Breakthrough III

About an hour later, Zip was still sitting at her home office desk. The second phone line light blinked then rang. It was a customer call for her, just talk, caller service. She had been on the phone since nine that morning and she was exhausted. She took a sip of lemonade then answered the call.

“Hello, this is the listener speaking. What’s on your mind?”

“I’m home by myself and I’m afraid. Mommy has been gone for two nights and I don’t have anything else to eat,” a child’s voice said.

“What’s your name sweetie?”

“Rhonda.”

“How old are you, Rhonda?”

“I’m eight.”

“Where did you get this number?” she looked at the call timer, watching the seconds go by. She was loosing money. She always franked these types of calls.

“I saw it on a piece of paper mommy cut out of the newspaper.”

“Where did your mommy say she was going, Rhonda?”

“She said she was going to work but she has not come back and I’m scared,” she fretted.

“I know, sweetie. Do you know your address?”

“Not all of it but we live on 22nd Street South.”

“What’s your telephone number?” Rhonda gave her the number.

Zip recognized the area code.

“Rhonda, where about in Florida do you live?”

“St. Petersburg.”

“Rhonda, I’ll see what I can do to get someone to find your mommy and I’ll call you back after I make a couple of calls to get help. Don’t open the door for anyone unless it’s the police, okay?”

“Okay.” Rhonda hung up.

She tugged at the old metal file drawer of the battered desk, cringing at the scrape of metal on metal as she pulled the drawer open. She took out a binder of emergency numbers for all the major cities and metropolitan areas in the United States that included police departments, social services, fire departments and even the humane societies. Though her advertisements explained the kind of service provided, the irrelevant calls kept occurring. She was frustrated by the calls, but she didn’t have the heart to turn away someone that needed help. She contacted the St. Petersburg police department and social services then called Rhonda back to let her know that help was on the way.

To be continued ...
© 2007 by Miss Mary

I.C.E. - Part 3

I pull into the driveway on the side of his sister’s house and park. It’s dark now. I turn the headliner light on in the car. I’m screaming inside but I hear myself say calmly,

“Listen Drake, you don’t look very well. Let’s postpone our dinner date for another time.”

It’s coming back to me now, those glassy eyes on people, on street people, deranged and wondering about. He’s on drugs. He’s tripping. Oh my God.

Drake glares at me and then looks out the car windows. “What’re you talkin’ ‘bout? I’m fine! Let’s go!”

He didn’t seem to be aware that his pants were unzipped and his penis exposed. I turn to face him. I hope that he doesn’t see the panic in my face, and then I say,

“No, Drake. You need to get out now.”

“No,” he insists. “Come on, let’s go. I’ve made reservations at the restaurant for us.” He continues rocking as he speaks; his voice is stern and determined.

To be continued ...
© 2007 by Miss Mary

Evil Desire - Episode 3

Lyla relaxed back in the lounge chair. She knew this meeting was risky, even if it was public but her curiosity had gotten the best of her. Maybe she should take some extra precautions with this meeting. She reached for the phone.

“Hello, Sally?” Sally had been her best friend since 5th grade.

“Hey, Lyla. What’s goin on? Aahhh. Sorry, didn’t mean to yawn in your ear. I’m just getting up.” Sally never had a problem with insomnia.

“I need your help on something. I need you to meet me at the airport at six this evening. Can you do it?”

“Yeah, I guess so. What’s this about? Where do we meet?” Sally said.

“We will not meet exactly. I want you to go to the Starbucks in Terminal 2, Arrival Level and have some coffee or a latte, whatever you like…”

“Hold up, let me write this down.” Sally was a stickler for accuracy and took notes for most things.

“So, I just sit there and drink coffee?”

“No. I’ll be there sitting at another table talking to someone. At some point, I want you to take pictures of the person that I’ll be conversing with, if you can do it with out being noticed. And remember as much as you can about the person for notes later.”

“Sounds sneaky,” Sally commented.

“I can’t explain now because I don’t have all the information but when the meeting is over and we’re both back at our homes, we’ll talk about it.”

“Guess I can wait for that. This is bizarre assignment. Feels like I’ve got a role in a James Bond move.” Sally laughed.

“Just remember, there are no re-takes. So don’t for get your digital camera. And don’t stare obviously. We will not communicate at all at the airport.”

“Got it. Oh, how are things with you and Walter? He’s so hot! Are you really going to dump Keith for Walter?”

“I don’t know what to do. I never believed that it was possible to be in love with two men at the same time but here I am.” Keith had been her boyfriend for eighteen months but in the last six months she had starting dating Walter Pierce, the actor, unknown to Keith.

“Well think it through thoroughly, all the pluses and minuses. But you need to do something before Keith finds out. This ain’t right, as a friend I have to say it.”

“I know. I’m just so caught up. There’s so much passion…” Lyla sighed.

“You need to get a grip girl.”

“Look I’ve got to go. Walter’s at the door.”

To be continued ...
© 2007 by Miss Mary