Mike Wells - Baby Talk

Baby Talk

Book 1

by

Mike Wells

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011 Mike Wells

http://www.mikewellsbooks.com

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author.

Praise for Mike Wells’ Baby Talk

5 STARS! “Baby Talk" is a hilarious and frightening story of a young couple with an extraordinary newborn. Mike Wells once again incorporates pieces of life that every reader can relate to, and spins a thick web of excitement around it. A must-read for anyone who enjoys thrillers, or anyone who enjoys dark humor.”

5 STARS! “This book just flows, pulled me into the story and kept me reading. Reminded me of one of Stephen King’s books like maybe Carrie or The Shining. The ending blew my mind!”

5 STARS! “I’m a clinical psychologist and I found the notion of a baby who is aware that her father wanted her aborted, “out to get him,” etc fascinating and highly original. I love the “is Neal crazy or is this really happening”? aspect too, that kept me nailed to this. The ending was good and quite unexpected. Wells is a damn good writer!”

5 STARS! “As a nanny, all I can say is this book rocks!!! You will not be sorry buying it!!!”

5 STARS! “I have 3 kids what can I say? Baby Talk is an awesome read, wonderful characters, though I cannot say I liked any of them so much but they are very real people and act real. It was a tragedy actually but very well written and CREEPY, I have to say that! I’m going to be reading a lot more of this author’s books.”

5 STARS! “Feeeed meeeee, Neeeeaaaal!” What a frickin nightmare! I wasn’t sure about laughing or crying this book just knocked me out, I do not know how this author thought up such a weird story. I would recommend this book especially if you have kids. If you don’t have kids yet you might not want to have any after reading it. :) ”

5 STARS! “A genuine horror novel. Okay...here it is. It's pretty simple. I'm an author myself and I could NOT put 'Baby Talk' down. It's a Chiller! Surprise yourself with one of the most haunting, horrific, *not* for babies, DAMNED good read you'll indulge in for a very long while.”

5 STARS! “This book creeped me out! Horror lovers, get it, get it, get it!!!!!!”

5 STARS! “Hahahahaha I love Baby Natasha she’s awesome Neal gets what he deserves I will read this a few more times and my friends, too. lol”

5 STARS! “Insightful and multilayered...I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the characters introduced in this book. The writing style is smooth and flowing. I forgot I was reading most of the time. Mike Wells is a highly skilled storyteller. Well worth the money.”

Out of the unconscious lips of babes and sucklings are we satirized.

—Mark Twain

PROLOGUE

Neal Becker was standing on a building ledge, a baby in his arms, the wind blowing through his hair.

Nineteen stories below, police cars and mobile news crew vans were surrounding the front of the hi-rise. A fire truck rolled up with a long extension ladder—all the rescue workers were running around like little bugs, looking up at him. Out in the dawn sky, a couple of choppers flew lazily back and forth, keeping their distance but ready to move in on command. Police radios crackled every now and then.

Neal tried not to look down. Sometimes the gusts of wind were strong enough to make him teeter on the ledge. Mostly he just looked out at the rising sun, keeping baby Natasha pressed up against his chest. He thought she was asleep now.

He couldn’t believe this was happening to him. Over a matter of a few days, his life had become a nightmare. The fact that he was causing the movement of all these big, expensive vehicles and all these important people was hard to fathom. He was almost sure he was on TV now—down below, he could see large cameras with zoom lenses aimed at him.

He felt ashamed and humiliated. But also panic-stricken.

He had no idea why he was up on his building, or what he really wanted.

“How’s it going?” a voice said from the right.

Neal turned his head. There was a skinny guy in a blue windbreaker leaning out the window. He gave a relaxed smile, then slung one jean-clad leg over the windowsill and straddled it. He was wearing Docksiders and olive-colored socks. There was a little headset on his right ear, a small microphone curving up to the corner of his mouth.

“Nice view from up here,” he commented, leaning back against the window frame, gazing out at the sunrise. He might have been sitting on a log admiring a tranquil lake somewhere in the mountains.

Neal stared out at the sun. It had turned a bright orange, some long, thin pink clouds stretching out on either side.

“Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Becker? My name is Stan, by the way. Stan Saunders.” He paused. “May I call you Neal?”

“There’s nothing you can do for m-me,” Neal said, a gust of wind buffeting him on the last word.

Stan watched him for a long moment. “I’d really like to help you, if I can. Is there something you want me to get for you? Or your daughter?”

Neal felt tears forming in his eyes.

“There’s nothing I want,” he said, fighting to hold his composure.

Neal heard a low grinding noise and glanced down—the fire truck was raising its ladder.

“Tell them to put that ladder down!”

One of the helicopters was moving closer.

“Get that helicopter out of here!” Neal shouted, thrusting Natasha out over the edge. “I’ll drop her, I swear to God!”

He could hear frightened shrieks from down below.

“Back off,” Stan said calmly into a microphone, gesturing to the chopper. “And tell the firemen to lower the ladder.”

Neal looked into little Natasha’s face. She was awake now, turning her head this way and that, but she didn’t seem to realize she was hanging over 19 stories of empty space. How could she? She was only a baby.

“Mr. Becker, why don’t you come inside and we’ll talk for a few minutes.”

“Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“No. But I think you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don’t believe you really want to hurt your daughter. Do you?”

Neal felt hot tears running down his face. Of course he didn’t want to hurt little Natasha. He loved her. She was his daughter.

Natasha started crying.

That sound caused a lot of commotion down below.

Neal pulled her back in and hugged her to his chest. “Shhh.”

“Neal, why don’t you hand her to me, so at least she’ll be safe.”

He hesitated, looking down at all the people, all the cameras.

“Come on, give her to me,” Stan said.

Out of the corner of his eye, Neal could see Stan reaching out for her. They were only a few feet away.

“I didn’t kill my mother-in-law!”

“I don’t know anything about that. I’m here because I’m concerned about you and your little girl. Why don’t you just hand her to me?”

Neal turned and looked at Stan. “Don’t you get it? She’s bad , she’s evil .”

Stan looked confused. “Who’s evil?”

“She is!” Neal said, thrusting the baby out again.

Natasha cried louder.

“Take her!” Neal suddenly shouted, offering her to Stan.

As soon as Neal felt the baby being pulled from his hands, he squeezed his eyes shut.

And he jumped.

CHAPTER 1

It all started one sunny April morning, when Neal was standing in the microscopic kitchen of his and Annie’s apartment, waiting for his coffee water to boil. Only a few minutes earlier, he had picked up baby Natasha from her crib and carried her into the kitchen. If it had been up to Neal, he would have been just as happy to let the infant stay where she was and continue to sleep. Annie had an obsessive fear of crib death and insisted that Natasha be watched at all times. She had gone across the street to buy some formula at the supermarket, but she did not leave until she personally witnessed Neal picking up the baby.