threat. Hell, this was the granddaddy of all threats. At 4:00 a.m., a local television station received a call stating that there was a nuclear bomb planted within the city, and at exactly 4:00 p.m., it would explode unless certain demands were met. The caller said there was a package sitting in the parking lot of the North Miami office of the FBI that would authenticate the threat.
It turned out to be a small nuclear bomb, which is also known as a suitcase bomb. An attached note informed us it was exactly like the one planted in downtown Miami. It also stated that if there was any effort to evacuate the populace, the bomb would be detonated the instant word hit the media.
Every law enforcement officer—city, state, and federal—was called in. We were given gadgets that register radiation, and all personnel were assigned grids. Each person would drive his or her grid. If the meter went off, a team would be dispatched with equipment to pinpoint the emanations. Then the eggheads would dismantle the bomb.
That was the plan.
We were ordered to tell no one of the threat, but there were many surreptitious phone calls made that morning, telling family members to drive to West Palm Beach for the day. I made my own call, telling Jill that I had planned a romantic day for the two of us and asked if she would meet me in Boca Raton. I gave her the name of the hotel where I had made a reservation before calling her and said I’d be there in the early afternoon. She readily agreed, and now I know that she is safe.
So here it is nearing four o’clock and we’ll soon see if it was a hoax or not. The clock on the dashboard reads 3:59 … 4:00 … 4:01 … 4:02. Nothing! I’ll be damned, the whole thing was a . . .
If anyone feels so inclined, I’d appreciate it if you’d like my Facebook page. You can click on the button on the right side of the page. Thank you.
https://plus.google.com/+AndrewJoyce76/posts/MhoPVTPaaMW
MY GOD, ANDREW!
AS A MIAMI RESIDENT OF MANY YEARS, YOU REALLY HAD ME GOING!!!!!
NOW, I GUESS I HAVE TO BUY ‘YELLOW HAIR’ TO FIND OUT THE “REST OF THE STORY”! SURE HOPE JILL ENJOYED THE BOCA RATON CLUB!
Mike
BOOM!
BOOM, si.
Hi ANNETTE,
Being a Miami resident . . . ANDREW JOYCE’s writing was SO REAL, I was ready to pack my bags . . . actually, I have – now I will read the “REST OF THE STORY” (Quote: Paul Harvey) . . . to see if I have to check into the Boca Raton Club!
Have a great weekend.
Mike
Thanks for reading it, Michael.
Andrew, you are just diabolical.
At first I missed those three little dots and I thought, “Well that’s a bit anticlimactic for Andrew Joyce.” Then I read last line again and realised how glad I am not to live in Florida.
I always have a good climax … no, I didn’t say that right. What I mean is I always try to bring my stories to their logical conclusion.
Um…
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
Again, thank you, Chris.
Welcome, I enjoyed the st….
Mmmm, when will I visit Miami again? Actually Yellow Hair is at the top of my reading list, behind Sally Cronin’s book. Finally…
Sounds good to me. I hope you’ll enjoy the read.
I was just getting into the storyline..
you are so mean… and now I have to go find that book ? and read..
Hmm ?!!!!
Sorry about that.
Are you really… !!!.
You know exactly how to leave me wanting more
Holy Moly. You got me! 😀 😀
That was my intent.
Reblogged this on The Life & Times of Zoe the Fabulous Feline.
Thank you, Zoe for the reblog.
Reblogged this on ravenhawks' magazine and commented:
Always like a good love story that end with a boom. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the reblog!!!
Good one all around, Andrew 🙂
Muchas gracias.
Reblogged this on Kate McClelland.
Well, wow!
Thanks for submitting your story to my contest, Andrew.
Whether 100 words or 10,000, Andrew knows how to tell a story. This is one of my favorites–so well-crafted. Good luck, Andrew!
Nice one, Andrew.
Thank you.
BAM, that’s the way to write a short story! For me, Andrew’s stories have become like Kris Kristofferson’s songs…..I can’t pick a favorite or five anymore.