Chapter Seventeen

 

 Later that Sunday afternoon on April tenth, Stanley went to Crescent Plaza shopping for groceries. He purchased a Ford Explorer. Thirty minutes afterward, he exited Crescent’s Groceries with three bags planning to stop, grab a case of beer at Jay’s convenience store on the way home. Stanley entered the store, Sam Rutherford the store owner, glanced up from a magazine. He dropped it on the checkout counter. “Hey there, Stan how are today.”

“I’d say days could be better.”

“I consider things not working out for you these days, Stan.” Sam wiped his hands on his uniform shirt.

“It’s a long story you wouldn’t have time to listen.”

Sam held up his hand. “I got it. I have that case of beer ready for you in the back.”

Stanley gave Sam a thumb up headed toward the glass case. He picked up the beer Sam talked about and got in line. Dropping the case along the checkout, Sam scanned the barcode. Twenty-five dollars and seventy-three cents rang up on the register. Sam glanced a