Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Occasional sleepless nights are an inescapable plague on humanity. For some, they are often self-inflicted by an unwise evening dosage of chemicals such as caffeine or too much alcohol. For Joel, they had always been due to untamed brain circuitry over some temporarily important-seeming matter. Last night was one of those occasions. Even his determination to lie still and breathe slowly until daylight failed him. His body rebelled and would not stop turning. At the first sign of a lightening sky he mercifully left Debra in the room, affording her the opportunity of at least a few hours’ sound sleep.
The critical first cup of coffee was self-served from a canister in the lobby. By the time Joel was ready for his third the sun was up, bartenders were wor
