If You Got It

Jan has a little fun with a persistent caller. 300-word flash

If You Got It

The phone rang. Jan answered. Before she could greet the caller, he said: “You will pay for this!”
“Are you supplying the money?” she replied. The voice on the other end of the line was quiet. Then it said: “Who is this?”
“You called me. Surely you know.”
She heard grinding teeth. Jan smiled and hung up. The phone rang again.

“Charlie’s Pool Hall and Massage Parlor.”
“Who is this?”
“Guess.”
“Is this,” he asked and rattled off the number. Jan refused to answer, slamming down the phone.
Of course, it rang again. She let it ring endlessly until she couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Daisy Laundromat, what do you want us to pick up?” she said in a singsong voice.
“Just tell me if the number, I’ve called is correct,” the same voice said wearily.

“Who were you expecting to speak to?”
“Guido Pastori.”
“He doesn’t live here anymore. Went to prison for tax evasion,” Jan made up. She really didn’t know who this Guido was. She’d bought this house for an elderly lady’s estate, five years ago.
“Put him on. I know he’s not in the joint or dead. Did he put you up to this? Just put him on or you’ll be sorry!”
Jan gulped. Putting on her best masculine Italian accent, she growled.

“Who de Hell is harassing my people?”
“Guido? That broad told me you weren’t there! I need your help, paesano!”
“I’m listening!” As he told her his problem, she made quick notes.
“Where are you?” she asked. When he told her, she added it to the note.
“Stay there, I’ll send a car.” When she hung up, she called the police. Life was boring for a retired detective, so getting harassing calls was all the fun she had these days.