Cry Baby by David Jackson Read Free Book Online Page B

Jew bastard to fuck off.’
    She feels the urge to snap. She wants to bring the brooch to her face and yell into it. What stops her is the realization of how crazy she’d look.
    ‘Noises?’ she says, because she has no better answer at the ready. She racks her brain for even the feeblest of explanations.
    Wiseman cranes his neck to look past her and into her apartment. She tries to act casual in the way she steps toward him and pulls the door almost closed behind her.
    ‘Yes,’ says Wiseman. ‘Noises. Crying. And yelling.’
    ‘Tell him to keep his huge prying schnozz out of your business.’
    ‘Maybe it was the TV? I did have it on a little loud tonight. I’m sorry if—’
    ‘No. Not the TV. It was your voice, Erin. You were shouting, and you were really upset. I just wanted to check if everything was all right.’
    ‘Sure, Samuel. Everything’s fine. No problems.’
    ‘Samuel? You’re on first name terms with this Hebe? Christ. Like I said, Erin, you need to tell the kike to take a hike.’
    The venom of this racist sickens her. She hates him even more than she did before, if that’s possible. She guesses he’s probably homophobic too. Guesses he’s probably anti-everything. She doubts that a more detestable creature has ever walked this earth.
    Wiseman continues to look at her for answers. ‘So… the yelling?’
    She struggles for an answer. The voice in her ear makes it even more difficult to concentrate.
    ‘I just thought of something, Erin. Yeah! This guy! He could be your victim.’
    ‘What?’
    The shock of the suggestion forces the word from her mouth. Wiseman blinks at her, obviously wondering how it’s possible that she didn’t hear his question. Then he narrows his eyes, which almost disappear as his bushy eyebrows collapse in on themselves.
    ‘Are you all right, Erin? Is there someone…’ He nods at the door behind her, then lowers his voice. ‘Are you in some kind of trouble?’
    Trouble? Am I in trouble? Other than my baby being snatched and me about to commit murder, what kind of diffi culties could I possibly be in?
    ‘He’s on to us, Erin. Waste him. You don’t even need to step out of the building. You could get this over with right here and now.’
    She tries to laugh. Tries to make light of the scenarios being thrown at her from all directions. But what comes out of her mouth is a humorless bark.
    ‘No,’ she says. ‘Nothing like that. Look, if you must know, I was having an argument with my ex. Over the phone. Things got a little… heated.’
    Wiseman stares, and his stare is filled with suspicion.
    ‘He doesn’t believe you, Erin. What are you waiting for? Kill the Jew bastard.’
    ‘Heated?’ says Wiseman. ‘More like a raging inferno, I’d say.’
    She gives a little shrug and an attempt at a smile. ‘What can I say? I picked the wrong guy.’
    Wiseman nods sagely. ‘It happens. I was fortunate. My Esther was with me for forty years before she died. Is there anything I can do to help?’
    ‘Yeah. Get ready to join your dead bitch in hell, Samuel.’
    Shut up, she thinks. Shut the fuck up, you loathsome piece of crap.
    ‘No. Thank you, but I just need some space, you know?’
    Wiseman nods, but she can tell he’s not wholly convinced. He continues to stand there, awaiting her next move. And she’s not sure what that should be.
    He says, ‘Going out somewhere?’
    ‘Out?’ she says, but how can she deny it? She’s coming out of her apartment with her coat on, for Christ’s sake. ‘Uhm, yeah. For a short while.’
    ‘He’s too fucking nosy, Erin. Whack him now.’
    ‘At this time of night?’ says Wiseman. He tries to look over her shoulder again. ‘Are you sure…’
    She reaches behind and grabs the door handle. Pulls the door firmly shut behind her. Wiseman stares at her again, eyes saying, Tell me the truth now, Erin. If you’re in trouble, I can help you.
    But you can’t help me, Samuel. Nobody can help me. I have no choice in what I’m