Sudden Vacancies Read Online Free PDF Page A

some dirty stuff going on around the place on occasions.”
    Bruce and Tommy both nodded at her logic. “I guess you’re right. Maybe society just needs to get its act together,” said Tommy sadly.
    Sandra nodded, “I don’t know what the solution is, but I think we can each do our part and make our little part of the universe the best it can be, for the time we’re here.”
    Bruce whistled as he said, “That a great idea. Almost sounds like a slogan for some community outreach program.” He and Tommy shared a grin.
    Turning to Tommy, Sandra asked him, “Was there something you needed to see me for?”
    Tommy shook his head, “Nah, I just wanted to know what was being done, is all.”
    “Good. Well then...,” Sandra looked at her watch and then at Bruce, “Aren’t you getting ready to do the dinner time show?”
    Bruce nodded, “I was just heading over there when I saw you in here. I wondered if you wanted to listen in for a while.”
    Sandra smiled and nodded, “That sounds good. Tommy, I’ll see you tomorrow, and don’t worry about the recent events. I think things are back to normal around here.” Giving him one last smile, she turned to Bruce, “Ready, Mr. Andrews?”
    At his nod, she allowed him to lead her out of the florist shop, across the foyer, and into the restaurant.

Chapter 7
     
    Bruce Andrews would normally play an acoustic guitar at the Blue Plate restaurant three or four times a day. He’d bring out an electric guitar every now and then but the guitar wouldn’t be too loud and he wouldn’t be too rough on it.
    “I don’t want to just be the same old skinny-guy-with-an-acoustic-guitar type,” he said. “I like to mix it up a little bit. Besides, I’m not even a fan of those skinny-guy-with-an-acoustic-guitar or emo-with-a-piano types.”
    Bruce had been playing guitar since he was eleven years old. He struggled with making friends as a kid and with relationships. However, his parents had turned to music in an attempt to get him to learn to express himself through music therapy. This worked perfectly as he was able to showcase himself as a smart musician who enjoyed performing for others.
    Eventually, he played in the talent show at his high school as a guitarist and then went on to perform some open-mike nights at various bars around the Columbus area. He liked to keep it clean and friendly for everyone.
    He never did think about getting a record deal or trying to release a record. “The thrill of playing for people is the only real thing that I care about,” he said.
    He had been performing at the Blue Plate, the hotel’s five star restaurant, for the last eight years. In addition, he worked as a freelance performer and never had trouble making enough with his music to pay the bills. The gig at the Paradise was the perfect set up; they didn’t require exclusivity from him as a condition of his employment, and so he could perform all around Columbus.
    Bruce’s opinion of the recent hotel death was one echoed by many. “It seems like there’s lots of people out there who just do stuff for no reason,” he said when discussing it casually, “I don’t know what happened but I’m sure he did something dumb. Why can’t the people around here start to grow up and try to be a little more logical in terms of who they are and how they act?”
    Such utterances were met with suspicion.
     
    *****
     
    “I don’t know,” Bruce said to Andrew the next afternoon as he took a break between sets. “Do you really think Carla is thinking about this stuff?”
    “This stuff’ referred to the continued speculation making its way through the hotel staff in regards to the death that had occurred on the ninth floor.
    “Come on,” Andrew replied. “Do you really think she hasn’t thought about it? I mean, it’s been in our faces for days now. Why does it matter?”
    “Well, given her past, I could see something like this pushing her over the edge, can’t you?” replied