Dark Side of the Morgue by Raymond Benson

Author:Raymond Benson [Benson, Raymond]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense & Thrillers
Publisher: Crossroad Press

17

Living Dead Girl

(performed by Rob Zombie)

Berenger put his hand over the mouthpiece and announced to the group, “I have to take this call.” He then quickly stood, moved out of the booth, and walked toward the front of the bar, where he couldn’t be heard.

“How do I know it’s you?” Berenger asked. “And how did you get my number?”

“Your number was easy to get. And you’ll know it’s really me after I ask you a question.”

“What’s that?”

“Have the police allowed you to listen to my CDs yet?”

Berenger felt a cold chill run up his spine. Only the Chicago PD knew about the compact disks. And the killer.

“No, they haven’t. I’d like to hear them.”

“Well, Mister Berenger, I want you to hear them. In fact, I’d like to interest you in a little business deal.”

Berenger’s heart was pounding. He didn’t know if he should tell her that he never made deals with murderers, or if he should play along and perhaps get her to reveal more about herself.

“What do you have in mind?” he asked.

“You have connections in the music industry, right?”

“I suppose.”

“You could help get a record made. With your influence. You know some people. You’ve probably done favors that need repaying. If you had to—or wanted to—you could get a record made. Am I correct?”

Berenger knew where this was going. “I could probably do that, yes. But getting it distributed is another thing altogether.”

She was persistent. “But you have connections. To major labels. To distribution.”

“Okay, let’s say I do.”

“I want to turn over my album to you. You’re going to produce it and see that it gets distributed. I’ll give you fifteen per cent of all sales, just like an agent or manager.”

Berenger almost laughed at the absurdity of it. “You want me to produce your album?”

“That’s right.”

He needed to keep her talking. Learn more about her.

“Why are you killing these musicians, Sylvia?”

“They know why, Mister Berenger.”

“You can call me Spike. What do they know?”

“They know why I’m doing this. Every one of them. And I can’t let any of them continue the sickness.”

“The sickness?”

“The plague that began in nineteen-sixty-seven, when I first met them. The pestilence that ended in nineteen-seventy, when I died.”

Berenger rubbed his eyes. The woman was out of her mind. “Are you telling me that you’re dead?”

“Look, if I get you the CDs, will you agree to the deal?”

“You know I can’t guarantee I can get an album produced and distributed. I can try but I can’t guarantee it!”

“Once you hear it, you won’t just try, you’ll want to do it.”

“Maybe that’s true. How do I get the CDs?”

“I’ll get back to you. Don’t tell the police I’ve called you, or you won’t hear from me again.”

She disconnected the call. Berenger immediately tried to redial the number but it was busy. According to his Calls Received list, it was a Chicago number. He quickly punched in Rockin’ Security’s number and told Melanie to transfer him to Tommy Briggs.

“Tommy, I need you to get the records for a mobile phone number.

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