Free Listen to the Shadows by Joan Hall Hovey Page B

tossed it into the truck’s cab. He locked the doors, then turned and headed for the house, only vaguely aware of the low rumble of distant thunder. He would sit awhile and look at Katie’s picture. That always helped to bring the moment closer.
    That sweet moment when he would be with her.
    She would be so beautiful.
    Trapped there beneath him, soft and naked and helpless, writhing and moaning in pain and ecstasy—for there could be no real ecstasy without pain. He could feel her body against him now, moist and slippery, feel himself thrusting hard into her, again and again. He heard her cries inside his head, and his legs trembled as he climbed the stairs to his room.
    Once inside, he closed the door behind him and sagged against it.
    Shutting his eyes, he let his mind savor what would be the best part of all.
    Her death. An exquisitely slow death—one chosen with great care.
    Just for her.

 
    Chapter 10
     
    Rachael and Billy Martin ran the half-mile home like the breath of the devil was at their backs. Now they bounded up the porch steps of their house, raced past the two jack-o-lanterns propped up on either side of the railing, and burst through the door. Their costumes were gone, their treat bags dropped somewhere along the way.
    Their mother was in the kitchen, a sweet-faced woman in a flowered dress, up to her elbows in sudsy dishwater. At the sight of her, Rachael began to cry.
    Alarmed, Mrs. Martin quickly dried her hands and came forward. “Billy, honey, what happened?” She smoothed his hair, then knelt to put her arms around her little girl. Both children were trembling and out of breath.
    “Bad man, Mommy,” Rachael sobbed between gasps of air. “The man scared us.”
    “It was that man up at the Nickerson’s house, Momma,” the boy said, panting for breath. “He told us he was going to do something bad to us if we didn’t get the hell out of there.”
    “Don’t swear, Billy.”
    “Mom, I didn’t say it. He did. He said he was going to give us a treat we wouldn’t like. Rachael’s not kidding, Mom. He really was scary—just like—like—Freddy Kruger.”
    “Must have been someone dressed up in a costume,” his mother reasoned.
    “Someone teasing.”
    Billy made a move with his knees that looked like he was going to jump up and down. “No, it wasn’t, Mom,” he yelled in frustration. “I told you, it was the man at the Nickerson’s. It was.”
    “Okay, honey, okay. Calm down.” She’d seen the man up at the Nickerson’s, and he certainly bore no resemblance to the infamous Freddy Kruger. Kids had such lively imaginations. Then again, you never knew what was out there. Halloween wasn’t like it used to be when she was a kid—soaping windows, being invited inside the houses of warm, friendly neighbors, while they pretended to try to guess who you were beneath the mask. Halloween had been fun, exciting. Now it was poison and razor blades. Even though she didn’t think there was anything like that around here, she thought maybe this was going to be Billy and Rachael’s last year for trick or treating. Next year she would suggest a little party, invite some of their school friends.
    Maybe tomorrow, she thought, putting the last of the dishes in the cupboard, she would just take a little walk up there and have a friendly chat with Rose Nickerson.
     

 
    Chapter 11
     
    Katie was perched on the side of the bed anxiously waiting for Linda Ring, who was to escort her downstairs in a wheelchair. Then Katie would take a cab home. She knew Drake would be hurt she hadn’t let him know she was being discharged today, but she felt an almost urgent need to be alone on her first day home. Drake would have insisted on coming to get her. She glanced down at the overnight case at her feet and sighed. It, like the proverbial bed penny, was still with her. Well, she had tried to give it back. Katie stood to check her appearance in the mirror. Her legs were shaky now that she’d exchanged