Page 25 of Positively Pricked
In the meantime, I was using the landline, which oddly enough was one of the few things included with the rent – excluding long distance, of course. So thanks to an old cordless telephone, I could still make and receive calls.
In theory, anyway.
I glanced at the charging station, where the cordless telephone was supposed to be. The station was empty.
Well, this was just perfect.
No phone. No message. No rent.
And I just knew that if I opened the pantry, I'd also find practically no groceries, even though I'd been buying far more than my share.
Charlotte's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Just accept it. Your cell's gone."
I gave the charging station another glance. The way it looked, my cell wasn't theonlyphone that was missing. I looked back to Charlotte and said, "It's notreallygone. It's somewhere in the house."
Hopefully.
Charlotte looked unconvinced. "If you say so."
Finally, I was feeling more awake. "But wait, you said you calledyesterday?"
"Yeah. Around five."
My gaze narrowed. "So shewashome."
"You mean Paisley? Yeah. Why?"
I made a sound of annoyance. "Because she hasn't been around."
Charlotte laughed. "You say it like it's abadthing."
I knew what Charlotte meant. Paisley was a little on the dramatic side. And Ihateddrama, just like I hated it when Paisley cranked up the thermostat, even when she was on her way out the door.
Still, Ihadto catch up with her. It was, after all, my best shot at snagging the rent money. I looked to Charlotte and explained, "I've been calling her for days, but she hasn't been answering. And of course, I know why."
Charlotte's eyebrows lifted. "Because she's too busy boning her professor?"
"No." I hesitated. "Well, yeah, probably. But that's not what I meant. Imeanshe's avoiding me because the rent's due."
Charlotte was frowning now. "So she stiffed you? Again?"
I tried not to look as worried as I felt. "Well, technically, she always pays, so I'm sure I'll get it eventually."
After a lot of begging, pleading, and yes, occasionally stalking.
Charlotte gave a derisive snort. "Yeah. Like two months late."
This was only a slight exaggeration. "So anyway," I said, "yesterday, I getsodesperate that I call her cell phone from this catering gig – meaning a number she wouldn't recognize – and shefinallyanswers."
"So you tricked her, huh?" Charlotte gave a slow nod. "Nice."
"Oh yeah, she just 'loved' that," I said. "But anyway, she tells me that she's out of town."
"Really? Where?"
I gave a dismissive wave of my hand. "She didn't say. But the point is, she tells me that she'd justloveto give me the rent money now, but she can't, because she's gone 'til Wednesday."
Charlotte made a scoffing sound. "And you actually bought that story?"
