Disturbia (The 13th) (5 page)

“Hello,” he said in a mellow tone.

“It's me,” her soft voice whispered.  “I’m just checking on you Sal. Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine.”

The sound of his voice touched a soft and familiar spot within her. She didn't want to admit it, but she missed him. Maybe she was wrong for leaving him like that. Or maybe she wasn't. But at least she owed it to herself to be a friend to him.  “I would like to meet up with you, I think we should talk.”

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.  Could she want him back?  Does she miss him? The thoughts raced through his mind and he almost felt a split second of pleasure, but it was rapidly overtaken by the throbbing pain throughout his head. His brain felt like it was on fire. “I think so too,” he said. “Tomorrow...”

“Tomorrow's fine,” she said with a smile in her voice.  She felt a bit of relief mixed with excitement in the pit of her stomach. “Okay, I'm sorry if I woke you. We'll talk in the morning.”

After he put down the phone he sat at the edge of the cot.  Images started to play in his mind of the most horrific dream he had ever had in his entire life of him killing his boss, his landlord, and his irritating ass neighbor Lucy.  Drops of sweat rolled down the sides of his cheeks and he went into the bathroom and splashed his face with cold water.
What a day,
he thought as he stared at himself in the mirror. He was relieved that it had all been a horrible nightmare.

All of a sudden, the sound of police sirens shattered his moment of peace.

“Sal Chambers,” the voice over the speaker announced.  “Come out with your hands up.”

Holding his breath and wide eyed, he ran to the front of the apartment.

His heart jumped as he heard banging on the door. 

Was it just a dream? Please tell me it's not true. It was all a dream. Please tell me.
He continued to plead with himself.  His thoughts raced faster than a kangaroo trying to save itself from being a lion's dinner as he tried to decipher through the day's events - or what he thought to had only been a dream.  Suddenly, his attention geared to the bloody trail leading to the window near his cot.  It ended near his dingy, blood-stained jeans on the floor. He stood there for second. The sounds of sirens, knocking, and the speaker calling his name muffled in the background.
Had it all been a dream? And, if so, from what point? Had he awaken at all today? Or was he still sleeping even at this very moment? 
The grogginess in his head stalled his ability think. 

Slowly, he reached for his jeans and dug into the pockets.  Out he pulled the red and black wrapper with the number six on it.  He dropped to his knees.  It hadn't been a dream - although he barely remembered anything all.

All of a sudden, the door burst open and he was tackled to the ground. 

Saturday, July 14, 2012 7:00 am

Miguel looked up at the sun filling the sky as he opened the front door to the store. He was in a better mood than he had been in months. Yesterday's totals were great and a wave of optimism moved through his body. 

“Again...naw this is too good to be true,” he said to himself. 

Another package. Just like yesterday without a return sender. Just sitting there. 
Now that is weird,
he thought. He knew for a fact that mail didn't run on Saturdays. That had been stopped due to government cutbacks.  Still yet, a smile flashed across his face.  He didn't care who the hell was sending it. As long as it sold out like it did yesterday, he was happy.  The kids loved it, and he would continue putting it on display as long as they were buying...he was selling. Besides, it wasn't illegal. After all, it was as harmless as candy.

The End.

Dear Readers,

Thank you for reading DISTURBIA.  If you enjoyed DISTURBIA, I would appreciate it if you would help others enjoy this book, too.  Lend it. This e-book is lending-enabled, so please, share it with a friend.  Recommend it.  Please help other readers find this book by recommending it to friends, readers’ groups and discussion boards.  Review it.  Please tell other readers why you liked this book by reviewing it on Amazon.  If you do write a review, please send it to me in an email at [email protected].  I’d like to gift you a copy of my next book as a way of thanking you.

Tabatha Manuel

Coming Summer  2012…

Snatched
(a Jordan Crimson novel)

Other Books by Tabatha Manuel

"Dying to Find Jordan - The Stranger Within"

"Poison in the Shadows" a Jordan Crimson novel
(Crimson Murder)

"RED – Deadly Shades of Passion"

“
101 PR & Marketing Tips to Grow Your Business in a Recession”

Available on Amazon in print & kindle formats

About The Author
Born September 12, 1981, Tabatha Manuel was born and raised in Detroit, MI. She attended Cass Technical High and then graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelor’s in Communications with a major in Public Relations.  Writing has always been her passion, and while at WSU she wrote for the campus newspaper, the South End.  In 2004, she established Manuel Public Relations, an events and entertainment PR agency.  She currently resides in West Bloomfield, MI.