Американские боги

           "

           Amoment’shesitation,then,"Ofcourse.Mike.Howareyou?"

           "Notgreat,MisterIbis.Inapatchoftrouble.Abouttobearrested.Hopingyou’dseenmyuncleabout,ormaybeyoucouldgetamessagetohim."

           "Icancertainlyaskaround.Holdon,uh,Mike.There’ssomeoneherewhowishesawordwithyou."

           Thephonewaspassedtosomebody,andthenasmokyfemalevoicesaid,"Hi,honey.Imissyou."

           Hewascertainhe’dneverheardthatvoicebefore.Butheknewher.Hewassurethatheknewher…

           Letitgo,thesmokyvoicewhisperedinhismind,inadream.Letitallgo.

           "Who’sthatgirlyouwerekissing,hon?Youtryingtomakemejealous?"

           "We’rejustfriends,"saidShadow."Ithinkshewastryingtoproveapoint.Howdidyouknowshekissedme?"

           "Igoteyeswherevermyfolkwalk,"shesaid."Youtakecarenow,hon…"Therewasamomentofsilence,thenMr.Ibiscamebackonthelineandsaid,"Mike?"

           "Yes."

           "There’saproblemgettingholdofyouruncle.Heseemstobekindoftiedup.ButI’lltryandgetamessagetoyourauntNancy.Bestofluck."Thelinewentdead.

           Shadowsatdown,expectingChadtoreturn.Hesatintheemptyoffice,wishinghehadsomethingtodistracthim.