Ravenous by Ray Garton Page A

put me in jail?”
    â€œIn a second, if I get so much as one more phone call from you, unless it’s a legitimate emergency. See, when I find out it’s Doris calling, I want to be able to think to myself, well, if Doris is calling, something’s really wrong , because I know she wouldn’t call for no reason. Do you think we can get to that point with you, Doris?”
    After a moment of thought, Doris sighed and bowed her head. “All right, all right,” she said, her voice quivering a little. “I-it’s just that, uh ... well, I ... I just need to know that, uh, that you’re ... there.”
    â€œWe’ll always be there, Doris. We’re not going anywhere. I promise. We’re there when you need us.”
    Back in the SUV, Hurley felt ... sorry. He felt sorry for lonely Doris Whitacker ... for battered Andrea Norton.
    He turned on the radio, which played some loud rock and roll—Led Zeppelin. The album-rock station he listened to played nothing but hard driving rock and roll from back when there was such a thing. It made him feel good.
    He turned the music down a little when a call came over the other radio. He listened closely, hoping it was close by and he could take the call.
    He did not wan to go back to the station—he wanted to keep busy.
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    10
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    Disturbed
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    Hugh precariously held the lunch tray on his left arm while he opened the bedroom door with his right. He went to the bed and sat down on the edge beside Emily, put the tray in his lap, and carefully reached out and touched the side of her sleeping face.
    She awoke with a jerk and a gasp and immediately pushed down on the mattress with both hands, dragging herself away from him, her eyes wide, lips parted. Then she blinked several times as she looked at him, as she looked around the room, her face shiny with perspiration. Her eyes closed slowly and she sighed. Her left eye was swollen and bruised and there was a small cut on her chin, another gash on her forehead, both covered by small white bandages.
    â€œHi,” she said sleepily.
    â€œHi. You didn’t eat breakfast, so I thought maybe you should have some lunch. I made you a tuna salad sandwich, and there’s a little potato salad, I’ve got an apple here, and a banana, and a Diet Dr. Pepper. You can eat all of it, or part of it, but I think you should eat something.”
    She nodded as she reached back and adjusted her pillows. She sat up with the pillows between her back and the headboard. “Thank you,” she said.
    Hugh put the tray across her lap. “If you want anything else, just let me know.”
    â€œNo, this is fine, really. It’s great, honey. Thanks.”
    â€œNo problem.”
    â€œHow’s Jeannie?”
    â€œShe’s had lunch, and now she’s taking a nap.”
    Emily nodded.
    â€œHow are you?” he asked.
    She shook her head slowly. “I keep having this nightmare. I wake up from it, then go back to sleep, and I have it again. I keep reliving that ... horrible thing.” She picked up half the sandwich and took a bite. “And something else,” she said with a frown. “A house. I keep seeing this house.” She chewed slowly. “It hurts to chew,” she whispered. “Everything hurts. I even hurt ... between ... between my ... “ Her face screwed up and her shoulders began to hitch with quiet sobs.
    â€œOh, Emily.” He reached out to touch her shoulder, but she moved away from him.
    â€œDon’t touch me,” she said with food still in her mouth. She pushed the tray down her legs and shook her head as she said, “I can’t eat. Take it away. Just go away, please. I want to sleep. That’s all. Just sleep. I need a couple more of those pills, then I’ll sleep. Please.”
    Emily reached over and took the orange prescription bottle from her nightstand. She popped the lid off and shook two Valium into her