Short Tales of Horror Part II
Back Page
Ours
While Sheriff Wilson has no idea what really transpired the night twelve people were murdered in the old mental hospital during what was supposed to be a simple night of ghost hunting, he was at the scene moments after the lone survivor committed suicide. Now it’s a year later and a group of paranormal investigators want to set up a haunted house and invite the general public in that same abandoned mental hospital. How is he supposed to keep that many people safe from whoever or whatever killed the last
group?
Silent Baby Screams
Gwen doesn't understand why her husband resents their newborn baby so much, but she never suspects that one day she'll return home from work to discover their baby boy has simply vanished. What happens next is the stuff of nightmares.
Lucky Thirteen
Thirteen black cats help keep watch over a bedridden, old lady. Sometimes the number thirteen is lucky but then again it might just depend on it who you are.
Pay Back
There’s nothing usual about Jeremy waking up late for school, but on this particular morning something feels different. When he goes downstairs to face the music, he finds his grandmother waiting for him but no one else appears to be at home. Jeremy believes he’s caught a lucky break and his mother and father won’t get to know, but he soon discovers that not everything is as it seems. He finds he’ll have to face up to his mistakes, though, and maybe even suffer a little payback himself.
Slimmer
Sandy loves her new boyfriend, but ever since they moved in together, Donald won’t get off her back about how much she eats. When he offers her a new miracle diet pill, she decides to try one just to shut him up. Unfortunately, there are unexpected side effects that take them both by terrifying surprise.
Sam I Am
The morning after moving into her dream home with her young daughter and husband, Paige learns that the three story, 18th century house might be haunted. She then finds that her daughter has a new imaginary friend called Sam I Am. It isn’t long before Paige’s perfect home turns into a living nightmare.
Back Page
Ours
While Sheriff Wilson has no idea what really transpired the night twelve people were murdered in the old mental hospital during what was supposed to be a simple night of ghost hunting, he was at the scene moments after the lone survivor committed suicide. Now it’s a year later and a group of paranormal investigators want to set up a haunted house and invite the general public in that same abandoned mental hospital. How is he supposed to keep that many people safe from whoever or whatever killed the last
group?
Silent Baby Screams
Gwen doesn't understand why her husband resents their newborn baby so much, but she never suspects that one day she'll return home from work to discover their baby boy has simply vanished. What happens next is the stuff of nightmares.
Lucky Thirteen
Thirteen black cats help keep watch over a bedridden, old lady. Sometimes the number thirteen is lucky but then again it might just depend on it who you are.
Pay Back
There’s nothing usual about Jeremy waking up late for school, but on this particular morning something feels different. When he goes downstairs to face the music, he finds his grandmother waiting for him but no one else appears to be at home. Jeremy believes he’s caught a lucky break and his mother and father won’t get to know, but he soon discovers that not everything is as it seems. He finds he’ll have to face up to his mistakes, though, and maybe even suffer a little payback himself.
Slimmer
Sandy loves her new boyfriend, but ever since they moved in together, Donald won’t get off her back about how much she eats. When he offers her a new miracle diet pill, she decides to try one just to shut him up. Unfortunately, there are unexpected side effects that take them both by terrifying surprise.
Sam I Am
The morning after moving into her dream home with her young daughter and husband, Paige learns that the three story, 18th century house might be haunted. She then finds that her daughter has a new imaginary friend called Sam I Am. It isn’t long before Paige’s perfect home turns into a living nightmare.
Slimmer
Excerpt
After a breakfast of rare steak, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes and toast, Sandy took off her heels and jogged several blocks. By the time she reached work, the feet of her pantyhose were torn beyond repair and her makeup was running down her face. She decided to jog back to her apartment and change. When she ran by a bakery, she turned in there and bought a few loaves of bread to take home. She almost made it, but the smell of bacon wafting from a twenty-four hour diner made her stop in her tracks. Without giving it a second thought, she went in and ordered breakfast again.
The patrons in the diner didn’t pay her much mind until the waitress brought out the forth plate, but even though they stared, she continued to push food into her mouth. Forty-five minutes and six servings of bacon and eggs later, she headed home, changed her clothes and ran on the treadmill until its belt broke. Feeling a little drained, she popped three more diet pills into her mouth and sat down to eat the loaves of bread.
Excerpt
After a breakfast of rare steak, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes and toast, Sandy took off her heels and jogged several blocks. By the time she reached work, the feet of her pantyhose were torn beyond repair and her makeup was running down her face. She decided to jog back to her apartment and change. When she ran by a bakery, she turned in there and bought a few loaves of bread to take home. She almost made it, but the smell of bacon wafting from a twenty-four hour diner made her stop in her tracks. Without giving it a second thought, she went in and ordered breakfast again.
The patrons in the diner didn’t pay her much mind until the waitress brought out the forth plate, but even though they stared, she continued to push food into her mouth. Forty-five minutes and six servings of bacon and eggs later, she headed home, changed her clothes and ran on the treadmill until its belt broke. Feeling a little drained, she popped three more diet pills into her mouth and sat down to eat the loaves of bread.
Sam I Am
Excerpt
Paige followed Nathan back out to the truck. Before climbing in, he turned her a concerned look. “I hope you’re right about this Sam guy just being an imaginary friend. That was a pretty graphic description she gave.”
“You know just as well as I do that your daughter loves to create new playmates.
Besides, didn’t you see the book she had next to her? You must have read that story to her a million times.” She giggled. “Sam I Am, indeed. It’s just an overactive imagination at work. She’ll be the death of us one day.”
Excerpt
Paige followed Nathan back out to the truck. Before climbing in, he turned her a concerned look. “I hope you’re right about this Sam guy just being an imaginary friend. That was a pretty graphic description she gave.”
“You know just as well as I do that your daughter loves to create new playmates.
Besides, didn’t you see the book she had next to her? You must have read that story to her a million times.” She giggled. “Sam I Am, indeed. It’s just an overactive imagination at work. She’ll be the death of us one day.”
Pay Back
Pay Back is a short tale of horror.
Excerpt
A strange, unsettling feeling washed over him. Something wasn’t right. He stood and looked around the kitchen. The refrigerator door was open and a container of milk was on the floor, surrounded by a white puddle. A stove eye was still on and the sink was filled with dirty dishes. It was so unlike his mother to leave the kitchen in such a mess.
“What’s wrong, dear?”
The intense pain returned. He sat and cradled his head. Scenes of blood spewing everywhere and the sounds of gun blasts flashed in and out. When they stopped, he grabbed his grandmother’s hand. “Something bad has happened. Why can’t I remember?”
Excerpt
A strange, unsettling feeling washed over him. Something wasn’t right. He stood and looked around the kitchen. The refrigerator door was open and a container of milk was on the floor, surrounded by a white puddle. A stove eye was still on and the sink was filled with dirty dishes. It was so unlike his mother to leave the kitchen in such a mess.
“What’s wrong, dear?”
The intense pain returned. He sat and cradled his head. Scenes of blood spewing everywhere and the sounds of gun blasts flashed in and out. When they stopped, he grabbed his grandmother’s hand. “Something bad has happened. Why can’t I remember?”
Inheritance
Excerpt from Inheritance
After what felt like an eternity, she heard her grandmother shuffle over to the door. Accaila released the door handle and waited. When she didn’t hear the lock being turned she knocked on the door again. “Granny.”
Finally, after not receiving an answer, something was slid under the door to her. When she looked down, there sat a saucer with a slice of chocolate cake on it.
“I’m sorry but this has to be done. You’ll thank me later.”
Accalia stared at the cake and waited for something to make sense. She knocked on the door again. “Granny?” The only answer to that was the sound of her grandmother shuffling away from the door.
Accalia was too stunned to move. She stood with her hand poised in the air for at least a full ten minutes, as if she was going to knock again, before she finally realized her grandmother wasn’t coming back. With nothing else to do, she sat on the top step, wrapped both arms around her knees, and stared off into space. She waited without any clear thought as to what she was waiting for. She flipped through each and every absurd possibility, but no matter how she looked at her situation there was nothing to explain it. Finally, after spending some time there with nothing to do but think, she thought of one possible answer. Maybe her grandmother was going to throw her a surprise birthday party. Locking her in the basement was a crazy way to get her out of the way. She was definitely out of the way now.
After what felt like an eternity, she heard her grandmother shuffle over to the door. Accaila released the door handle and waited. When she didn’t hear the lock being turned she knocked on the door again. “Granny.”
Finally, after not receiving an answer, something was slid under the door to her. When she looked down, there sat a saucer with a slice of chocolate cake on it.
“I’m sorry but this has to be done. You’ll thank me later.”
Accalia stared at the cake and waited for something to make sense. She knocked on the door again. “Granny?” The only answer to that was the sound of her grandmother shuffling away from the door.
Accalia was too stunned to move. She stood with her hand poised in the air for at least a full ten minutes, as if she was going to knock again, before she finally realized her grandmother wasn’t coming back. With nothing else to do, she sat on the top step, wrapped both arms around her knees, and stared off into space. She waited without any clear thought as to what she was waiting for. She flipped through each and every absurd possibility, but no matter how she looked at her situation there was nothing to explain it. Finally, after spending some time there with nothing to do but think, she thought of one possible answer. Maybe her grandmother was going to throw her a surprise birthday party. Locking her in the basement was a crazy way to get her out of the way. She was definitely out of the way now.
Will Work for Food
Excerpt from Will Work for Food
It was only after everyone was settled that Doris turned in her seat. The sight of the boy and man up close was even more heart shattering than from afar. Both of them were bright red from the heat, paper-thin, and they had a hopeless look of despair about them.
“I insist that the two of you drink my homemade sweet tea and eat a good meal before you start on the yard. There’s plenty of daylight left...”
Before all of the words were out of her mouth the man was shaking his head. “No. We’ll get the job done first. That’s the work ethics I’m teaching my boy, Andy, here. You don’t eat until you’ve earned it. I don’t want him thinking that things in life are free. We may be poor, but we ain’t no beggars. We ain’t asking for no handouts. My old man taught me that a man earns his way in life. I want my son raised up the same way I was. It’s a hard life but we got each other. As long as we got each other, and the strength the Good Lord gave us, we ain’t never gonna want for nothing.”
All that was said with abruptness, but the look of pride on his face toned down the harshness of it just a smidgen.
The fierce expression on his face might have been enough to create a little bit of doubt in the mind of a lesser woman, but Doris was made of sterner stuff and was fully determined to do her good deed. “At least have some tea before you begin working on the yard. I wouldn’t want you to have a heatstroke because of dehydration.” Doris was a kindhearted soul, but she could also be firm when she took a mind to be. She didn’t give the man time to refuse but reached back and offered her hand. “I’m Doris Langford and this is my husband, Gerald.”
Gerald took his eyes off of the road long enough to nod a greeting into the rearview mirror.
The young man returned the nod and then offered a grimy and calloused hand to Doris. “I’m Michael Benson, and this here is my son, Andy. My wife is back home sick. I’ll accept your kind offer of that sweet tea, if you’ll let me and the boy wrap that meal up and take it back home with us to share with my wife. We ain’t had a good meal in eight days. I was able to kill a squirrel a couple of days back.”
They were both so sickly looking Doris wasn’t certain how they were going to survive through the heat of the day without a good meal under their belts, much less wait to eat until after returning home. It seemed really unfair to her that Michael was making his son wait for his food too, since the child already looked half starved to death.
“You are more than welcome to eat before you leave, and I’ll wrap up more food for you to take home with you. Cutting the grass is worth more than one meal.”
He held up a hand to forestall another word from her. “I teach my boy that no one eats until everyone eats. It’s our way. I’m meaning no disrespect to you, but I couldn’t eat knowing my wife was back home hungry. I know Andy couldn’t either, so the faster we get the yard work finished, the faster we can all sit down together for a good meal.”
It was only after everyone was settled that Doris turned in her seat. The sight of the boy and man up close was even more heart shattering than from afar. Both of them were bright red from the heat, paper-thin, and they had a hopeless look of despair about them.
“I insist that the two of you drink my homemade sweet tea and eat a good meal before you start on the yard. There’s plenty of daylight left...”
Before all of the words were out of her mouth the man was shaking his head. “No. We’ll get the job done first. That’s the work ethics I’m teaching my boy, Andy, here. You don’t eat until you’ve earned it. I don’t want him thinking that things in life are free. We may be poor, but we ain’t no beggars. We ain’t asking for no handouts. My old man taught me that a man earns his way in life. I want my son raised up the same way I was. It’s a hard life but we got each other. As long as we got each other, and the strength the Good Lord gave us, we ain’t never gonna want for nothing.”
All that was said with abruptness, but the look of pride on his face toned down the harshness of it just a smidgen.
The fierce expression on his face might have been enough to create a little bit of doubt in the mind of a lesser woman, but Doris was made of sterner stuff and was fully determined to do her good deed. “At least have some tea before you begin working on the yard. I wouldn’t want you to have a heatstroke because of dehydration.” Doris was a kindhearted soul, but she could also be firm when she took a mind to be. She didn’t give the man time to refuse but reached back and offered her hand. “I’m Doris Langford and this is my husband, Gerald.”
Gerald took his eyes off of the road long enough to nod a greeting into the rearview mirror.
The young man returned the nod and then offered a grimy and calloused hand to Doris. “I’m Michael Benson, and this here is my son, Andy. My wife is back home sick. I’ll accept your kind offer of that sweet tea, if you’ll let me and the boy wrap that meal up and take it back home with us to share with my wife. We ain’t had a good meal in eight days. I was able to kill a squirrel a couple of days back.”
They were both so sickly looking Doris wasn’t certain how they were going to survive through the heat of the day without a good meal under their belts, much less wait to eat until after returning home. It seemed really unfair to her that Michael was making his son wait for his food too, since the child already looked half starved to death.
“You are more than welcome to eat before you leave, and I’ll wrap up more food for you to take home with you. Cutting the grass is worth more than one meal.”
He held up a hand to forestall another word from her. “I teach my boy that no one eats until everyone eats. It’s our way. I’m meaning no disrespect to you, but I couldn’t eat knowing my wife was back home hungry. I know Andy couldn’t either, so the faster we get the yard work finished, the faster we can all sit down together for a good meal.”
Ours
Excerpt for Ours
“Alan, did you hear that?”
He was just about to ask Rhonda what she was talking about when he walked face first into a spider web. “Ugh!” He tucked his flashlight under his arm and wiped at his face.
Rhonda whispered. “What’s wrong?”
The sheriff didn’t stop long enough to answer but continued furiously wiping his face and head. It turned out to be a fruitless effort because no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t find any trace of the web. “I walked into a spider web. I hate spiders.” He finally gave up and pulled the flashlight out from under his arm and turned it on again. He focused its beam on the ceiling and tried to locate it so he could pull it down before accidently walking through it again. “Where’s that damn thing at? It has to be huge. It covered my entire face.”
Rhonda shined her light at his face. “I don’t see anything.”
He finally had to nudge her flashlight into another direction. “Thanks but you’re blinding me with that thing.”
“Sorry. I was just going to say that it’s not unusual to experience that sort of thing when you’re dealing with the spirit world. It feels like you walked into a spider web but there’s nothing there. I think it’s their way of making contact with us.” She tucked the flashlight under her arm and began playing around with the recorder’s controls. “Before the whole spider web incident I was asking you if you heard a voice.”
He found himself interested in spite of his earlier skepticism. “What do you think it said?”
The sound of the recorder rewinding was unusually loud in the musty laboratory. She grunted before answering. “I’m not sure. It sort of sounded like ‘souls’ or ‘so’. I’ll play it back to see if I can hear it in the tape.”
They both leaned in and held their breaths and waited. First there were Rhonda’s questions and then a hissed ‘souls’ followed her question. Chill bumps covered Alan’s entire body. It was a voice he recognized. One he would never forget as long as he lived.
“Alan, did you hear that?”
He was just about to ask Rhonda what she was talking about when he walked face first into a spider web. “Ugh!” He tucked his flashlight under his arm and wiped at his face.
Rhonda whispered. “What’s wrong?”
The sheriff didn’t stop long enough to answer but continued furiously wiping his face and head. It turned out to be a fruitless effort because no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t find any trace of the web. “I walked into a spider web. I hate spiders.” He finally gave up and pulled the flashlight out from under his arm and turned it on again. He focused its beam on the ceiling and tried to locate it so he could pull it down before accidently walking through it again. “Where’s that damn thing at? It has to be huge. It covered my entire face.”
Rhonda shined her light at his face. “I don’t see anything.”
He finally had to nudge her flashlight into another direction. “Thanks but you’re blinding me with that thing.”
“Sorry. I was just going to say that it’s not unusual to experience that sort of thing when you’re dealing with the spirit world. It feels like you walked into a spider web but there’s nothing there. I think it’s their way of making contact with us.” She tucked the flashlight under her arm and began playing around with the recorder’s controls. “Before the whole spider web incident I was asking you if you heard a voice.”
He found himself interested in spite of his earlier skepticism. “What do you think it said?”
The sound of the recorder rewinding was unusually loud in the musty laboratory. She grunted before answering. “I’m not sure. It sort of sounded like ‘souls’ or ‘so’. I’ll play it back to see if I can hear it in the tape.”
They both leaned in and held their breaths and waited. First there were Rhonda’s questions and then a hissed ‘souls’ followed her question. Chill bumps covered Alan’s entire body. It was a voice he recognized. One he would never forget as long as he lived.
Regina Puckett's Short Tales of Horror
Six of my short tales of horror in one book.
Mine
Will Work for Food
Inheritance
Paying the Hitchhiker
Pieces
Crying through Plastic Eyes
Mine
Will Work for Food
Inheritance
Paying the Hitchhiker
Pieces
Crying through Plastic Eyes
Crying through Plastic Eyes
Excerpt from Crying through Plastic Eyes
Sassy sniffed the air and began howling. Krissy dropped the doll and covered her ears.
“Mom. Make her stop!”
Not knowing which one was making the most noise but determined to bring to an end some of it, Destiny picked up the dog. The moment she did Sassy stopped howling and buried her face in the crook of her arm. The small terrier was trembling, but she continued to express her displeasure by letting out a low rumbling sound that verged on becoming a growl at any moment. “What is wrong with you? Are you jealous of a doll? You’ve never acted like this before.”
Destiny tucked the small terrier under her arm and looked over at Krissy. I’ll lock her in my bathroom for a little while. I think you being away from so long must have upset her more than I thought. Maybe she can get a short nap and all will be better in an hour or two.”
She glanced over at the clothes hanging out of her daughter’s dresser drawers. The room had been spotless before Krissy’s return home. “Stop playing long enough to straighten this room up. I’ll have dinner ready in about thirty minutes. Clean your room, wash your hands and face and I’ll holler for you when the food is on the table.”
Destiny headed out but stopped at the door and turned. “I’m happy to see you, Baby. I sure have missed you. Did you have fun this weekend with your dad?”
Krissy bunched her face into a comical knot while she thought over the question. “Daddy kept kissing Beverly. Every time I came into the room, he yelled for me to get back into my room. I don’t like Beverly. She kept taking her blouse off. Why did she keep taking her blouse off for, Mommy?”
Destiny had no idea how to answer this question. “Maybe she was hot.”
Krissy nodded and looked thoughtful for a minute. “That’s what Daddy said. I thought he must be teasing though, because all weekend long Beverly kept complaining about how low Daddy had the air set. She made him rub her feet because they were cold.”
Okay. There was a much needed talk coming about what was appropriate to do when Krissy was at Tony’s house and what wasn’t. The man obviously had no clue how to keep his jeans zipped. She sighed. “Maybe her chest was hot but her feet were cold.”
Krissy giggled. “You’re silly, Mommy.”
Destiny smiled but pointed toward the clothes hanging out of the dresser drawers. “I know, but don’t forget to clean your mess up. Dinner is in a few minutes.” She closed the door, but could still clearly hear Krissy talking to her doll. It was so good to have her back in the house.
She pulled the dog around so they were eye to eye. “No howling or growling in the house. You’re going to have to learn to share Krissy.”
Sassy whined.
“I know. I don’t much like it either, but it’s a fact of life. Learn to cope like everyone else.”
Sassy sniffed the air and began howling. Krissy dropped the doll and covered her ears.
“Mom. Make her stop!”
Not knowing which one was making the most noise but determined to bring to an end some of it, Destiny picked up the dog. The moment she did Sassy stopped howling and buried her face in the crook of her arm. The small terrier was trembling, but she continued to express her displeasure by letting out a low rumbling sound that verged on becoming a growl at any moment. “What is wrong with you? Are you jealous of a doll? You’ve never acted like this before.”
Destiny tucked the small terrier under her arm and looked over at Krissy. I’ll lock her in my bathroom for a little while. I think you being away from so long must have upset her more than I thought. Maybe she can get a short nap and all will be better in an hour or two.”
She glanced over at the clothes hanging out of her daughter’s dresser drawers. The room had been spotless before Krissy’s return home. “Stop playing long enough to straighten this room up. I’ll have dinner ready in about thirty minutes. Clean your room, wash your hands and face and I’ll holler for you when the food is on the table.”
Destiny headed out but stopped at the door and turned. “I’m happy to see you, Baby. I sure have missed you. Did you have fun this weekend with your dad?”
Krissy bunched her face into a comical knot while she thought over the question. “Daddy kept kissing Beverly. Every time I came into the room, he yelled for me to get back into my room. I don’t like Beverly. She kept taking her blouse off. Why did she keep taking her blouse off for, Mommy?”
Destiny had no idea how to answer this question. “Maybe she was hot.”
Krissy nodded and looked thoughtful for a minute. “That’s what Daddy said. I thought he must be teasing though, because all weekend long Beverly kept complaining about how low Daddy had the air set. She made him rub her feet because they were cold.”
Okay. There was a much needed talk coming about what was appropriate to do when Krissy was at Tony’s house and what wasn’t. The man obviously had no clue how to keep his jeans zipped. She sighed. “Maybe her chest was hot but her feet were cold.”
Krissy giggled. “You’re silly, Mommy.”
Destiny smiled but pointed toward the clothes hanging out of the dresser drawers. “I know, but don’t forget to clean your mess up. Dinner is in a few minutes.” She closed the door, but could still clearly hear Krissy talking to her doll. It was so good to have her back in the house.
She pulled the dog around so they were eye to eye. “No howling or growling in the house. You’re going to have to learn to share Krissy.”
Sassy whined.
“I know. I don’t much like it either, but it’s a fact of life. Learn to cope like everyone else.”
Mine
Excerpt from Mine
Alle sniffed back tears. There was no way she was going to cry like some big old baby. It was a dark, scary building, so what? In the bright light of day, it was certain to be just a dusty, old building. In just a couple of more hours, the sun would be up and if James hadn’t returned by then, she would find her own way out of the building and back home. James had better hope she didn’t have to that, because if she did, she was going to post messages on Facebook and Twitter, and let everyone know what a jerk he was. By the time she was finished, he would never get another date.
The damn dimple should have been a dead giveaway. She had never dated anyone with a dimple who had ever turned out to be the person he presented himself to be. Dimples were her Achilles’ heel. She loved them. It didn’t really matter where they were located; chin or cheeks. However, she didn’t know what it was about having a dimple that turned a guy into such a total ass. Maybe it was because the dimple made them look so innocent and appealing that they could get away with murder. Most guys could do what they wanted, when they wanted, and all they had to do to get out of trouble was to grin. That dimple would come out, and all would be forgiven, but it was going to take a lot more than a cute dimple for her ever to forgive James for deserting her.
Without warning, the atmosphere in the hallway took a dramatic change. The air around Alle felt thicker and pulsated between hot and cold. The muggy air had so much static electricity in it that every hair on her body felt as if it was standing on end. That strange sensation set her on edge, and she was unprepared when someone let out a long, slow sigh into her right ear. She could have chalked up the sigh as something out of her imagination, but there wasn’t just the sound of the sigh, but a breeze that blew across the back of her neck and cheek.
Alle sniffed back tears. There was no way she was going to cry like some big old baby. It was a dark, scary building, so what? In the bright light of day, it was certain to be just a dusty, old building. In just a couple of more hours, the sun would be up and if James hadn’t returned by then, she would find her own way out of the building and back home. James had better hope she didn’t have to that, because if she did, she was going to post messages on Facebook and Twitter, and let everyone know what a jerk he was. By the time she was finished, he would never get another date.
The damn dimple should have been a dead giveaway. She had never dated anyone with a dimple who had ever turned out to be the person he presented himself to be. Dimples were her Achilles’ heel. She loved them. It didn’t really matter where they were located; chin or cheeks. However, she didn’t know what it was about having a dimple that turned a guy into such a total ass. Maybe it was because the dimple made them look so innocent and appealing that they could get away with murder. Most guys could do what they wanted, when they wanted, and all they had to do to get out of trouble was to grin. That dimple would come out, and all would be forgiven, but it was going to take a lot more than a cute dimple for her ever to forgive James for deserting her.
Without warning, the atmosphere in the hallway took a dramatic change. The air around Alle felt thicker and pulsated between hot and cold. The muggy air had so much static electricity in it that every hair on her body felt as if it was standing on end. That strange sensation set her on edge, and she was unprepared when someone let out a long, slow sigh into her right ear. She could have chalked up the sigh as something out of her imagination, but there wasn’t just the sound of the sigh, but a breeze that blew across the back of her neck and cheek.
Pieces
Excerpt from Pieces
“Mrs. Sharp. I’m glad you’re awake. I need to ask you a couple of questions. There’s a killer out there somewhere and the sooner you can give your version of what happened last night, the sooner we catch this madman.”
Those words hung in the air between the two of them like nasty darts of acid. Kelli watched them pop around her head and then jab into her brain. Each word attempted to worm its way inside, as if trying to help her remember something extremely important, but in the end none of his words made any sense and all she could do was stare at the man.
She saw a movement on the other side of her bed, so she turned to see what it was. She was pleased to finally see a familiar face. “Sherry? Where am I at? Who is this man and what does he want?” Kelli shook her head to clear her thoughts but stopped immediately when sharp pains reminded her that was a bad idea.
Her daughter reached out and took her hand. “Mom. This is Detective Jensen.”
The detective leaned in again. “I’m Detective Jensen. Your husband was brutally murdered last night. A neighbor saw your backdoor standing open this morning and went over to check to see if everything was alright. The moment he saw the blood all over your kitchen, he called 911. When the patrol officers arrived, they found you and your husband out in the garage. I’m afraid there was nothing that could be done to save your husband.”
Kelli glanced at Sherry. Sherry gave her hand a reassuring pat. “It will be okay, Mom. Just tell the detective what he needs to know.”
Sherry then released Kelli's hand and left the room. It was only after the door was closed that Kelli looked back at Detective Jensen. “Do you know what happened to Mark?”
He didn’t answer right away but walked over and pulled up a straight back chair closer to the bed. He settled into the chair and then pulled out a small pad and a pen from his coat pocket. He flipped the pad open and began writing before finally focusing on her again. “So you don’t remember anything about last night?”
His harsh tone was confusing. She wanted to close her eyes again and shut the world out, but life experiences had taught her that hiding from what needed to be confronted seldom worked for very long. “The last thing I remember was going to bed.”
“Mrs. Sharp. I’m glad you’re awake. I need to ask you a couple of questions. There’s a killer out there somewhere and the sooner you can give your version of what happened last night, the sooner we catch this madman.”
Those words hung in the air between the two of them like nasty darts of acid. Kelli watched them pop around her head and then jab into her brain. Each word attempted to worm its way inside, as if trying to help her remember something extremely important, but in the end none of his words made any sense and all she could do was stare at the man.
She saw a movement on the other side of her bed, so she turned to see what it was. She was pleased to finally see a familiar face. “Sherry? Where am I at? Who is this man and what does he want?” Kelli shook her head to clear her thoughts but stopped immediately when sharp pains reminded her that was a bad idea.
Her daughter reached out and took her hand. “Mom. This is Detective Jensen.”
The detective leaned in again. “I’m Detective Jensen. Your husband was brutally murdered last night. A neighbor saw your backdoor standing open this morning and went over to check to see if everything was alright. The moment he saw the blood all over your kitchen, he called 911. When the patrol officers arrived, they found you and your husband out in the garage. I’m afraid there was nothing that could be done to save your husband.”
Kelli glanced at Sherry. Sherry gave her hand a reassuring pat. “It will be okay, Mom. Just tell the detective what he needs to know.”
Sherry then released Kelli's hand and left the room. It was only after the door was closed that Kelli looked back at Detective Jensen. “Do you know what happened to Mark?”
He didn’t answer right away but walked over and pulled up a straight back chair closer to the bed. He settled into the chair and then pulled out a small pad and a pen from his coat pocket. He flipped the pad open and began writing before finally focusing on her again. “So you don’t remember anything about last night?”
His harsh tone was confusing. She wanted to close her eyes again and shut the world out, but life experiences had taught her that hiding from what needed to be confronted seldom worked for very long. “The last thing I remember was going to bed.”
Paying the Hitchhiker
Excerpt from Paying the Hitchhiker
Susan could feel the bed bounce as Jennifer climbed off of the bed. The noises that could be heard next sounded as if Jennifer suddenly took off running across the room. She must have then dived straight into Jason because he grunted. He must have dropped the gun because the next sound was something heavy plunking onto the carpeted floor. For the next hour or so, all Susan could hear was giggles, groans and bodies slapping together. It was like being in the room with a porn movie you weren’t watching but to which you were listening. It would have been easy to doze off if she hadn’t been so uncertain when the insane couple was going to get tired of coupling like dogs in heat and suddenly decide to include her into their activities.
With every breath a little of the pillowcase was sucked into her mouth. The material soon had her mouth dry and it was making it even harder to breathe since the pillow case’s thick material wouldn’t allow much air through. The smell of the inside of the pillowcase was even worse than the bedspread. It was hard to decide if it smelled more like rancid body odor or three-day-old piss. Sadly enough, it could have very well been a mixture of both since the motel was in such a sad state of disrepair. If it had been up to her she would had rather been outside in a sleeping bag than this crumbling, mold-infested dump. It was hard to believe that this was how far her life had fallen.
The hardest thing to accept was that her mother had been right all along. She really did fly by the seat of her pants too much. How could she have been so stupid to leave her purse with two complete strangers? She never did that. She had fallen for the oldest con in the world. They had seemed to be two sweet people, so she had just thrown her purse onto the bed when she had gone into the bathroom. It hadn’t seemed like such a big deal at the time. Jason had been snoring as if asleep and Jennifer had busy on the other side of the room putting the food out.
It had always been a hard and fast rule for her never to let anyone else touch her gun. She had been careless and stupid to trust these people. Living with her dad should have taught her every dirty and low down scheme in the world there was to know. You never trusted anyone with your money, body, or weapons, and you always screwed someone before they screwed you. He had certainly done that to her in more ways than one during her lifetime.
Susan could feel the bed bounce as Jennifer climbed off of the bed. The noises that could be heard next sounded as if Jennifer suddenly took off running across the room. She must have then dived straight into Jason because he grunted. He must have dropped the gun because the next sound was something heavy plunking onto the carpeted floor. For the next hour or so, all Susan could hear was giggles, groans and bodies slapping together. It was like being in the room with a porn movie you weren’t watching but to which you were listening. It would have been easy to doze off if she hadn’t been so uncertain when the insane couple was going to get tired of coupling like dogs in heat and suddenly decide to include her into their activities.
With every breath a little of the pillowcase was sucked into her mouth. The material soon had her mouth dry and it was making it even harder to breathe since the pillow case’s thick material wouldn’t allow much air through. The smell of the inside of the pillowcase was even worse than the bedspread. It was hard to decide if it smelled more like rancid body odor or three-day-old piss. Sadly enough, it could have very well been a mixture of both since the motel was in such a sad state of disrepair. If it had been up to her she would had rather been outside in a sleeping bag than this crumbling, mold-infested dump. It was hard to believe that this was how far her life had fallen.
The hardest thing to accept was that her mother had been right all along. She really did fly by the seat of her pants too much. How could she have been so stupid to leave her purse with two complete strangers? She never did that. She had fallen for the oldest con in the world. They had seemed to be two sweet people, so she had just thrown her purse onto the bed when she had gone into the bathroom. It hadn’t seemed like such a big deal at the time. Jason had been snoring as if asleep and Jennifer had busy on the other side of the room putting the food out.
It had always been a hard and fast rule for her never to let anyone else touch her gun. She had been careless and stupid to trust these people. Living with her dad should have taught her every dirty and low down scheme in the world there was to know. You never trusted anyone with your money, body, or weapons, and you always screwed someone before they screwed you. He had certainly done that to her in more ways than one during her lifetime.
