text: - “What does it say?” Mia asked. James turned the newspaper around so it faced his girlfriend. “Cracks Emerge In Alibi, Nick Cave single reaches number one in The States,” James replied. “Who?” “You haven’t heard it? It goes like this.” James started to sing. ♫ *Cracks emerge in alibi,* *The just find what the guilty can’t hide,* *Cocked the revolver in ninety-five,* *cracks emerge in alibi... ♫* “No... and who the fuck is Nick Cave?” James shifted to the front of his seat to confront Mia face-to-face. “Nick Cave. Are you kidding me? He is an Australian icon!” “Sorry. I only listen to good music.” “Jesus...” James rolled his eyes and sat deep into his chair. Struggling to hold it with both hands, Mia took her second bite of the house’s ‘famous’ hamburger. Large fries and an extra large coke completed her meal. James’ plate had but a few fries left. He had already finished his burger and shake. “You eat so slow,” James said. “I’m not really hungry.” “Why? Are you nervous?” “Mm.” “You always order too much food anyway.” James glanced at his watch. “What time is he supposed to show up?” Mia asked. “He was meant to be here at quarter to.” “What’s the time now?” “Quarter past. The bastard is always late” Ring of Fire echoed through the poor speakers in the almost empty bowling alley. Tony’s Bowling Alley, it was called. ♫ *I fell into a burning ring of fire,* *I went down, down, down as the flames went higher* *And it burns, burns, burns,* *The ring of fire, the ring of fire...* ♫ Tony owned the alley and worked in the restaurant as the chef. The alley featured only two lanes, and had remained largely unchanged since it’s opening in fifty four. Tony renamed the alley after his name when he took over from the previous owners. In the back corner was a small dining area with off-white tables and cold red-leather seats. A large red neon sign displaying Drink Coca Cola flickered on and off and lit the dim corner of the room. This is where James and Mia sat. Their matching outfits - black leather jackets with white tees and denim jeans fitted the restaurant’s look. The table over from James and Mia sat a man alone. “This guy looks sketchy. How old do you think he is?” James asked. Mia looked over to the man. “I don’t know, forty. Maybe fifty.” The man had slicked-back greying hair and long sideburns like Elvis. He wore shiny red bowling shoes, blue denim jeans and a deep green bowling jacket with the team name Tugun Tigers printed across the back in thick white letters. He was also eating the house’s ‘famous’ hamburger, but his eyes instead were focused on the teenage waitress... and her short, red and white striped dress. The girl’s outfit looked like it came with the restaurant when it was built in fifty four. Wiping down the tables, the girl’s tired eyes made it obvious she did not want to be working the Friday night. Every so often she would glance outside the joint to see the waves crashing onto the beach. Rain poured down hard on the windows. She was also paying attention to a teenage boy bowling by himself. He wore blue denim jeans and a purple jacket with the team name Currumbin Crooks on the back. It was just the four of them in the room. Tony waddled his fat body out of the kitchen and slapped the young waitress on the ass. “Alright lass, you can head off now, come in and I’ll give ya’ the pay check.” The waitress looked disturbed. “Don’t be.” James said. “Huh?” Mia asked. “Nervous.” “Oh.” Mia sipped her coke. “You’ll be fine.” “How much was supposed to be here?” Mia asked. “Fifty five thousand.” “Why is there so much? This place is a dump.” “I told you. It’s a money laundering business.” “And what do we do when Travis finally turns up?” James sighed. “We went over this last night. Look, when Travis enters through those doors - and hopefully he does so bloody soon - that’s our signal. You then get up, pull your gun on old mate checking out the waitress, the waitress, and the boy over there bowling. Make sure they sit tight. I’ll enter the kitchen and demand the money from Tony. Travis has the entrance sorted out.” “What if he doesn’t hand over the money?” Mia asked. “I’m pretty sure he will be scared shitless when he feels my gun pressing against his seventy-five-year-old face. Shit, he’ll probably have a heart attack. You don’t have to worry about him putting up a fight.” “But would you actually hurt him?” “No. I won’t need to. Though I’ll shoot a round into the ceiling so he knows what’s up.” Nick Cave’s Cracks Emerge In Alibi started to play over the speakers. ♫ *Cracks emerge in alibi,* *Redemption is the girl’s ally,* *If it’s just, is it a crime?* *Cracks emerge in alibi...* ♫ “Here it is! This is the song,” James said, “Can’t believe you don’t know who Nick Cave is.” James turned to the man in the green jacket. “Hey mate, you’ve heard this song, right?” “What song?” The man in the green jacket replied. “The one being played right now,” James pointed to the speakers and continued; “It’s by Nick Cave.” “Who the fuck is Nick Cave?” “Seriously?” The doors of the alley swung open as Travis arrived. Rain and a cool wind followed him in. He wore a black windbreaker and his long black hair was held back by a black beanie. His hand rested on the gun resting in his jeans. He stood at the doorway and nodded to James. “Let’s move.” James said as he got up out of his seat. “Where is the waitress?” Mia asked as she got up too. “She must be in the kitchen.” James pointed to the boy bowling. “Oi mate, this is a robbery, get the fuck over there and sit down.” “What?” The boy asked. James pulled out and pointed his gun at the bowler. “A fucking robbery. Get over there and sit next to the old man.” The bowler sat next to the man in green. Mia stood a metre away and had her gun pointed at both of them. “Alright.” James said, “Don’t let ‘em move.” *Bang.* James shot a round into the ceiling. He then walked over to the kitchen, out of Mia’s view. “Where are you? Hand over the fucking money! I know it’s here!” Mia heard James say as he walked into the kitchen. The door swung closed behind him. “Why th-“ Mia cut the boy off; “Be quiet.” ♫ *Cracks emerge in alibi,* *Rain mixes with blood tonight,* *Death’s hands take hold of his life,* *Cracks emerge in alibi...* ♫ The sound of the waves, the rain and the music filled the room. There was no sound coming from the kitchen. After a few minutes Travis yelled over to Mia. “Is he almost done?” he asked. “I don’t know? I’ve been sitting here the whole time.” “Well go see what the fuck he’s doing! He shouldn’t be taking so long.” “I have to watch-” Travis cut her off; “I’ll watch them. Go.” Mia got up and started to walk towards the kitchen. As she pushed the doors open, she was struck by a blast of cool wind, coming from the open back door. At her feat was a pool of blood, with Tony resting in it, face down. “What the fuck?” A kitchen knife and a bra lay in the pool of blood with him. Two bloody footprints trailed away from the body to the back door and outside onto the beach. Red and blue lights flashed. “Shit.” *Bang.* “Shit!” Mia followed the footprints and ran outside. -- ◆◇◆ -- *Bang.* James shot a round into the ceiling. He then walked over to the kitchen, out of Mia’s view. “Where are you? Hand over the fucking money. I know it’s here,” he said as he walked in. The door swung closed behind him. ♫ *Cracks emerge in alibi,* *Waves wash over in the moonlight,* *Did he believe in afterlife?* *Cracks emerge in alibi...* ♫ James was met with the waitress staring back at him. “What are you doing back here?” she snapped at him. “What the fuck are you doing back here?” he replied. Her red and white striped dress was torn into pieces, only just holding onto her body. Her bra was ripped off completely and lay on the floor next to the knife. The dress was more red than before, as it was painted by Tony’s blood. His body lay on the floor in front of her. She ran outside and James followed. “Stop. I’ll shoot,” he said, while chasing after her towards the water. When he caught up, he held the hot barrel of his gun against the waitress’s forehead. His finger hovered over the trigger. Waves washed over their shoes as they sunk into the wet sand, the moonlight illuminated the rain running down their faces. James, with one hand on his gun, pulled the hood of his leather jacket over his head with the other. “Why did you kill him?” The waitress remained silent. “Tell me why or I’ll shoot you.” Ten seconds passed. “I’ll fucking shoot you!” *Bang.* The body dropped and hit the sand. Rain mixed with the escaping blood as waves washed over the corpse. -- ◆◇◆ -- *Bang.* “Shit!” Mia followed the footprints and ran outside onto the beach. She saw the waitress standing on the sand. She saw James’ motionless body. She saw the policeman standing over James’ motionless body with his revolver in hand. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know what to think. Her tears were lost in the rain as they tried to trickle down her face. Death’s hands had taken hold of James’s life. -- ◆◇◆ -- *Redemption is the girl’s ally, If it’s just, is it a crime?* *The just find what the guilty can’t hide, Cocked the revolver in ninety-five.* *Rain mixes with blood tonight, Death’s hands take hold of his life.* *Waves wash over in the moonlight, Did he believe in afterlife?* *The waitress killed, she struck her knife,* *For the man had raped her that same night.* *Cracks emerge in alibi.