The Hand That Feeds: A Horror Novel by Michael W. Garza Page B

heart beat faster as she walked toward Alex’s room. The pounding started again as she reached for the doorknob and hesitated.
    The pounding stopped and she put her ear up against the cold wood. There was nothing but silence, then she picked out the sounds of something shuffling across the floor. The sounds drew near. The pounding started again and as she pulled away, something hit hard against the inside of the door. She screamed and backed away, her heart in her throat.
    “Angela. ”
    She heard John call her name from the rear of the house.
    “Angela, is that you?”
    She moved down the hall and into the living room. She pulled open the back door and stepped outside. John stood at the edge of the house near a stack of old, wood, two by fours. He had his hammer in one hand and few nails in the other. He’d already hammered three pieces of wood over Alex’s window.
    “I thought I’d better cover this up,” he said.
    He smiled at her and went back to work. He hoisted another board in place and began pounding away. Angela watched him work. He had his shirt off and she leered at his bare chest as it glistened in the morning sun. When the work was done, she made him something to eat and they sat down at the dining table. John ate his sandwich in four giant bites. Angela watched him with a smile painted on her face. She wanted something from him, but was waiting for the right time to ask. John didn’t give in. He ate his chips in silence, washed it all down, and then picked up after himself.
    “You know…” Angela said after waiting as long as she could. “ Alex seems to be moving around much better.”
    John did n’t respond. She hadn’t got to the point yet. She used this tactic most of the time.
    “It’s like he got his strength back, you know,” she said.
    “I’d say so.” John headed for the couch. “He scared the hell out of me this morning.”
    “How so?”
    “I was out back and he came at that window,” he said.
    “Why were you out back?” she asked, sitting down next to him.
    John shuddered then changed the subject. “What are you getting at?” he asked.
    “Well- ”
    Angela was interrupted by a phone ring. John looked at the kitchen with a confused expression. It was as if he’d forgotten there were other people in the world besides her and him. He made it to the kitchen by the fourth ring, picked up the receiver, and in an unsteady voice, he spoke.
    “Hello.”
    John held silent for a moment. Angela could see him standing in the entrance to the kitchen, his shoulders stiffening as a high-pitched voice came over the phone.
    “Oh , hi, Penny.”
    Angela’s eyes narrowed. Penny was Doctor Taylor’s assistant.
    “No, no we haven’t seen the doctor.”
    Angela got up off the couch and walked closer. She leaned in toward John to listen.
    “Well , that’s strange,” Penny said. “I haven’t heard from him, so I came in his office for a look. The only thing I found was a scribbled note with your name on it.”
    John didn’t say anything for a moment.
    “Oh yea .” His voice went in and out as he spoke. He cleared his throat. “I called him last night, I completely forgot.”
    Angela grab bed a firm hold of the back of his arm. He tried to pull away from her, but couldn’t. She glared at him, but he couldn’t see her face.
    “So you did talk with him then?” Penny asked.
    “Yes, I called to tell him how Alex was doing.”
    Penny was quiet long enough for it to be uncomfortable.
    “Doctor Taylor asked us to check in with him from time to time,” John said.
    “Yea…” Penny hesitated. “I guess that sounds like Dr. Taylor. He didn’t come over for a visit?”
    “No,” John said.
    There was a long pause as Penny waited for more. Angela wanted him to get off the phone. She hoped Penny would give up and let him off the hook. Penny finally spoke up.
    “So how is Alex?”
    “ Alex?” John’s mind seemed to go blank.
    Angela tightened her grip on the back of his arm and he