The sign was plain white paper and black Sharpie medium point marker. "Missing Child: 16 years old - 777-8762". 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7M0J1OAWU 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFJVuFDkmf 維尼
And that was all. No description, no details, not even a picture. A disgrace to milk cartons everywhere. Ed saw it plastered to the men’s room door at his favorite bar. In fact, he saw it so many times; he finally scrawled the number on his forearm so he could call it when he got home. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYqo4dJz4y 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxxH0g81mH 維尼
The woman who answered the phone whispered so lightly he couldn't make out a word she said. She cried, whimpered, sobbed, and wretched in tiny squeaks but made no attempt at clarity, despite Ed’s insistence. Finally, he grew angry and shouted into the phone. Silence followed, the receiver going cold on his ear. Finally, the woman spoke in her tiny, worried voice. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡhX9LJ4xFUb 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FuYOaEawF 維尼
“My daughter is gone... and I know you have her... please, I won't tell anyone... just tell me where she is... please..." 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVVZV9hODw 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJJMkKFWGM 維尼
Ed slammed the phone down and backed away from it. What the hell was that all about? Some freakshow, no doubt, a lonely old lady with nobody to gum at night leaves up a sign to entice just anybody to call. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGFboe7rRA 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQWEj2Kh8R 維尼
Ed was a telemarketer. He knew all about the old farts who took up his time on the phone talking about their children who live far away and never call instead of talking about how they could take advantage of 2.8 % financing for the next eight months. His job was hard enough without lonely people talking his ear off and not refinancing their house. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGpeVUUurH 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDM8Xkwxeh 維尼
But the woman on the phone was different. Maybe she was crazy enough to not even have any kids outside of her imagination. Maybe she got the idea from an episode of Magnum PI. At least the old boogers not buying his telemarketer schmeal had families to talk about, this woman was severely compensating. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgSsMRtWt8 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqXKtuavCr 維尼
He blew it off. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA9V8jRB6i 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdaYyGf7z6 維尼
*****8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H3tmVzJrp 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA0Ki3EFoE 維尼
It took a few days of convincing himself, but halfway through a desolate workout at the sweaty gym, he decided to try again. The same woman, still very distressed, answered. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWLfETEiJ5 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmzgVzNJTG 維尼
“Please… don’t hurt her; she’s all I’ve got…” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU5KOoVEzN 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN1ZPbvkmA 維尼
“Listen to me, OK? What’s your name?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDW0PHKbFR 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfXvjT7vI1 維尼
“She didn’t tell you?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVoSncwYNp 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXB64XjywF 維尼
“Who?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNJV1cGKxe 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZNqrRdWAE 維尼
“Clarissa… my little girl.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6pIB39IQt 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YJRYAzXSm 維尼
“Look… I just want to know your name.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgosru37ge 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡajJK4zUaB4 維尼
“Grenda….” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡb25sDtyZCa 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJSclZXHvl 維尼
“Ok… Grenda, I want you to listen to me. I do not have your daughter. The sign…”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvpzurSyFO 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4es2MUW5IR 維尼
“Damn the sign! I just want her back …” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mfOaZYePQ 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UKZaPuj1c 維尼
He moved the phone nervously to his other ear and spoke more swiftly, trying to get a few important words in to gain some kind of foothold in the conversation. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbXzt5WBVE 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5NdjeCN3M 維尼
“I understand that, but I need some more information….”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfqmZw3Qaj 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrUfeKiHqo 維尼
“Are you the police?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwu7pKjcHN 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmvWVKYcNp 維尼
“What? No…”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOvbqAz9ft 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡv17zmGGn9H 維尼
“Oh thank God, I’m sure you’d kill her if I‘d talked to the police.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1wefri6b6 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DbkP4Z6s5 維尼
“What are you talking about?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZNIiUZIdd 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1whwNO7lz 維尼
“Please don’t kill her; I swear I didn’t talk to the police…”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UbaQvg2Qo 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡNI0UamA91r 維尼
“I don’t want to kill her…”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEKJRuvtEe 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb3x5Qi8jX 維尼
“Have you raped her?”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4bUGgNCU5 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡhruXaXP9zx 維尼
“Oh god, lady… NO! I don’t even know her, I don’t have her, I’m just trying…”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeKwDd28d6 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyEmJiIytk 維尼
“You… don’t have my daughter?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡscYRl6VpjO 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxkwOYlgfl 維尼
“No.”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡer0Eh7vvDk 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡbijgv3XMqx 維尼
And the phone went dead. He looked up to see a line of gym-goers staring at him, waiting to use the phone. A man twice his size and shape loomed over him, even the man’s “mom” tattoo looked like it could kick Ed’s ass. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkb5yukcDs 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhirSzpqGJ 維尼
“There’s a two minute limit on that phone, pal.” The big man said. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JHLzbeqQ7 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFN5ZvU4p1 維尼
Ed handed it over and walked away. He went about his workout, only attending the gym once a week because he had to pay for it for another two years, three months, two weeks and four days. As he pressed the unforgiving bar over his throat the same hysterical mom voice counted the reps out in his mind. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNehyNrmFk 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqLR3w6dEd 維尼
After the workout he sat in the car and smoked a cigarette. The phone number was still on his forearm. He couldn’t get away from it throughout the workout; every upper body exercise he wasted time on gave him a view of the number. He had it memorized. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHaOmRSD0W 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7nnoI3Sgc 維尼
What really got to him was that she had the nerve to hang up on him. Here he was, trying to help, and she cuts him off. Anybody else would have just hung up on her crazy ass after the first phone call. Maybe even call the cuckoo squad with the big nets and jackets with heavy strings. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X1XRo4kUt 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡBILEAjHAAe 維尼
He drove to his bar and went directly to the payphone in the back by the men’s room door. The sign was still there, looking out of place amidst the half-peeled pin-ups and dried beer labels. As he dialed the number a warm smell of rot wafted in and out of the men’s room. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr6XUTSOHB 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bas5nGagh 維尼
“Please…”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJkuAI8jFZ 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGS10qy8f6 維尼
“Shut up and listen lady, I got your daughter.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKIBuTxcSE 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡfx5i1erjVT 維尼
She was silent, except for the buzz of the telephone line, somehow louder than before. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CZmaxcD3u 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgQfxVNmla 維尼
“You there? Cuz if you ain’t there, I’m hanging up forever.”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnemaTmBk4 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIZTukHxzJ 維尼
“I’m here.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIKm1FRd9w 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ssvgbfbLq 維尼
“Good. Listen up; I want the following items in one big bag. You bring two bags I never call again. Got it?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl8u7Rk6OR 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5YT3b7Vcf 維尼
“Yes. Is she OK?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2fcsVspfz 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD2Wey3Hsd 維尼
“Wha- yeah, she’s fine. This is what I want, write it down.” He holds the phone away from his ear and stifles a huge laugh. He pounds a quick shot and goes back to the phone. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjcHeU2g5a 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjJIHGfUl8 維尼
“I want a large sausage and eyeball pizza from Aldos on the corner of 5th and Walnut, a pair of men’s Goldtoe socks, a bag of cat hair, and a small chalkboard with your address on it. Got it?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4BzMQLtIf 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4d97vTZYi 維尼
She repeated everything back the very second he finished speaking. Her voice was brighter, almost shrill with either excitement or fear, Ed couldn’t tell which. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6yBiJULGE 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡr44Tk958Uw 維尼
“Let me speak to her please… just for a second8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwrEFujFnK 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnriaKoQAS 維尼
“Not today, you make the drop first and then you talk to her.”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡytuObk7F2u 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp6I1Qnvol 維尼
“I just need to know if she’s OK, please!” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxzU0tfGZ4 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB6P2erM8g 維尼
“No... I said…” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3ayauwwBK 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9LsrkZGN7 維尼
“I’m BEGGING YOU sir, for the sake of my sanity…” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV1uL0bX6m 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwqKVcjSIH 維尼
“Sanity, woman you are out of your…” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FS3AaREh0 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTpdRusxbg 維尼
“DAMMIT I WANT TO SPEAK TO MY DAUGHTER NOW!!!” She shrieked at him in a voice that sounded like a mountain lion with a fishhook in its balls. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPJKPPka1Q 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Wkr3n1LF 維尼
He hissed into the phone, careful so no one would hear. “Don’t you fucking curse at me Bitch, I’ve got your damn daughter and if you wanna see her…” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbiNwQwywZ 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55EC3wr4ra 維尼
“NO. You let me speak to her now or so help me I will rip out your heart and consume it in front of you!!!” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡScRMuT3aA3 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38oG7WXW10 維尼
“You don’t know…”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5fygc0txM 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQTUub8dn7 維尼
“No, you don’t know… I’ve killed thousands like you, better than you. I’ve scooped brains out of their heads, violated them with thick branches, I’ve eaten men’s genitalia in front of their emasculated, enslaved yet still living bodies, and I’ve broken legions… legions of men better than you.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxFg0O8IpR 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsJLqa1rLB 維尼
His ear was red from pressing it too tight to his face. His hands went a pale white as the blood rushed out of them. Ed hung up the phone.8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMg00wS3L2 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ErSIAPudq 維尼
And immediately it rang again. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsLwhne4z3 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡt957lMsN5x 維尼
He backed away from it. He looked to the sign, hanging there innocently. The door opened and a massive man in a painter’s uniform came out of the bathroom, adjusting his sloppy white overalls. He answered the phone. Ed lifted a hand to stop him, but he answered anyway. He listened for a moment, looked at Ed, and then listened for another moment. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8CE45ZuUQ 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlz0C9GBAE 維尼
When he hung up the phone, the painter walked right up to Ed, smelling of turpentine, canvas, and cigars. His breath made Ed gag. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiKoSrxVWC 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62RYz2NWC6 維尼
“Why don’t we have a drink or five? I’m buying.” He had a deep, rusty voice like an old cowboy. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVT9TBM1on 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXIXuaFUlM 維尼
“I don’t think so…” Ed said. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKK33ZHtlU 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ms6cwDw5i 維尼
“I don’t care if you don’t think so, I ain’t asking. Sit down.” Ed sat down. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEpC6lPWcC 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaKaqCweXv 維尼
“Whadd’ya drinking Ed? You a whiskey man? A beer fella? What is it?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzcrI5PMg8 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZZMjrKfU3 維尼
“Well, if you’re buying… I like Scotch. Black label.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5A260K0sI 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3yCc4EmcQ 維尼
“Black label it is.” The painter dropped a hundred on the bar. “As much as that will get us, ma’am.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jRwOcHJhe 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkwP0lDk6R 維尼
“Who are you?” Ed asked. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52VknQi5DZ 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLsSLpRPr2 維尼
“I don’t know. I never met me before tonight.” He chuckled at that. “Not important who I am. I wanna talk about you. What do you do?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKFaz5HByF 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpJeyjS8BU 維尼
“I’m a telemarketer.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hMybJQr9H 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqL3J91TRt 維尼
“Well, ain’t that something. That what you set out to do there, partner?” The bartender opened a bottle and left two glasses. The painter poured two glasses to the rim and handed one to Ed. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq3Fi4t6aq 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDJNoBRbuN 維尼
“No. I went to school. I wanted my own business.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPS1HY7mQS 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHiLBE9UPG 維尼
“And what would that be?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡJulGQq84sz 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGRvzDy4Sq 維尼
“Toy store, you know… custom made toys. High dollar stuff, like the crap I never got as a kid. You need money to do that kind of thing, though.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BDnAxsafq 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37nmKgE9wC 維尼
“I’m sorry to hear that, I really am. Do you have parents Ed?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4EyLu7N4E 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlinwjeFnw 維尼
Ed gulped his drink. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9i1uTYIFP 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsrL8s2DAE 維尼
“Why are you asking me this? Who the hell are you? What did she tell you on the phone?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8TYNOWluH 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSy4NzciUV 維尼
The painter smiled, his stubbly face stretched and worn. “She…. she wants to know about your parents. About your mother.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWO8DmlD5S 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA30mexcSs 維尼
“My father lives in Cleveland with another family. He’s sixty years old and has twelve grandkids. My mother’s been living in the dirt for thirty some years now.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVedKuaSEv 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡih9VTbSxna 維尼
The painter winced and ran his paint speckled fingers across his wrinkled eyes. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD0k68vkNQ 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgCIYgp66Z 維尼
“Well damn, Ed… I didn’t know.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pj1ODThDL 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSpeYQFjc3 維尼
“Car accident. I survived because I was in a car seat. My mom went through the windshield. My dad… later on, told me she left a bloody streak on the pavement a hundred feet in front of the car. That was my 18th birthday. He left the next day.”8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrrY6G4Q31 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq7mGqEg1e 維尼
The painter capped the scotch bottle and rolled it to Ed. He got up off the barstool and put a hand on Ed’s shoulder. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj0Nstr564 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDsStyTYjb 維尼
“I am sorry. Nobody should be without a mother.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbvzlIL7Y1 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtViQxLFdm 維尼
And with that the painter walked away. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3YQ2tH7CY 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWwUZtVv1Y 維尼
After finishing much of the Scotch, Ed decided to walk home and try to forget about everything. He knew it was futile if a bottle of black label couldn’t cover his memories, but he decided a walk wouldn’t kill him. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFxo0ljEZK 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvYRbiKSm4 維尼
When he arrived home his front door was kicked in, the stainless steel deadbolt so much scrap metal on the floor and the heavy door split in several places. When he pushed the door open it fell to the ground in three separate chunks. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3v34Q2NtR1 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡMY4rS0bR6I 維尼
Whatever had burst through the front door had cut a swath through his living room and into the dining room. It was dark except for a light in the kitchen on the far end of the apartment. The sofa looked like it had been through a trash compactor. The air was thick with gypsum dust and debris. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3UJX0Je4P 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbaMz9368B 維尼
There was a large black bag on his kitchen table. The scotch abandoned him, filtering itself through his liver to avoid being a part of this discovery. He approached it slowly. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08asFTX0Zk 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ81dMmWU6j 維尼
The pizza box was the first item he asked for and the first item he pulled out of the bag. Sure enough, the sausage pizza was peppered with eyeballs. He tossed it off the table, afraid to look at it. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAbLecsoYN 維尼
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He found the men’s socks, with feet still in them. The bag of cat hair was full of cats. He shoved everything back into the bag and tied it shut. He hefted it over his shoulder and headed out the door. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhjnUYZ1tW 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXbhILaUi7 維尼
His body heaving in pain from the hangover and shock at the gory findings he couldn’t go far. He stuffed the bag into the complex’s dumpster and went back home. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaREoN1YvU 維尼
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His phone was ringing. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdVQ11k32k 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuUbf8tyAM 維尼
He stood outside the house, listening to the phone sound like some distant cricket playing a death song on its hind legs for him. Somehow, he had messed up like he had never messed up before. And now he was going to pay for it. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8r3mUVwkL 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzfBYrrVmf 維尼
It continued to ring. Compelled, he went inside and moved through the darkness toward his phone. His muscles twitched under his cold skin, his breath gasping from him. He was crying. Snot ran down his nose. It rang again. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡevRgYDZujN 維尼
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And again. And again. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSUKqvSboz 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4swIAoB3B 維尼
He picked up the phone and it almost slipped in his clammy hand. He couldn’t bring himself to say hello. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEkkKpTZ6X 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9W8TQf2XB 維尼
“You don’t have my daughter do you?” The woman’s voice was heavy, but calm. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡutierLmdE2 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1eaKZrc4M 維尼
He couldn’t answer, he was too afraid. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK8OBEeCPM 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BeqyBu6y9 維尼
“Please, just be honest with me. Do you know where my daughter is? Do I have a daughter?” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XB29RYRwS 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIJ4hO6q3T 維尼
“I… I don’t know.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfhsVNRotc 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzhMIpI0S9 維尼
“I didn’t think so. You know, I try so hard, I miss her so much. You made me terribly angry. I haven’t been that angry in centuries. Not since… well, when I get angry I see things how they really are.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq2aaUdxik 維尼
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She paused and Ed gulped air and swallowed. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡAirvXMWtE1 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDSYYRw90l 維尼
“I don’t have a daughter. I never did. But I’m so old, so old, I spent so many years alone thinking about a little girl of my own to love and cherish and nurture and teach and hold….” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIcuR7nA11 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT8zB480Sp 維尼
“But I am the only one of my kind, and when I’m gone… you will be the only one who will know I ever existed. Well, there’s a painter who may have some dreams about me…” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOysAT0IQE 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BYhYJW5rM 維尼
“I wish you could have known me a long time ago, before I got so old. I could do such wonderful things. I could have been a good mother to you as well. I still could be… but I’m afraid I’ve ruined that with my temper, haven’t I? I’m so sorry. Please, find some way to forgive me.” 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRZebusLTg 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcmT7FqWXw 維尼
“I’ll leave you now. Please, take down the sign you found. It’s the only one left. I wish to cause no further harm…. Good luck to you.”_8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y9ZYScATG 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBrXIxmgri 維尼
Ed listened into the phone until he passed out with it pressed against his ear. He slept deeply, full of dreams he wouldn’t remember. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3VbjZN5oy 維尼
8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDyI4rOeqh 維尼
The next day he took a cab to his favorite bar and peeled the sign off the men’s room door. He tore it up and burned the little pieces in an ash tray. He ordered a club soda and a cheeseburger. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCq9tfiCkJ 維尼
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When he finished he walked over to the phone, and dialed a familiar number. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvbDoycvRp 維尼
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End. 8964 copyright protection112ＰＥＮＡＮＡBllpu9DP3J 維尼
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