Chapter 19

Closing the door might have blocked out the noises in the hotel, but it amplified the roar in his ears. He forced himself to focus on pulling out the phone book, thumbing through the pages, sliding his finger down the entries until he found the number of Joe’s store. While he held his place, he pulled out the loose change in his coat pocket, dumping it with a clatter to search for a nickel.

He swore under his breath when he saw the sign mounted on the wall, reminding customers that local calls were now ten cents. The seconds ticked.

Dropping the dime. Dialing. Listening to the other end ring.

“Morgan’s.”

His throat closed at the smooth cadence of Joe’s voice. He had to swallow to get any kind of sound out. “Please. Don’t hang up.”

In the background, he heard the bell chime over the store’s door. More seconds passed, until… “What’s wrong, Carlo?”