BOOK ONE CHICAGO 1956 CHAPTER 1 "A door slamming makes one jump, but it doesn't make one afraid. What one fears is the serpent that crawls underneath it."--- Collette, Cheri The images flickered through my head like the pictures in a flip book. You know, the ones that make things seem like they’re moving. My throat felt dry. One more day like all the rest. Might as well get up. As I forced my eyes open, the bright sunlight shining through the open draperies practically blinded me. I tried to ...

CHAPTER 4 “Cruelty is fed, not weakened, by tears." -–Publilius Syrus, Maxims As Angie yanked me into a sitting position, her fingers dug into my shoulders. Then she shoved a glass between my parched lips, and said, "Drink this. Everything is going to be fine. Trust me." The odd tasting fluid did ease the ache in my dry throat, but as moments passed a bitter aftertaste burned my tongue and I started to cough. She just stood there staring at me and said nothing. The blaring of a horn in the st...

CHAPTER 2 "The smiler with the knife under the cloak." ---Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales I was fighting my way through the black haze when I heard someone who sounded a lot like Danny say, "That horny old goat is gonna flip when he sees our sweet little Pavlova." Then he chuckled. “How damn convenient that the cops will just think she ran away.” Angie’s smooth voice seemed to come from far away. “Yeah, Danny, like we said, they'll probably stop lookin' for her after a while.” She giggled. “No ...

BOOK ONE - CHICAGO 1956 CHAPTER 1 "A door slamming makes one jump, but it doesn't make one afraid. What one fears is the serpent that crawls underneath it."--- Collette, Cheri The images flickered through my head like the pictures in a flip book. You know, the ones that make things seem like they’re moving. My throat felt dry. One more day like all the rest. Might as well get up. As I forced my eyes open, the bright sunlight shining through the open draperies practically blinded me. I tried t...

CHAPTER 2 “The smiler with the knife under the cloak.”—-Chaucer, The Canterbury tales I must have slept for quite a while after that. I was still pretty groggy when I heard Angie talking with someone who sounded like Danny. “I guess it’s time to get her ready. Covington is gonna flip when he sees our sweet little Pavlova. That horny old goat.” Danny chuckled to himself sounding awfully pleased. “With the kid bein’ so depressed and all, how damn convenient that the cops will just think she ran...

CHAPTER 2 "The smiler with the knife under the cloak." ---Chaucer, The Canterbury tales I must have slept for quite a while after that. I was still pretty groggy when I heard Angie talking with someone who sounded like Danny. "I guess it’s time to get her ready. Covington is gonna flip when he sees our sweet little Pavlova. That horny old goat." Danny chuckled to himself sounding awfully pleased. “With the kid bein' so depressed and all, how damn convenient that the cops will just think she r...

BOOK ONE - CHICAGO 1956 CHAPTER 1 "A door slamming makes one jump, but it doesn't make one afraid. What one fears is the serpent that crawls underneath it."--- Collette., Cheri Images flickered through my mind like one of those little books you flip. You know, the ones that make things seem like they’re moving. My throat was unusually dry. One more day like all the rest. Might as well get up. As I forced my eyes open, the bright sunlight shining through the open draperies practically blinded ...