Night Whispers - Leslie Kelly [68]
“I know how it feels to lie alone at night, dreaming about being with someone who doesn’t feel the same way. It can physically hurt, wanting him that much. So you start to imagine he wants you, too. You fantasize, planning how perfect your relationship will be once you get his attention. But how far should you go to get that attention? Call me, tell me about it.”
The show sped by quickly. Night Whispers was never short on callers. Dozens of people were anxious to talk about their own brushes with dangerous love.
“I never realized there were that many lonely, lovesick people in Baltimore,” Brian muttered as he walked her to the lobby after the show ended.
“Yeah, but none of them sounded like my lonely, lovesick knight,” Kelsey replied.
“You’re lucky. That’s the last thing you need, to get this guy on the air and fuel whatever sick fantasy he’s got going.”
Kelsey saw Edgar waiting for them. The guard unlocked the front doors as they approached. As they walked toward her car, she prayed there would not be a repeat of the balloon incident.
“Everything looks A-okay, Miss Logan,” Edgar said as he held her driver’s side door open for her while she got in.
“All right, then, I’m outta here,” Brian said as he waved and hopped into his own car. He beeped as he quickly pulled away.
Kelsey waved back, then inserted her key into the ignition and turned it. Nothing happened. She tried again, pumping the gas pedal a few times, mentally cursing the sporty little coupe. Why could cars never break down in their own garages?
Edgar knocked on her car window, startling her as he asked, “Having some trouble?”
“It’s just dead.”
Kelsey stepped out of the car to allow Edgar to get in and try to start it. Nothing happened. He popped the hood and got out to look under it. Kelsey was glad the man seemed to know what he was doing, because she wouldn’t have known a carburetor from a gas tank.
“I can’t see what’s wrong, Miss Logan. I think maybe you’ll have to have it towed to a garage tomorrow.”
She groaned.
“Hey, I’ll let them know inside and I’ll drive you home. It won’t take me long.”
“I can’t put you out. I’ll call a cab,” Kelsey said.
“I wouldn’t hear of it,” he insisted. “We can’t have some stranger coming and picking you up in the middle of the night. Keeping you safe is my job and I take it very seriously.”
He puffed out his chest and hitched up the loose waist of his pants. Kelsey bit her lip to stop a grin. His bravado seemed so out of character in the small, balding, middle-aged man. She was suddenly reminded of Barney Fife from the old Andy Griffith Show.
“Okay, Edgar, I really would appreciate it.”
She waited for him in the lobby while he got his keys and locked up the building for those remaining inside. When he was finished, he took her by the arm and led her back to the parking lot. As they neared his blue pickup truck, Kelsey noticed it sat in a very large, muddy puddle. It had rained earlier in the day, and Edgar had managed to park right in the middle of a huge, water-filled pothole.
She glanced ruefully at her brown leather shoes, hiked her pants up a bit and prepared to step into the water.
“Oh, no, Miss Logan, let me,” Edgar protested.
Before she realized his intention, the man bent over and picked her up. He staggered under her weight. He stood only a few inches taller than she did.
Kelsey yelped. “Edgar, put me down!”
“Can’t let you ruin your shoes,” he panted as he sloshed through the water.
Edgar shifted her so she pressed against the side of the truck while he tried to open the door. She knew he was going to drop her about two seconds before he actually did it. Luckily, as his arms gave out, she leaned back and slid down the side of the truck, using it to keep her balance as her feet splashed into the muddy water.
Breathing a quick sigh of relief that she hadn’t landed