分节阅读_144

  ing voig slowly away
  from ali't sure if i could lie as gly with her eyes on
  me. ”everything is fine, okay? just give me a minute and i'll explain
  everything, i promise.”
  i paused, surprised that she hadn't i.
  ”mom?”
  ”be very ot to say anything uo.” the voice i
  heard now was as unfamiliar as it ected. it was a man's tenor
  voice, a very pleasant, generic voice — the kind of voice that you heard
  in the bad of luxury ercials. he spoke very quickly.
  ”now, i doo hurt your mother, so please do exactly as i say,
  and she'll be fine.” he paused for a miee
  horror. ”that's very good,” he gratulated. ”er me, and
  do try to sound natural. please say, 'no, mom, stay where you are.'”
  ”no, mom, stay where you are.” my voice was barely more than a whisper.
  ”i see this is going to be difficult.” the voice was amused, still
  light and friendly. ”why don't you walk into another room now so your
  fa't ruihing? there's no reason for your mother to
  suffer. as y, please say, 'mom, please listen to me.' say it
  now.”
  ”mom, please listen to me,” my voice pleaded. i walked very slowly to the
  bedroom, feeling alice's worried stare on my back. i shut the door behind
  me, trying to thihrough the terrripped my brain.
  ”there now, are you alo answer yes or no.”
  ”yes.”
  ”but they still hear you, i'm sure.”
  ”yes.”
  ”all right, then,” the agreeable voiued, ”say, 'mom, trust me.'”
  ”mom, trust me.”
  ”this worked out rather better thaed. i ared to wait,
  but your mother arrived ahead of schedule. it's easier this way, isn't
  it? less suspey for you.”
  i waited.
  ”now i want you to listen very carefully. i'm goio get
  away from your friends; do you think you do that? answer yes or no.”
  ”no.”
  ”i'm sorry to hear that. i ing you would be a little more creative
  than that. do you think you could get away from them if your mother's
  life depe? answer yes or no.”
  somehow, there had to be a way. i remembered that we were going to the
  airport. sky harbor iional airport: crowded, gly laid out…
  ”yes.”
  ”that's better. i'm sure it won't be easy, but if i get the slightest
  hint that you have any pa would be very bad for your
  mother,” the friendly voiised. ”you must know enough about us by
  now to realize how quickly i would know if you tried t anyone
  along with you. and how little time i would h your mother
  if that was the case. do you uand? answer yes or no.”
  ”yes.” my voice broke.
  ”very good, bella. now this is what you have to do. i want you to go to
  your mother's house. he phohere will be a number. call it,
  and i'll tell yo from there.” i already kneould
  go, ahis would end. but i would follow his instrus
  exa you do that? answer yes or no.”
  ”yes.”
  ”before noon, please, bella. i haven't got all day,” he said politely.
  ”where's phil?” i asked tersely.
  ”ah, be ow, bella. wait until i ask you to speak, please.”
  i waited.
  ”it's important, now, that you don't make your friends suspi
  you go ba. tell them that your mother d that you
  talked her out of e for the time beier me,
  'thank you, mom.' say it now.”
  ”thank you, mom.” the tears were io fight them back.
  ”say, 'i love you, mom, i'll see you soon.' say it now.”
  ”i love you, mom.” my voice was thick. ”i'll see you soon,” i promised.
  ”goodbye, bella. i look forward to seeing you again.” he hung up.
  i held the phone