TURN BACK THE TIME, BABE. BOOK 5. GIVING IT ALL MY SOUL

HAPPY AT HOME

The annoying phone ringing woke me up the worst possible way, when I was enjoying a marvellous dream. I couldn't get used to the seventies telephone ringings. I trudged out of bed and answered it with my eyes closed, dry mouth and my hair covering my face.

- Hello? -I replied brushing one lock off my face.

- Do you think it's time to be sleeping just yet?

My suspicions confirmed. If that fucking fruit loop could speak to me she had privileged information about our lives. We had changed the number yesterday.

- I've called the police, Sally. This conversation is being tapped.

It was a lie. Maybe that's exactly what I owed to do from the very beginning of this madness. But she could play superbly with my own fears.

- I hope you're joking. You know if there is police involved, it means death.

- No... erm... yes, I was joking.

Goddamit, she had cut off. Elideth, you are a bloody big mouth. What if she carries out her threat?

- Good morning. What are you doing leaving the phone off the hook?

- This phone will stay like that. Like that, ok? I've just got a threat call.

- But we changed the number...

- Yes, yesterday. And she got the information. And I know perfectly well who gave it to her.

- Hush, calm down. We're gonna let the police work on it as we should be...

- No, Freddie. We can't do that. I think that could get things worse. I've told her we were tapping her call and...

- So? What did she tell?

- That it means death.

- It won't happen anything, love. Those people do those kind of things. It's a lie to frighten you.

- She had killed someone before, ok?

- Oh, don't start again with Marlon.

- I'm starting with him as often as I damn please. Shit!!!

- Shhh. It's enough. We're leaving it off the hook if you want and there will be no calls, ok?

- Even if you put it down again there will be no calls. She knows you're at home. She controls us. Put down the phone.

As soon as he did it, rang again. We looked at each other astounded, almost unable to move. I mimicked him to pick it up and I came closer to hear her.

- Hello?

At the other side there was only silence. You couldn't hear a breath. It was her. She was baffled with Freddie's voice. Or just she wasn't good at timing now.

- Hello? -Freddie spoke again.

- Freddie... -it was nearly a mumble.

- I don't call Freddie. I'm Alfred Mason.

His code name in hotels. The phone cut off instantly.

- She hung up.

- I fear for your parents, your sister, Phoebe...

- Who is Phoebe?

- No, I mean Peter. I mean, she could attack some of our close circle.

- Eli, you can't think that way. You can't live like this. You'll end up going batshit.

- I already am. I think I am absolutely insane.

- You're not. Stop saying that.

- And you? You said you'd stay in bed with me. You can't even fulfil your promises.