He glanced at the dented fender through his wire rimmed glasses, shook his head in disgust, then studied the ominous black and gray sky. He peered about him nervously before entering the rickety grafitti-covered phone booth. Broken glass from a broken panel covered the floor.

It would have to do. He cursed the missing phone book, and dialed O. It would be a long distant call. Sweating profusely, and after depositing the exact amount of change that the mechanical sounding operator specified, he waited. He took out a dirty green handkerchief and wiped his face. A sudden burst of thunder and lightning made his heart accelerate and his body jump. He waited some more. Then feeling unusually jittery, he pushed the glasses up on his short pointed nose.

The phone finally rang --- once --- twice --- .

A dog howled far off in the distance and crickets screamed to their mates punctuating the brief quiet interlude while the caller waited for his party to pick up the phone. --- three times --- four times ---.

"Hello." The voice sounded tired. The caller hesitated. "Hello." The response was louder this time. There were several seconds of silence. Then the caller, breathing heavily, put his mouth close to the receiver and spoke softly but distinctly, careful to enunciate every word. This time there must be no misunderstanding. Everything would go as planned. "I don't like to repeat myself. But I will." The caller wiped his face again. "I told you last time that I was there. I saw you do it." "Damn it!" The second voice interrupted. "We discussed this. I don't have it. So you listen." "NO!" The caller screamed into the mouthpiece. "You listen!" Once more there was silence except for the caller's heavy breathing --- more pronounced this time. The caller looked around him again --- anxiously --- cautiously. The proximity of a sharp flash of lightening and a loud clap of thunder almost caused the caller to drop the phone. Telephones and storms were a bad combination. But he held on and continued, softening his tone. "You didn't bring the money to our prearranged spot. I told you --- "
"I don't have it. Just give me a little more time. Be reasonable for Christ's sake!"
"Sorry. I am not a reasonable man."
"Look, I can't --- "
"Shut up and listen, okay?" The caller kicked away a small rock. "Either you get the money we talked about or the police will put your fucking ass in a sling. This is your final notice."
"Damn you!" Fatigue was mixed with anger.
"So don't fuck with me, asshole. I call the shots!" The caller smiled as he spoke with confidence. "And by the way, the price has gone up."
"You son-of-a-bitch!" Now the thunder was softer and the flashes duller. Maybe the storm would blow over.
"The price is now twenty-thousand." He waited. There was no response.
"Today is Wednesday. Bring the money tomorrow night at eleven o'clock. Drop it in the wire waste basket at the corner of Main and Race Street across from Harley's Drug Store." The caller took a deep breath. "I'll be watching."
After a brief pause, the other voice asked, "What if I refuse?"
"You won't. Because we both know that would be stupid." There was more silence. The storm had definitely blown over. The wind was calm. The streets were still deserted. "Like I said. I will go to the police." He wiped his face again then put the handkerchief into his back pocket. "And come alone. No smart-ass shit! Remember --- I'll be watching."

The caller hung up. Then he left the phone booth and stopped, looking in all directions. When he was satisfied no one had seen him, he ran to his car and sped away.   ---- *