Read Online Phantasos by Robert Barnard - Free Book Online Page A

Something didn’t feel right, like there was electricity in the air. Before he even touched the phone, he felt the little hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
    “ Hello? ” Danny asked, impatiently.
    Static. Crackle. White noise.
    “Who is this? I demand you tell me right now who this is.”
    A voice—a thick, raspy, guttural voice, an otherworldly voice— plainly croaked: “Not the one I want.”
    “Excuse me?” Danny yelled.
    “Not the one I want.”
    Click. Dial tone.
    Danny hung up the phone, turned to Todd and said, “You have to tell me what’s going on right now. You have to tell me why someone is messing with you.”
    Todd clasped his hands together. “I have no idea who is messing with me, or why.”
    “Then we have to go to the police.”
    Todd laughed. “And tell them what?”
    Danny said, “You didn’t hear that guy just now. I feel like I’m going to throw up. Is someone trying to hurt you?”
    Again, Todd laughed.
    “Why do you keep laugh—God, I almost forgot, you’re plastered.”
    “Buddy,” Todd said, “calm down. We’ll lock up, then we’ll go out for a drink. Everything will be all—”
    The phone rang.
    Danny put his hands on his hips, protesting. “I’m not getting it this time. You answer it.”
    “How about neither of us answer it, and we let that bastard tire himself out?”
    Danny nodded. He didn’t want to agree, but what better plan was there?
    The phone rang, and rang, and rang. A full minute passed by and finally Todd said, “Enough. It’s giving me a headache.” He stood up, almost tripping over himself. He stumbled over to the phone and picked it up.
    “Who the hell do you think you are—?”
    “Todd?” a soft, sweet voice asked. “Baby, is that you?”
    “Who…” Todd coughed, nodded, and waved Danny out of the office. Danny shook his head and slunk away.
    “Baby,” the beautiful voice continued. It was kind and delicate and feminine. “Baby, I’ve been trying to get ahold of you.”
    “I know,” Todd stammered.
    “Did you get my note?”
    “Yeah, babe,” Todd said. “I got it.”
    The voice on the other end paused for the cutest little giggle. “Well then. You’re not trying to give me the cold shoulder, are you big guy?”
    “No,” Todd said, regaining composure. “I would never do that to you, baby.”
    “Good,” the voice said.
    “God, baby, it’s so good to hear your voice again,” Todd said, and he fought back the urge to cry.
    “Yours too,” the female said. “Yours too.”
    “Where are you?” Todd asked. “Where are you calling from?”
    “I’m in Grand Ridge. I’m staying in town.”
    “Huh…huh…” Todd had to force the word out. “How?”
    “How?” the girl laughed. “Well, first I got on a plane…and then I flew here. It was a long flight from New York, baby. Before I left, I drove a little ways upstate to that town of ours. You remember the one, right? East Violet. That’s what it was called. You called it a boring little yuppie town in the boonies. I had to beg you to drive through and go adventuring with me. Remember, they were having that adorable little apple harvest when we visited? Remember how hard you fought me on exploring that quaint little town, and how much fun we ended up having? You must have apologized a million times! Remember when we kissed on the Ferris wheel and you told me how much you loved me?”
    “I remember, baby. I remember all of it.”
    “Then you certainly remember that humble confectionary on the edge of town, where we stopped for fudge, and you said it was the best fudge you’ve ever had in your entire life? And you gave me that sweet, sugary chocolate kiss after?”
    “Of course, baby.”
    “I drove up there, before my flight, and I picked you up a pound of it. I brought you homemade, New York fudge from clear across the country. Now how can you get luckier than that? Me and fudge?” the female said, and she snickered.
    “I love you so, so, much, Shelly,”