The Evil Inside by Philip Taffs Read Free Book Online Page B

wife.
    Before I left for Frisco, I’d made Mia agree to see a counsellor with me. Our move to New York hadn’t had the resuscitative effect on her mental state that I’d hoped it would. Maybe this counsellor, who I’d booked us in to see Wednesday lunchtime, could help thaw her out a little.
    *
    ‘So that’s how we’re going to make the world appear more interesting, more exciting – and, of course, more profitable – through coolcams.com.’
    Anthony smiled and rubbed his hands together, like a surgeon scrubbing down after a successful operation. The room was silent. ‘Any questions, guys?’ His face was still set on ‘trust me’.
    The three kids who’d started the company broke into loose spontaneous applause and let out a couple of enthusiastic ‘whoa’s. Even the forty-five-year-old suits found it hard to disguise their excitement: they too grinned like love-struck teenagers.
    The larger of the two VCs tried to rein in the excitement a little. He’d seen a pitch or two in his time and knew that first impressions didn’t always count, despite the obvious chemistry between our two companies.
    ‘Thank you very much, Anthony and Guy – and the other members of your team who put such a lot of work into today’s presentation. Your efforts have obviously struck a chord with some of us here today. But, as you know, there are three other agencies in the race and we still have one more to meet with.’
    ‘Thanks for giving us the opportunity, Bob,’ Anthony responded, now in full statesman mode. He straightened his tie and ran a Rolexed hand through his wheatfield hair. ‘We’ve really enjoyed working with you on this project and hope that – if we’re fortunate enough to win your business – we can work together to make coolcams something really, really special.’
    We packed up our boards and Anthony’s Dell laptop and shook a warm circle of hands. My boss couldn’t resist a final little plug. ‘And remember, even if you choose
not
to use Brave Face as your ad agency, we can still help you out with your PR – if we’re still talking to you, that is!’ The coolcams crew laughed. It’s a good closer.
    ‘They’ll probably want to make a decision relatively soon,’ Anthony smiled. We were approaching the airport car park.
    ‘When do you think we might hear?’ I asked.
    ‘It seems like they want everything yesterday.’ Anthony swung the hire car into the Hertz check-out lane. ‘Not surprising when you’re smart-ass kids with big ideas and egos to match.’ We parked, got out, and started trotting towards Departures.
    ‘I reckon they’ll get back to us by the end of the week. At the latest.’
    ‘Olcott Races, Callum’s Day, doo dah, doo dah … Olcott Races, Callum’s Day, oh–the-doo-dah-day …’
    Even though I’d only been gone a day, I’d really missed my boy. ‘Go!’ I yelled. We raced each other down the long ninth-floor corridor.
    I usually let Callum win. But every now and again, I sprinted at full tilt – just to freak him out.
    ‘Wow, Daddy!’ he panted as we trotted back and round the dogleg to room 901. ‘You’re even faster than a … really fast rocket!’
    He paused and pointed to an electrical socket on the corridor wall between our room and 902. ‘Hey, “rocket” – that sounds the same as “socket”, doesn’t it, Daddy?’
    I nodded. I didn’t even know he knew the word ‘socket’ – it was quite advanced, even for an especially curious three year old.
    ‘Stay away from the sockets, Daddy!’ he cried gaily as he pushed our door open and bounded down the hallway.
    A sudden chill passed through me. I felt a little faint.
    Mia frowned at me from the kitchenette with a ladle dripping passata sauce in her hand.
    ‘What’s wrong, Guy?’ You look like you’ve just seen a ghost?’
    She was right: in a way I had.
    *
    ‘And what brings you good people here today?’
    Our counsellor was wearing an open-necked Ralph Lauren check shirt while a heavy