Crampton by Thomas Ligotti, Brandon Trenz Read Free Book Online Page B

of Empire.
    HELEN
    Maybe you could tell us how your shop's address turned up on this receipt.
    With a sigh full of irritation, Fred finally gets up from his workbench to examine the receipt.
    FRED
    (reading slowly)
    "Illusions ... of ... Empire." Magic shop? I've never been too interested in magic.
    Fred squints, reading through the magnifying eyepiece.
    FRED
    Why, that ain't even my handwriting. I'm sorry, I don't think I can help you.
    BRADY
    Sir, I'm sure you're a very busy man, but this is kind of a serious matter.
    Outside, an old van--the kind with no windows along its sides--pulls in front of the shop.
    FRED
    Listen, agent whoever you are, I don't belong to any militia and I ain't never done anything illegal, least not that I know of. I'm just trying to run a business here.
    HELEN
    Can you at least give us some idea of the kind of work you do? It might help us to piece this thing together.
    FRED
    I take whatever jobs come my way. Usually it's parts.
    BRADY
    Parts of what?
    FRED
    Parts of whatever. Y'know, bits and pieces.
    Fred holds up his gizmo as an example. Even up close, the thing offers no clue as to what it is or what it does.
    FRED
    I don't typically know what the whole thing looks like, and to tell you the truth I don't much care. I just get the parts working, and let the rest sort itself out. Now, however serious it might seem, this business that brought you here ... offhand I'd say someone is having some fun at your expense.
    Outside, the van's side door slides open and a FRECKLE-FACED KID pops out. Fred sees him through the window.
    FRED
    Excuse me, I have a real customer.
    The kid enters and Fred waves him over to the far end of the counter, away from the agents.
    HELEN
    What do you think?
    BRADY
    I think maybe he's right. Someone's fucking with our heads.
    HELEN
    So, what, we give up?
    BRADY
    Give up what ? There isn't anything to give up. Fred here doesn't exactly seem like a criminal mastermind.
    HELEN
    Listen to the case, not the suspect. The case led us here.
    Fred retrieves something from a shelf, a package of some sort wrapped in oilstained brown paper and held together with twine. Fred and the kid speak in WHISPERS so they cannot be overheard. Fred seems to be giving the kid some kind of instructions.
    BRADY
    But the case doesn't make any sense!
    HELEN
    We're government agents--we're not supposed to care about what makes sense. (Beat) You know what I mean.
    The kid nods. He takes the package and exits the shop.
    HELEN
    (to FRED)
    We'd like to ask you a couple more questions.
    FRED
    No. I'm closing up for the night. I'm going to have to ask you to leave.
    BRADY
    I'm sure it will just take a few minutes.
    FRED
    I'll tell you what. It's my dinner time. If you really want to talk that bad, we can talk over at the diner.
    He takes a ratty coat off a hook and walks Brady and Helen to the front door.
    FRED
    I got to go out the back to turn the lights off. I'll meet you out front and we can walk there together.
    EXT. OUTSIDE FIX-IT SHOP - EVENING
    Brady and Helen exit the shop. Fred looks the door behind them and turns the sign to "CLOSED." Brady and Helen watch him carefully as he walks to the back of the shop. ALL THE LIGHTS GO OUT.
    They wait a few moments. No sign of Fred.
    HELEN
    Oh, no.
    BRADY
    (walking toward the back of the shop)
    Come on--how far can the old geezer have gotten?
    They hustle around the corner.
    EXT. BACK OF FIX-IT SHOP - EVENING
    The rear of the fix-it shop is a blank brick wall, bearing a few stains and patches of crumbling mortar. There is no back door.
    HELEN
    That's just wonderful.
    BRADY
    (in disbelief)
    Shit.
    (then shouting in frustration)
    SHIT!
    E
    INT. "EAT HERE" DINER
    Treacly MUZAK plays to empty tables. An advertisement for the "spectacular" magic show tomorrow at three is taped inside the front window.
    Brady and Helen enter and wearily take seats at the counter.
    BRADY
    Okay, Sweeten, what do we have so far?
    HELEN
    So far? Nothing I'd care to bring back to