Americana: The Last Gleaming by Bosley Gravel

Heat Rating: Zero Fire

Content Warning: Violence, Horror.

Schizophrenic ex-cop Drake Carson chases the Misfit, who he believes to be evil incarnate, across an apocalyptic Middle America.

The girl at the desk looked like she was made out of bundled up sticks. Thin, pretty, dark as blackstrap molasses. I bet she tasted about the same too.

"You got a room for an old man?" I said. This wasn't a dive, but it wasn't the Four Seasons either.

"Sure," she said. "Fill this out."

She pushed a card across the desk. I took a look, and put my real name, but drew a line through the address and other personal information. I pushed it back with a ten dollar bill. My hostess smiled pretty.

"Mr. Carson--"

"Call me Drake," I said.

"Drake," she said, all sparkles and big teeth. "You have to fill this out completely."

"State law or something?"

"Hotel policy."

I put another ten dollar bill down.

"I don't figure it's much of your business," I said. "Maybe you didn't notice?"

"Maybe," she said and looked around the lobby. There was another hotel employee there, an old black guy with a big square jaw, who wore some kind of denim jumpsuit. He just sat there and watched TV.

She filed the card, folded the cash in half and unabashedly pocketed it.

"How many nights for the big spender?"

"Two to start with," I said.

She gave me a key.

"You want some help with your bags?" she asked.

The old guy in front of the TV looked over his shoulder and gave me the once over with his eyes.

"No thanks, I'll manage. Four-fourteen?" I said as I looked at the little wooden plate attached to the keyring.

"Right," she said. "That's across the parking lot." She pointed kind of vague toward the back spread of buildings.

I grabbed my bag and headed out the door.

"What are you doing in town?" she asked. "Are you some kind of business man?"

"Retired. I'm here for some hunting," I said.

"The season is all done with," she said.

I nodded, "By special permit."

"See you in the morning, Sugar," she said. "Free continental breakfast."

I nodded and headed out the door.