Under Abnormal Conditions Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    In the bar business, you ran into crazies
everyday. Normally it’s just a drunken idiot, but that call was
different. There was disdain and hatred in his voice that flowed
right through the phone. He sounded like he might actually try
something.
    I was responsible for everyone there and I
couldn’t take the chance if it was a real threat. I flipped through
the phone book and found the number for the police department.
After three rings, someone answered.
    “Dunham Heights Police Department. How may I
direct your call?” a female voice asked.
    “I’m calling from Club Cool Breeze. We just
received a bomb threat, and-”
    “I’ll transfer you to Arson Division.” – beep
–
    While I was on hold, I flipped through the
morning paper. A twelve year old was gunned down as he walked home
from school the day before. I was ready to forget the whole thing
when someone finally picked up.
    “Detective Antonio here.”
    “Yes, detective. My name is Michael Drake.
I’m calling from Club Cool Breeze over on the corner on Summer
Street. We just received a bomb threat.”
    “Was the person in there or did they leave a
note?” he asked first.
    “It was a phone call.”
    “Tell me about it. What did the person
say?”
    “He quoted the Bible and said the owner was
going to pay for what he had done.”
    “Was the threat towards you or the club?”
    “Both I guess. He said at ten o’clock it
would be over in a flash of fire and flames.”
    “Can you tell me anything about the caller’s
voice?” he droned as if I was keeping him away from a hot batch of
freshly glazed donuts.
    “It was a man’s voice, but it was sort of
muffled. That’s all I can really tell you.” I wished I had paid
better attention to it, but everything had happened so fast.
    “Did you notice any accents or speech
impediments?” he asked.
    “No. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
    “Did he sound calm, excited, or drunk
maybe?”
    “He was calm at first, quoting from the
Bible. The second time”
    “He’s called before?” he interrupted.
    “Yes, earlier today . . . and I think it was
a guy I threw out earlier.” I answered.
    “Was it the same guy?” he asked.
    “I think so. He was harassing a young lady
and-”
    “If he calls back, listen for background
noise, ask him the location of the bomb, just keep him on the line
as long as you can and try to record the conversation.”
    “Is that it?” I asked.
    “Yes. We will send out a unit right now, but
if you hear anything in the meantime, call me back.”
    “Thank you,” I said as he hung up the phone.
He may not have taken the threat seriously, but I did. I had to
clear the club, but I couldn’t say it was because of a bomb. I had
to find a way to get everyone out without causing a panic.
    Then there was a knock at the office door. I
got up from the desk and answered it.
    “I’m Bill Johnson from Atom Electronics. I
just got finished installing those security cameras in the back
parking lot. I got my bill here.”
    “OK, just go upstairs and to the door on the
left.” I said, directing him to Sherry’s office. “She’ll pay you
there.”
    I sat back down at the desk and the thought
hit me. Bill Johnson gave me the perfect idea.
    I walked out front and instead of being on
the stage playing, Dexter was at the bar talking to Carmen. That
stung a little, but it gave me the opportunity to take stage
without causing too much of a fuss.
    I tapped the mic a few times to test it and
then I said, “Attention employees and customers. We are
experiencing a minor electrical problem. It’s nothing to worry
about, but we need to clear the building. We will open at our
regular time tomorrow and we are sorry for the inconvenience.”
    I gave everyone a few minutes to get outside.
I made a run-through of the entire club to make sure it was empty.
I only ran into a few stragglers. Once I explained the situation
again, they politely made their way to the exits. When we finally
got all of the