Choke: A Thriller Read Online Free Page A

Vincent to see if he's serious.  At that moment, Vincent's secretary pokes her head in the door.
    “Dr. Keyes, you have a call on line one.  It's Vicki Lee.”
    “Okay, I'll take it” Vincent says.  “Are we done here, Doug?”
    “Yep, I've got everything I need for now.  My editor may want me to follow up on some points later.  But we can just do that over the phone.  Thanks for your time, Doctor.”
    “No problem.  We'll see you in print.  Or should I say digitally?  Print is dead, right?”
    Eves doesn’t seem to hear as he leaves Vincent’s office.
    Vincent picks up his phone and punches a button.
    “Vicki?”
    He hears a scream.

16.
    Vicki Lee has a noose around her neck.  She is crying.  The man, his hand clad in a black leather glove, holds a phone to her ear.
    Her voice trembles.
    “Vincent.  Please help me.  Hurry.  I'm at thirteen...thirteen forty East Wright Street.  Don't call the police.  I'm in big trouble.  Just come, please.  I need your help.”
    The phone is taken away from Vicki and the man clicks the disconnect button.  Vicki starts sobbing.

17.
    “Vicki!”
    Vincent runs from his desk, yells to Nancy as he races by the receptionist's desk.
    “Call the cops, tell them to meet me at thirteen forty East Wright Street.”
    “East Wright Street?  That's just a few minutes away.”
    “I know where it is, call the cops, Nancy!”
    “Okay, okay.”
    Vincent sprints to the Mercedes, drives quickly, gunning the powerful engine of his car, and taking corners with abandon.  His tires squeal as he takes a corner, then he guns the engine again.
    He quickly passes into a neighborhood with older buildings and a lot of vacant lots.
    He slams on the brakes in front of thirteen forty East Wright Street.  It is a tall, dilapidated brick building.  There are iron bars over the windows, as well as the main doors.
    Vincent gets out of his car and looks around.
    The numbers 1340 are clearly visible over the main door of the building. 
    Vincent rushes up the stairs and pushes against the doors.  They are unlocked.  He crashes through them and rushes inside.
    Inside the building, Vincent sees that it is completely deserted.  There are no signs of anyone anywhere.
    Long hallways lead off from the main entrance, and a set of thick wooden doors faces Vincent.  He approaches them.
    Vincent puts his hand tentatively on the door handle, it opens partially.  He takes one more look down each hallway, then pushes the doors open.
    At first glance, the gymnasium seems empty.  Vincent lets the door close.  As it swings shut, he hears a sound from above.
    He looks up and sees an elaborate rope and pulley system that leads to the center of the room, high above Vincent's head.  There, perched precariously on a beam, is Vicki Lee.
    The rope leads to her neck and duct tape covers her mouth.
    The rope, triggered by the closing of the door, is snapped upward, and it whiplashes, tightening along a line straight to Vicki Lee.
    The place is booby-trapped , Vincent thinks.
    As the rope takes up slack, the board beneath Vicki's feet shoots out from under her, and Vicki drops three feet, hitting the end of the rope with a vicious jerk.
    Hanging by her neck, with her hands tied behind her back, Vicki's feet start kicking wildly.
    Vincent is frozen by the sight.  He starts shaking.  Vicki's terrified eyes blaze at him, willing him to move.
    Finally, he snaps out of it.
    He looks at the rope above him, and tries to jump for it, but it's at least ten feet over his head.  He starts to move in one direction, stops, then moves in another.
    He looks around the room, but there are no chairs, no ladders, nothing to help him reach the rope.
    Vicki continues to kick and thrash.  He can see her face.  It's turning blue.
    Vincent races to the big double doors, throws them open and screams down the hallway.
    “Help!  Help!”
    He rushes back into the room and starts shaking again.  His eyes follow the rope back to