Wordle by Wordle: Day 130
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Wordle #1055 – JERKY
Chapter 13.
The interrogation room isn’t what I expected.
For starters, there’s no two-way mirror, which is strangely disappointing. If I’m going to be charged with murder, the setting should at least be cinematic. But no, I’m stuck in a spartan, windowless room with a tiny desk, stiff plastic chairs, and empty walls—all in shades of gloomy blue-gray. It could pass for a waiting room in the world’s most depressing dentist’s office.
It’s small, too. Made all the smaller by Palumbo’s looming presence.
He’s been stuck to me like a lamprey ever since we left my apartment, from Mirandizing through processing, peppering me with questions at every step.
After spending the last few hours together, I can’t help but notice that whenever Palumbo isn’t talking, he’s doing something with his mouth. Chewing, usually, on whatever he can get his hands on. The gum had been replaced by beef jerky, then sunflower seeds, then a plastic coffee stirrer.
Now, he’s gnawing on a hank of red licorice, leaning so far back in his chair that its front legs are reared up off the floor.
“Don’t you have anything better to do?” I sigh. “Some stop-and-frisk quota to meet or something?”
Palumbo’s chair clomps forward onto the commercial carpet, and I think maybe I’ve surprised him by speaking. I don’t know exactly how much time has passed—there’s no clock on the bare wall—but I do know it’s been a while since I last said anything.
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This one made me giggle. No 2-way mirror!? :)