Ringing Tone

The telephone was ringing.

Veronica felt the sound reach under the ribs, tightening a knot of tension there. Given what had already gone down here and abroad, she shared Thea's foreboding. She closed her eyes and sat still, thinking of another phone call, perhaps not so far in her future, that she might not want to answer.

The phone rang. There was a little red lamp on the instrument that pulsed in time to the ringing tone. It bathed the kitchen in strobe light, making inert surfaces seem to dance.

Leroy got up and stood by the telephone, wondering what next, where do we go from here? He reached for the handset but hesitated.

The phone rang.