Daddy's Gone a Hunting

85

When Doug and Sandra got back to the apartment, the message light was flashing on the phone in the foyer. Sandra said, “I’ll check it, Dougie.”

He gripped her arm. “I like to check my own phone messages.”

“Dougie, you’re hurting me. I’ll have a black-and-blue mark. I bruise easy. Well, just go answer it yourself.” Her heels beating an angry staccato on the marble floor, she flounced down the hallway toward the bedroom. “And I’m getting my stuff together and going home!” she yelled back. “I don’t need to put up with your lousy mood anymore today!”

Go and be damned, Doug thought. He pushed the play button on the answering machine. It was from the caller he feared. The voice was ominously friendly. “Doug, about our earlier conversation. I think you went a bit overboard with your remarks. I do expect payment in full on the terms I laid out. I’ve done some fact-checking. You told me a few months ago that you had an offer on the table for the property and you told me who made it. You did tell me the truth about that, and that’s good. You gave me the important details, including the down payment they were willing to make. But there’s one problem now. They bought another site in Long Island City last month, so they don’t need or want your place anymore.”

There was a pause. “Just so you know,” the message continued, “I also understand that you may not be able to collect the insurance on the property. That’s most unfortunate. I want to be clear: I’m willing to give you one more week to put together what you owe me. All of it. One more week and that’s final.”

The click in his ear sounded like a gunshot as Doug put down the receiver. He heard Sandra coming back down the hall. This time her attitude was different. “Dougie, I’m sorry. I know how upset you are. Call Bernard and let him drive us up to Westchester and let’s have a nice cozy lunch at an inn somewhere.”

“I can’t do that,” Doug said, his voice measured and calm. “As soon as Kate is settled in her private room, I’m going over to the hospital to see her.” He looked at Sandra. “And I’m going alone.”