"Ty Drago - Bitter Reflections" - читать интересную книгу автора (Drago Ty)

"This time I was at my New York office, on break from a board meeting called to discuss the
Dunstreet takeover. I'd gone to the men's room. My reflection was right where it should have
been, doing just what it should have been doing, and once again I laughed off the strange,
waking dream.

"Then as I dried my hands and prepared to leave the restroom, I saw my reflection return a
smile I hadn't offered.
"'Who you going to ruin today, Larry?' the mirror man said.

"I glanced around the room. I was alone. I turned back to the mirror, retreating a couple of
steps. I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking my head vigorously, determined to chase away this
impossible apparition. When I looked again, my reflection was leaning over 'his' sink, his
nose pressed close to the surface of the glass.

"'Peek-a-boo!'
"'What are you?' I spat.

"'My reflection grinned nastily. 'I'm you, Larry. The REAL you!'
"'What... what do you want?'"
"The smile faded. 'I want what's mine, Mr. Benedict.'

"I turned and fled the room, again hearing that harsh, inhuman laughter spill out of the mirror.
In the hall, my back pressed against the shut restroom door, I ran a hand through my hair,
horrified at the way my fingers shook. I wracked my brain for a 'rational' explanation. I could
come up with only one. I was insane.

"After a couple of minutes one of the board members came around the corner looking for
me. His name was Brown, and from the curious look on the clown's face I knew he'd
recognized my discomfort.

"'Brown,' I said sharply, stepping away from the wall, trying to make my voice as steady as
possible.
"'Yes, sir?'
"'After the meeting, I want you to call the police. Find out the EXACT circumstances of
Dunstreet's suicide. I want to know how they found him... what he was holding. I want the
answers by the end of the day. You got that?'

"Brown regarded me quizzically. 'Is everything all right, Mr. Benedict?'

"'YOU GOT THAT?'
"He straightened right up. 'Yes sir.'

"'Good,' I muttered. And then I went back to the meeting, and pretended to listen."

Benedict poured himself another brandy, and downed it in two swallows. "Brown gave me
his report. Dunstreet shot himself in the mouth while holding a picture of his daughter. I
hadn't dreamt that one, Doctor. The reflection had KNOWN."
He laughed without humor. "Are you aware that some South American cultures believe that
a mirror can steal a person's soul?"
"I've heard that," Loretta replied softly. "Is that what you think is happening to you?"