Никогде
Two
Mr.Vandemarhawkedamouthfulofphlegmfromthebackofhisthroatandspatitneatlyontothebackofthehandbill.Mr.Croupslappedthehandbillhardontothewall,nexttoRichard’sdoor.Itstuckimmediatelyandstuckhard.
HAVEYOUSEENTHISGIRL?itasked.
Mr.CroupturnedtoMr.Vandemar."Doyoubelievehim?"
Theyturnedbackdownthestairs."DoIHell,"saidMr.Vandemar."Icouldsmellher."
Richardwaitedbyhisfrontdooruntilheheardthemaindoorslam,severalfloorsbelow.Hestartedtowalkdownthehall,backtowardthebathroom,whenthephonerangloudly,startlinghim.Hesprintedbackdownthehallandpickedupthereceiver."Hello?"saidRichard."Hello?"
Nosoundcameoutofthereceiver.Instead,therewasaclick,andJessica’svoicecameoutoftheansweringmachineonthetablenexttothephone.Hervoicesaid,"Richard?ThisisJessica.I’msorryyou’renotthere,becausethiswouldhavebeenourlastconversation,andIdidsowanttotellyouthistoyourface."Thephone,herealized,wascompletelydead.Thereceivertrailedafootorsoofcord,andwasthenneatlycutoff.
"Youembarrassedmeverydeeplylastnight,Richard,"thevoicecontinued."AsfarasI’mconcernedourengagementisatanend.Ihavenointentionofreturningthering,norindeedofeverseeingyouagain.Bye."
Thetapestoppedturning,therewasanotherclick,andthelittleredlightbegantoflash.
