Chapter Sixteen
Paid Up
One night, while the entire household was gathered in the den, partaking of various entertainments including a heated discussion of what to do next with Denise, the house telephone rang, which was unusual. Assuming it was a telemarketing call; Ellen let it ring for a long time and then reluctantly answered it. She came back smiling from ear to ear.
“We’re going to have more company. Another male will join the show,” she added. At that same moment, there was a distant pop, which I immediately recognized as a rifle shot, followed instantly by the sound of bursting glass. I instinctively ducked down to the floor, pulling Ellen with me and shouting to the rest of the crew to get down. A second shot followed in the short time it takes to cycle the bolt action on a rif
