JК
Ыоуве Been Warned :: Patterson James
Страница: 88 из 138Robert Curley in the perfect tone for reading Dr. Seuss to preschoolers.
I don’t. I don’t even respond to this complete fraud.
“Whatever’s bothering you, I’m sure we can help.” Did you say “we,” Robbie?
I hear the strain in his voice as he tries to remain warm and fuzzy. There must be a book somewhere, How to Talk to a Nutcase. Lesson one: Never, ever lose your cool.
“C’mon, Kristin, I’m not the enemy,” he says.
It’s an interesting choice of words, and I speak up.
“Is he with you?” I ask. “Is he still out there?”
“Is who with me?”
Ha! I know Floyd Magnumsen is standing right there; I can feel it. Why is Robbie playing dumb now, I wonder? Unless, of course, he’s part of all this.
I fall silent again, listening as Curley repeatedly tries to coax me out of this tiny box of a room. It’s no use, and he knows it. His frustration mounts, and soon warm and fuzzy turn to piss and vinegar.
“JUST OPEN THE DOOR!” he yells. “OPEN IT THIS INSTANT.”
Curley begins pounding the door with his fist. I keep my eyes glued on the knob with its push-button lock, terrified that it might pop out from all the rattling.
“YOU CAN’T STAY IN THERE FOREVER!”
We’ll see about that.
The shouting and pounding stop, quickly replaced by whispering. I press my ear against the door. Magnumsen is talking. I can barely make out what he’s saying, but what I do hear is enough.
“The key. Who has the key? We have to get her out of there.”
Immediately, I grab one of the chairs and try to wedge it under the doorknob. It’s not tall enough.Now what?
Although I may be desperate, I’m not stupid. I won’t be able to hold off Curley and Magnumsen once they have the key.
But I know someone who can.
My hands trembling, I dial a number on my cell. I’ve got one bar of signal, and it’s flashing in and out. Through bursts of static, the line rings once, then twice.
On the third ring, I hear footsteps out in the hallway followed by a key sliding into the lock.
Pick up! Pick up! Pick up!
The door flies open, smacking against the wall. I don’t see Magnumsen. Dr. Curley immediately grabs for the phone, but I won’t let go. I’m clinging to my cell like a pit bull when I hear another pop of static and the voice I’ve been waiting for.
“Hello?”
I scream the name of the hospital as Curley and I fall to the ground in a tug-of-war. One by one, he begins prying my fingers loose. It hurts like hell.
I don’t. I don’t even respond to this complete fraud.
“Whatever’s bothering you, I’m sure we can help.” Did you say “we,” Robbie?
I hear the strain in his voice as he tries to remain warm and fuzzy. There must be a book somewhere, How to Talk to a Nutcase. Lesson one: Never, ever lose your cool.
“C’mon, Kristin, I’m not the enemy,” he says.
It’s an interesting choice of words, and I speak up.
“Is he with you?” I ask. “Is he still out there?”
“Is who with me?”
Ha! I know Floyd Magnumsen is standing right there; I can feel it. Why is Robbie playing dumb now, I wonder? Unless, of course, he’s part of all this.
I fall silent again, listening as Curley repeatedly tries to coax me out of this tiny box of a room. It’s no use, and he knows it. His frustration mounts, and soon warm and fuzzy turn to piss and vinegar.
“JUST OPEN THE DOOR!” he yells. “OPEN IT THIS INSTANT.”
Curley begins pounding the door with his fist. I keep my eyes glued on the knob with its push-button lock, terrified that it might pop out from all the rattling.
“YOU CAN’T STAY IN THERE FOREVER!”
We’ll see about that.
The shouting and pounding stop, quickly replaced by whispering. I press my ear against the door. Magnumsen is talking. I can barely make out what he’s saying, but what I do hear is enough.
“The key. Who has the key? We have to get her out of there.”
Immediately, I grab one of the chairs and try to wedge it under the doorknob. It’s not tall enough.Now what?
Although I may be desperate, I’m not stupid. I won’t be able to hold off Curley and Magnumsen once they have the key.
But I know someone who can.
My hands trembling, I dial a number on my cell. I’ve got one bar of signal, and it’s flashing in and out. Through bursts of static, the line rings once, then twice.
On the third ring, I hear footsteps out in the hallway followed by a key sliding into the lock.
Pick up! Pick up! Pick up!
The door flies open, smacking against the wall. I don’t see Magnumsen. Dr. Curley immediately grabs for the phone, but I won’t let go. I’m clinging to my cell like a pit bull when I hear another pop of static and the voice I’ve been waiting for.
“Hello?”
I scream the name of the hospital as Curley and I fall to the ground in a tug-of-war. One by one, he begins prying my fingers loose. It hurts like hell.