Free Deadside in Bug City by Randy Chandler Page B

light-headed and his legs seemed a bit rubbery and disconnected from his hips. He fished coins out of his pocket, fed a couple of quarters into the slot and picked up the receiver. He punched his home number. A plump woman with huge breasts came out of the Ladies Room, tugging at the seat of her tight slacks. She smiled at him. Winked a painted eye. He smiled back at her but the corners of his mouth felt sluggish and his smile didn’t feel much like a smile. More like a grimace. The faraway ringing in his ear somehow gave him a sense of dislocation. A movie-like image flashed through his mind: a phone ringing in a tomb; a desiccated hand reaching to answer it. Joe shuddered. How many rings was that? Six? Seven? Why wasn’t she answering? What was wrong? Had something happened to Sara? Maybe she’s out looking for me. No, that didn’t make sense. He hadn’t been gone that long. She was probably in the bathroom, maybe taking a shower. Had she showered before work this morning? He couldn’t remember.
    He hung up the phone and went back to the table where Suzie was lighting another smoke. The song on the jukebox finished with a twanging bang. The chorus of distant sirens outside reminded him of a pack of howling dogs.
    “Did you get her?” Suzie asked as he sat down.
    “No answer. She’s probably taking a shower or something.”
    “Let’s have another drink and you can try her again later.”
    “I don’t know,” he said with growing concern. He looked at his watch. “We’re usually eating supper about now. Maybe we should call a cab and head on over there. You hungry?”
    “She might not like me dropping in unannounced. You go ahead. I’ll stay here till I decide what to do.”
    “I can’t just leave you.”
    “You’re sweet,” she said, smiling. “But I’ll be okay. I’m a big girl.”
    “Yeah, but Gary’s bigger. And meaner.” He winced. “Not that you’re mean. You know what I mean.”
    She laughed. “I know. Really, I’ll be fine. You go home to your wife.”
    Joe sighed. Then he rubbed his palms together with feigned enthusiasm and said, “What the hell, let’s have another round. I’ll call again in a few minutes. That’ll give her time to finish her shower.”
    Even as he said the words, he knew she wasn’t in the shower. She wouldn’t be taking a shower at suppertime. She would be pacing the floor, trying to decide if she should be worried or angry that he was late for supper—if she was home and nothing was wrong.
    Something was wrong. He could feel it. He could hear it. One of those sirens out there in the wild night could be screaming its way to his house.
    End of Excerpt
    HELLz BELLz is available on Kindle and Nook

About The Author
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    Randy Chandler is the author of the new novels Dime Detective and Daemon of the Dark Wood , and of two previously published novels Bad Juju and HELLz BELLz . He also co-authored Duet for the Devi l with t. Winter-Damon (God rest his soul) and has contributed short stories to numerous anthologies. Randy has been a magazine editor/publisher, a freelance book reviewer, a mental health worker, a gas-pump jockey, an ambulance attendant, a soldier in Vietnam, and a funeral home flunky. He often haunts fields of carnage where angels and devils do battle.

Also by Randy Chandler
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    DIME DETECTIVE

Comet Press
     
    When barroom bouncer Joe Dall’s ex-wife is murdered, he finds himself pressed into service as a novice private eye. Something very dark and deadly lurks in the lush shadows of the sleepy Florida town and if he can’t unmask the killer soon, others close to Joe will die. Working on a powerful client’s dime, Joe Dall’s first case could be his last.
     
    “The new breed of retro authors isn’t getting paid by the word and, therefore, isn’t padding thin stories; instead, they’re crafting their books with considerable care and quality, and this novel is every bit a winner. Chandler introduces PI Joe Dall in a slick,