Sliding the folded Scranton Times-Tribune newspaper across a small puddle of spilled beer, bartender and college dropout Mikey Hoyle began his lecture about foreign policy and international politics, topics on which he considered himself well-versed. “Look at this story about Afghan women marching in a pro-Taliban parade in Kabool.” Timmy Kelly shook open the wet […]
Even with the bar door closed you could hear the bass pounding from the car idling at the stop sign. Mikey Hoyle slammed down his beer glass and snapped his head toward the noise. “You hear that?” Timmy Kelly looked away from the Yankees game on TV. “What?” “That music.” “Oh, yeah, that.” “Taliban music.” […]
Undercover cop Brandon, whom Mike met at the American Legion, spoke confidently, the way you do when you usually get your own way with or without a warrant. Just making conversation Mike had casually mentioned how unpatriotic it is that Pizza Hut restaurants do business in Hanoi, Vietnam. “Germany’s one of our biggest trading partners,” […]
Mullah Mateen sat in an oxblood leather chair at a massive glass-topped desk in former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani’s office, taking his turn posing for triumphal cell phone photos with other Taliban commanders who took Kabul without even trying. Don’t smile, he tells himself. Taliban commanders aren’t supposed to smile even though a couple of […]
Mole stood grimacing at the bar and blocking the waitress station at Clayt’s Horseshoe Tavern. Taller than a gun cabinet and just as broad, his stringy, greasy hair the color of fresh-poured asphalt hung below double-wide shoulders. The beard looked like a bramble bush with dead sparrows trapped in its branches. Mole’s nose looked like […]
