Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Everyonelikedtheplace.Allenlikedthegray,weatheredfencethathidtheapartmentsfromviewoftheparkingareaandthehighway.Tommyhadaroomofhisownforhiselectronicequipment,andtherewasaseparateroomforastudio.Ragenhadawalk-inclosetthathecouldlockinoneofthebedroomsupstairs,wherehekeptallhisgunsexceptthe9-millimeterautomatic.Hekeptthatontopoftherefrigerator,backwherenoneofthechildrenwouldseeorreachit.

           MarlenecametotheapartmenteveryeveningafterherjobatHecksdepartmentstore.Whenheworkedthesecondshift,shewouldwaitforhimtogethomearoundmidnight,andshewouldstaymostofthenight.Beforemorning,shewouldalwaysgobacktoherparents’home.

           MarlenewasfindingBillymoodierandmoreunpredictablethaneverbefore.Attimeshewouldstormaroundtheapartment,smashingthings.Hewouldstareatthewallsinatrance,orhewouldgototheeaselandpaintinafury.Always,hewasasoft-spoken,consideratelover.

           Tommydidn’ttellherthathewasgettingshaky.Hewasmissingwork.Andhewasmissingtime.Thingsseemedtobehappeningcloserandclosertogether;theyweremovingintoanotherbadmix-uptime.Arthurshouldhavebeenincontrol,butforsomereasonhewaslosingdomination.Noonewasmindingthestore.

           ArthurblamedtheconfusiononMarleneandinsistedthattherelationshipbebrokenoff.Tommyfelthisheartjump.