Button, Button: Uncanny Stories Read Free

for good. He'd sweated it out and now it was payday!
    The tires made a crisp sound on the pavement as he turned the car onto the quiet, tree-lined street. "How far?" he asked. She didn't answer and he looked at her threateningly. Her eyes were shut.
    "How far? I said."
    Carrie clutched her hands together. "Greg, please-" she started. Tears were squeezing out beneath her lids.
    "Damn it!"
    Carrie whimpered and said something. "What?" he snapped. She drew in a wavering breath. "The middle of the next block," she said.
    "Which side?"
    "The right."
    Greg smiled. He leaned back against the seat and relaxed. That was more like it. Dumb bitch tried the same old "I-forget" routine every time. When would she learn that he had her down cold? He almost chuckled. She never would, he thought; because, after this one, he'd be gone and she could dream for nothing.
    "Tell me when we reach it," he said.
    "Yes," she answered. She had turned her face to the window and was leaning her forehead against the cold glass. Don't cool it too much, he thought, amused; keep it hot for Daddy. He pressed away the rising smile as she turned to look at him. Was she picking up on him? Or was it just the usual? It was always the same. Just before they reached wherever they were going, she'd look at him intently as if to convince herself that it was worth the pain. He felt like laughing in her face. Obviously, it was worth it.
    How else could a beast like her land someone with his class? Except for him, her bed would be the emptiest, her nights the longest.
    "Almost there?" he asked.
    Carrie looked to the front again. "The white one," she said.
    "With the half-circle drive?"
    She nodded tightly. "Yes."
    Greg clenched his teeth, a spasm of avidity sweeping through him. Fifty thousand if it was worth a nickel, he thought. Oh, you bitch, you crazy bitch, you really nailed it for me this time! He turned the wheel and pulled in at the curb. Cutting the engine, he glanced across the street. The convertible would come from that direction, he thought. He wondered who'd be driving it. Not that it mattered.
    "Greg?"
    He turned and eyed her coldly. "What?"
    She bit her lip, then started to speak.
    "No," he said, cutting her off. He pulled out the ignition key and shoved open the door. "Let's go," he said. He slid out, shut the door and walked around the car. Carrie was still inside. "Let's go, baby," he said, the hint of venom in his voice.
    "Greg, please-"
    He shuddered at the cost of repressing an intense desire to scream curses at her, jerk open the door and drag her out by her hair. His rigid fingers clamped on the handle and he opened the door, waited. Christ, but she was ugly-the features, the skin, the body. She'd never looked so repugnant to him. "I said let's go," he told her. He couldn't disguise the tremble of fury in his voice.
    Carrie got out and he shut the door. It was getting colder. Greg drew up the collar of his topcoat, shivering as they started up the drive toward the front door of the house. He could use a heavier coat, he thought; with a nice, thick lining. A real sharp one, maybe black. He'd get one one of these days-and maybe real soon, too. He glanced at Carrie, wondering if she had any notion of his plans. He doubted it even though she looked more worried than ever. What the hell was with her? She'd never been this bad before. Was it because it was a kid? He shrugged. What difference did it make? She'd perform.
    "Cheer up," he said. "It's a school day. You won't have to see him." She didn't answer.
    They went up two steps onto the brick porch and stopped before the door. Greg pushed the button and, deep inside the house, melodic chimes sounded. While they waited, he reached inside his topcoat pocket and touched the small leather notebook. Funny how he always felt like some kind of weird salesman when they were operating. A salesman with a damned closed market, he thought, amused. No one else could offer what he had to sell, that was for sure.
    He