he sounded distracted by something in the background , and from what kathy could hear there was a lot to be distracted by : a television set was audibly blaring what sounded like a bad police drama , with gunshots and acting that seemed atrocious even down the end of a telephone ; a womans voice was yelling something incomprehensible about someone , presumably the man to whom kathy was talking , not doing his share of the housework ; and through it all pierced the incessant barking of an agitated dog .