Delete-Man: A Psychological Thriller by Johnny Vineaux Read Free Book Online Page B

‘secrets’ then don’t. All I want to know is what
happened with Josie before she died. Do you want to help me or
not?”
    “Yeah, I wanna help you. You’re
alright. But some things I just can’t tell you, man. I told you
what me and Josie talked about, showed you this—that’s enough.”
    “No. It’s not enough. Where do I
go from here? All I know is she was interested in this radio stuff,
and in your art for some reason. I need a name, someone who can
tell me what Josie was trying to find out from all of this.”
    “I told you. She was interested
in why I was successful. She’s not the first girl who came on to me
like that.”
    “Came on to you?”
    “No offence, man.”
    “What a fucking egotist you are.
Josie was looking for something—the root of these messages
probably. Or this ‘delete-man’ you mentioned. What’s that?”
    “Don’t lose your head, man. I
was beginning to like you.”
    “I don’t give a shit if you fall
in love with me. All I want is to know what you’re not telling
me.”
    “Whatever. We’re done here. I
got things to do.”
    He knelt to pick up the radios.
I grabbed him by the shirt. He pushed my arm away.
    “What the hell do you think
you’re doing?”
    “Tell me!”
    “Get lost!”
    He threw a punch which
half-caught me on the shoulder. I threw one back that connected
with his side. He backed away, then jumped at me, grabbing me in a
headlock. We tumbled around for a while, each straining to get the
upper the hand. I quickly realised he was tougher than he looked. I
wasn’t going to force it out of him.
    “Alright!” I shouted. “I’m
done!”
    He released his arm lock, and I
took my arm away from his throat.
    “You’re crazy, you know that?”
he said, leaning over and panting. He offered me his hand, and I
let him help me up.
    “I just really need to know what
you’re not telling me.”
    I helped him pick up the radios,
and we walked back to the roof entrance.
    “Some things you’re better off
not getting involved in, you know,” he said, as we walked.
    “Maybe.”
    As we drew close to the
entrance, I suddenly sprinted ahead, passing through the door and
closing it behind me. I snapped the padlock shut just as he thumped
into the door on the other side.
    “What the fuck?! Open the door
man!”
    I leant against the wall.
    “Come on, man! This ain’t funny.
We both know you’re not gonna leave me out here.”
    “Why wouldn’t I?”
    “Because soon as I do get out
you wouldn’t last ten seconds.”
    “Where do I live?”
    “I don’t know, but I’ll fucking
find you.”
    “What’s my name?”
    “Fucking arsehole, that’s your
name.”
    “Hahaha.”
    He thumped and kicked at the
door.
    “I’m going to leave now,” I
said, “but if you tell me what I want to know, then I’ll mention
you’re up here to someone before I leave.”
    “Fuck you.”
    “Ok, I’ll drop by tomorrow
morning to see how you’re doing perhaps. Maybe you can catch a
pigeon for dinner.”
    “Fuck you! Don’t you dare go
anywhere, man! I swear I’ll kill you!”
    He kicked and thumped at the
door even harder, swearing and screaming.
    “Ok! Ok! I’ll tell you, man!
Fuck! You there?”
    “I was just leaving.”
    “Wait, I’ll tell you.”
    “Go on.”
    “What do you want to know,
arsehole?”
    “What’s this delete-man?”
    “It’s a symbol.”
    “What kind of symbol?”
    “It’s supposed to have some kind
of power, some sort of effect that nobody knows about.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “That’s what it is.”
    “What does it look like?”
    “It’s…well…a kind of stick man,
but…no, more like a crucifix, with a…”
    “You don’t know, do you?”
    “Fuck you. Of course I know.
It’s…like a crucifix, but with a diagonal line through it, squiggly
line… or another cross over it. Or it can be a, man-thing, sort
of.”
    “Doesn’t sound like a very
powerful symbol.”
    “That’s what it is, now let me
out.”
    “Ok forget