Numb by Jeff Menapace

Author:Jeff Menapace [Menapace, Jeff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00LD8IMWQ
Publisher: Mind Mess Press
Published: 2014-06-26T23:00:00+00:00

27

We were in Angela’s living room. I was slumped on the sofa; she stood in front of me. I didn’t look at her as we spoke.

“So talk to me,” she said. “Tell me how it went.”

“It went fine.”

“I take it you met Manny?”

“I never got his name.”

“Eccentric fella, isn’t he?”

“To say the least.”

There was a moment of pause.

“So it went okay then?”

“Stephanie’s well-done if that’s what you mean.”

“Humor as a diversion,” she said. “What are you hiding?”

“I’m not hiding anything. I’m fine.”

“You don’t sound fine.” I could feel her stare. “You did dump her didn’t you?”

“Yes, I dumped her.” I finally looked up, trying to project some measure of confidence. “I also had quite the interesting chat with your buddy Manny.”

“Did you?”

“Yes I did.”

“What did you talk about?”

“Well let’s see…first, he commented on your beauty—got a real gift of the gab that Manny does.”

“He’s harmless.”

“Then,” I blurted, in case she intended to continue. “He happened to mention all of the men who were under your employment before me.”

“Did he?”

“Yes, he did. It would appear that even decrepit men in seedy parts of the city know all about your sexual exploits and fetishes for all things macabre.” I sat upright, gaining steam. “He told me there were guys before me. Guys just like me, doing what I was doing. Five, six, maybe even seven—he couldn’t keep track. Five, six, maybe even seven guys you fucked like a porn star so they’d follow you around like puppies, doing whatever they’re told. Or should I say, doing whatever they’re told or else?” I splayed a hand. “You wanna tell me where those guys are now?”

She remained standing, never lost her composure. “Do you believe everything you hear, Calvin?”

“Why shouldn’t I believe it? You told me yourself that you’d been following me. Choosing me. You told me that the freak I killed was getting sloppy and you had to get rid of him. Why shouldn’t I believe that there were others before me; men in my exact predicament? How do I know that you’re not planning to get rid of me? Should I feel safe because we’re fucking? You were fucking all those other guys too!”

“Will you please calm down?” she said. “Please consider the source of all this information you’re getting.”

“That’s just it, Angela. I know some of it is true. I know about the type of business you’re in. I know about your fetishes. Call me crazy, but with absolute knowledge like that, it sure as hell makes the other stuff easy to swallow.”

“You mean the stuff about the men before you?”

“Well, yeah,” I said. “Where are they?”

“Why do you want to know? Are you jealous?”

“No—”

(liar)

“—I’d simply like to know if they’re alive or not.”

She rolled her eyes and took a long breath as though about to explain something for the umpteenth time.

“First, let’s get something straight,” she began. “I don’t know where the heck Manny got his figures from. Believe it or not, there are people in this world that don’t need to be blackmailed in order to work for me.

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