LOSING IT

“Hey—” he called, stumbling after her.

Reva was almost to the door.

“Hey—” The man was waving wildly to her.

She pulled open the glass storm door, jammed her key in the lock, and pushed hard.

It didn’t budge.

Wrong key.

“Hey—” He was only a few yards behind now.

Reva spun around to face him, her mouth open, about to scream, her features stretched wide.

Breathing hard, her pursuer stopped at the bottom of the stoop. “Your taillight—it’s broken,” he said between gulps of air.

“What?” Reva remained frozen in place, her back pressed against the glass storm door.

“Your taillight. I accidentally bumped into it back in Dalby’s parking lot,” the man said, struggling to regain his breath.

Reva stared at him, not understanding, still waiting for him to make his move, to spring his plan of terror on her.

“I accidentally smashed into your taillight. I’m really sorry,” the man said, taking off his cap and wiping perspiration off his broad forehead. “Come here. I’ll show you.”

He started back toward her car.

“My taillight?” Reva cried, not recognizing her own terror-tight voice. “You followed me all the way here because of my taillight?”

Still feeling shaky and uncertain, she followed him back to the driveway. Sure enough, her left taillight was exposed, the plastic over the bulb knocked off and gone.

“I hate it when people bump your car and then just drive off,” the man explained, replacing his cap. “So I followed you. I was trying to signal you. Didn’t you see me?”

“Uh... no,” Reva replied, feeling very foolish.

“Here.” The man shoved a small white card into her hand. “That’s my insurance agent. Let me write my name and number on the other side. The insurance company will take care of everything. I’m sorry about it. Just careless, I guess.”

Reva’s hand was still trembling as she took the card from the man. She felt weak, totally drained.

How could I have let myself get so scared over nothing? she asked herself.

She thanked the man for being so thoughtful.

What a waste of time, she thought. Daddy’ll just have the car fixed at his garage. Why bother involving an insurance company over a stupid taillight?

“Thanks again!” she called as the man climbed into his car and backed down the long drive.

I’m losing it. I’m really losing it, Reva thought, slowly making her way up to the house.

This man was being a good citizen, and I acted like a paranoid nut-case!

Oh, well, she told herself, unlocking the kitchen door and calling out “hello.” Her call hung unanswered in the silent house, and she knew Yvonne and Michael must be out. I do have reason to be paranoid, though.

She tossed her coat down and pulled off the blood-soaked sweater.

Whoever’s trying to scare me is doing a really good job, Reva decided.

First my cut lip. Then the hideous bottle of blood.

She opened the cabinet under the sink and shoved the sweater into the wastebasket.

What’s next? she wondered with a cold shudder.

What’s next?

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20