When she woke up, there were 17 voicemails from a stranger.

Well, it must have been a very fun night…for someone else. She was thinking of this as the screen glared at her in the dim grey of the morning. Susan Cahl had been invited to a party, but decided to try and pretend that she had a reason not to attend. A sickness that was passing was a good excuse, although some of her coworkers had doubts. But that was not important right now. Another long weekend was ahead and she was staring at her smartphone and noting the number of messages in her inbox.

Strange.

Wasn’t there a limit to the number?

“Hi, um…look. Can we just talk for a bit? I know that it got awkward last night but I don’t always do that anyway, and you said that we were on a break and…”

Cut.

She had to get up at that, nearly tripping over Patches, a cat that refused the bed she had bought last month for her birthday (they were too much alike, she supposed). She had the phone in her hand as she put on her housecoat, looked at the quiet of the suburbs around her and contemplated why she had woken up so early.

16 messages left.

“Sorry, that was strange. I just wanted… I just had to say… I miss you. And you should get back in touch with me. Man, that sounds like an order and I don’t want to be ‘that guy’ telling you what…”

Cut.

This was better than anything on Netflix, she thought to herself. The man had a very nice but unidentifiable voice. Maybe in his late thirties? Maybe younger? It was her job to label people as an agent, but this was all audio material, not with the benefit of a medical exam, blood sample or even a simple conversation.

Next…

“Are you goin’ to call me back? Are you even there?”

Cut.

Desperation is not attractive, sir. There was some of the baguette left over from a trip to the market after her last excuse, and she found some cheese to go with it. Usually, it would be coffee time, but this was keeping her awake and intrigued (much better than the usual yoga to go with it).

Let’s see what else we can learn…

14 messages left.

“You think…yeah, you really just have… Right…”

Cut.

A lot of gaps in that one, she thought. Was there any of that coffee left? She had received fresh Kenyan beans and a grinder to go with it on her last birthday (her coworkers knew her so well). The noise of it in the kitchen was so much better than the construction work she expected to hear.

“Fuck you.”

Cut.

That came out just as she took her ring finger off the button of the grinder. Even Patches was startled, jumping up on the kitchen table and placing herself on a placemat (Susan did not shoo it off this time). And there was something else that bothered her.

She had not pressed “Play” for the rest of the messages.

11 messages were left.

“Listen, if you get a message from some guy, please just ignore them because he wouldn’t leave me alone. I just gave him your number because it was easier that way. Mea culpa, babe.”

Cut.

And now she was worried.

Who the hell was that on her phone?

10 messages now…

“Yeah, I know you got her message. She is not a part of this, is she? I think that we should just handle this on our own like adults. Don’t you think that you owe me that, at the very least? Really, you could…”

Cut.

Was this becoming a problem? Should be worried? The cafetiere was on the stove with the remains of yesterday’s serving. Susan was nervous as she tapped out the grounds into the compost bag under the sink. It was a Saturday where she had very little do except listen. And she wanted to know more.

9 messages left.

“I know where you are. I know where you live. This. Ain’t. Over.”

Cut.

For the first time, she looked over the number that called in.

Blocked number.

Great.

But there was one number that was available. That was from the lady who called earlier. There was a contact she could reach before going back over the rest of the messages.

She tried to stop the playback.

“Hey, how do you even spell that name? Is it C-A-U-L?”

Cut.

Susan was surprised how calm she felt before the coldness of the meaning hit her. That could not have been a mistake.

They had her name.

She put the cup down without a word, looked at the number left with the woman’s name, and started to pick out the numbers.

No response.

“We’re sorry. The number you have tried to reach…”

She almost threw the phone at Patches when she heard the message. The traffic outside was now a dull thud that she could not dismiss as she sat down.

7 messages.

With all the will in the world, she let the machine play.

“Got your attention, didn’t I? You and that other one thought that this would be another way to insult a guy without any problems. Typical modern woman… You won’t like the ending.”

Cut.

There was time to call the police, but Susan began to wonder what she would tell them. A number called and a guy she never knew had her surname and was angry about something she never did. And there was still the other woman.

She heard a little more noise outside.

Road work?

Construction crew?

This was very close by.

“I guess I had better explain things to you. She led me on and told me all about why she did that. And here’s the funny thing: your name came up again and again. Like you had all the details and could just fill in whatever blanks were left. She said that you really did lay it all out. Right. So right…and now…”

Cut.

Susan Cahl, an agent with an insurance company who had to make quick reads of people in files when the details did not line up, knew that she was in trouble. Patches, sensing that breakfast would have to wait, leapt off the table and hid in the bathroom by the litter box. Smart move, kiddo, Susan thought. May have to hide in there with you.

At least I am not completely naked here.

5 messages.

“Listen, it’s me again. He might try something and I’ve already talked to the police. Some shit about how it is not a real threat because all he did was swear and he hasn’t done anything yet… So please…”

Cut.

She let the message play as she went to the hall mirror and started to adjust her wardrobe. The housecoat would not work. All the gym gear was in the hall closet next to the glass, and it did not take her long to get prepared.

“C-A-H-L… Pardon me for getting the name wrong. Just had to check again. It is late and I’m tired. And I am also ready.”

Cut.

Oh, I’m ready too, sir.

She stepped into her front room and turned on the speakers connected to her phone.

“You may see me in the morning in your neighbourhood. You may have a chance to apologize.”

Cut.

“Maybe not.”

Cut.

Keep talking and telling me all I need to know…

He was definitely in his thirties, young enough to be this dumb and old enough to think he was smart. Muscular, but all for show, not really for fighting. No drunkenness detected, so he did not get together with his buddies before picking up his phone. Completely sober with his anger?

Great.

And she now recognized the other voice. It was a new girl in their office and she wanted some advice on dealing with a guy who was clearly leading her on.

2 messages left.

“A bit early, but I’m wide awake. And I think you might be, too. So much to do today. Ha, ha. Get ready, bitch.”

Oh, sir. She was so ready.

It might have seemed ridiculous to change into her gym look, and to rest on her couch, but she knew what this guy was going to do. The security cameras were already detecting motion near the garage. And the gun was always loaded. Tucked into her holster, it looked like some sort of film prop. But it was real. Susan was no amateur with weapons, especially in situations that involved protecting her life.

But at least she had a sense of humour about such things.

“Inside…”

It was a terrible song, and she wondered why Spotify would even have it available. But everything is free now, right? That was something else she learned in her career. You could get almost anything you wanted if you looked hard enough. An untraceable weapon, security cameras that were impossible to detect, and tracks from a new wave band she had not listened to in a very long time.

And there were seventeen messages…

The idea stuck.

And there was one left.

Susan Cahl turned off the machine and waited for the last message.