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More Bitter Than Death — Kate Wilhelm
A DARK AND DEADLY SECRET
Seven people stood at the open grave of Janey Halstead; the beautiful and cruel Janey who had once been the center of their island world and the focal point of their hatred. Only one of them had wielded the murder weapon but each of them had taken part in her death.
An eighth and innocent person also stood at the grave of a young bride whose resemblance to Janey had startled them all. But in the murderer's twisted mind he knew this was no stranger but Janey, returning to torment him anew…Janey, whom he hadn't killed at all…Janey, who would have to die again!
The hurricane blew with maniacal fury up the coast of Florida to the Carolina's, venting its wrath on Charles Isle, southernmost island of the Hatteras group. There it flung its debris against the abandoned cottages, tore the roof from the unused school, obliterated the last trace of the road. Then veering seaward, it moved the dune which covered the bones of the woman. One sand-scoured finger was still banded by the diamond ring which identified the remains. After sixteen years, Janey Halstead had been found.
A VOICE IN THE DARKNESS
Someone was nearby, Eve felt it. She scanned the dark beach in both directions but nothing moved except the surging, tumbling waves. Her eyes turned toward the dunes but again she could see nothing.
She shouldn't have come, she thought with a feeling of panic. And even as she fought to remain calm, there was a sound. A sharp snapping sound. Like driftwood being broken.
She stepped backward, her eyes wide and frightened, wanting desperately to scream but knowing that there was no one to hear her. The backward steps took her into the loose sand and she stumbled, making her cry out involuntarily. The darkness seemed to be pressing in around her and she felt suffocated with fright.
“Janey?”
The voice cut the darkness.
Eve whimpered and shook her head. “I'm not Janey,” she cried desperately, straining her eyes for signs of the intruder.
“Don't run away from me, Janey.”
She sobbed and started to run but her knees gave way and she fell to the sand.
“I'm coming, Janey…”
She screamed.
Seven people stood at the open grave of Janey Halstead; the beautiful and cruel Janey who had once been the center of their island world and the focal point of their hatred. Only one of them had wielded the murder weapon but each of them had taken part in her death.
An eighth and innocent person also stood at the grave of a young bride whose resemblance to Janey had startled them all. But in the murderer's twisted mind he knew this was no stranger but Janey, returning to torment him anew…Janey, whom he hadn't killed at all…Janey, who would have to die again!
The hurricane blew with maniacal fury up the coast of Florida to the Carolina's, venting its wrath on Charles Isle, southernmost island of the Hatteras group. There it flung its debris against the abandoned cottages, tore the roof from the unused school, obliterated the last trace of the road. Then veering seaward, it moved the dune which covered the bones of the woman. One sand-scoured finger was still banded by the diamond ring which identified the remains. After sixteen years, Janey Halstead had been found.
A VOICE IN THE DARKNESS
Someone was nearby, Eve felt it. She scanned the dark beach in both directions but nothing moved except the surging, tumbling waves. Her eyes turned toward the dunes but again she could see nothing.
She shouldn't have come, she thought with a feeling of panic. And even as she fought to remain calm, there was a sound. A sharp snapping sound. Like driftwood being broken.
She stepped backward, her eyes wide and frightened, wanting desperately to scream but knowing that there was no one to hear her. The backward steps took her into the loose sand and she stumbled, making her cry out involuntarily. The darkness seemed to be pressing in around her and she felt suffocated with fright.
“Janey?”
The voice cut the darkness.
Eve whimpered and shook her head. “I'm not Janey,” she cried desperately, straining her eyes for signs of the intruder.
“Don't run away from me, Janey.”
She sobbed and started to run but her knees gave way and she fell to the sand.
“I'm coming, Janey…”
She screamed.
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