The Howling II by Gary Brandner Read Free Book Online Page A

like this?”
    “My love, that is the idea. For what that woman did to me, and to you too, we want her to suffer. She must have time to worry about it.”
    Marcia lay back across the bed, stretching her long body sensuously. Roy did not look at her. He paced the worn carpet nervously.
    “What do we do now?” he asked.
    “Don’t worry, darling, I have it all planned. I will let her see me again - just a glimpse here and there. Maybe we’ll give her a quick look at you. That would give her something to think about. I have watched her at home, and I have a little something in mind there too. The important thing is to have patience. I want your Karyn to finally understand what is happening to her, and why, just before - ” She left the unfinished sentence hanging.
    “Before what?” Roy said.
    Marcia sat up suddenly and swung around to face him. “Don’t be stupid, Roy. You know what we have to do.”
    “Kill her, Marcia? Do we have to kill her? What good will that do?”
    Marcia swung her long legs from the bed and walked over to stand in front of him. She looked deep into his eyes, holding her body close to his. Her voice was soft and carressing.
    “It will give me peace, darling, after months of agony. It is something I must do. If you don’t want to be a part of it, I will understand. Leave now if that’s the way you feel, and I will go on alone.”
    Roy held himself away from the green-eyed woman for a moment, then put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her tight against him. He stroked her hair, gently fingering the streak of silver as though it were a wound. The gentle scent of sandalwood brought to his mind the intoxicating days and nights when they had first been together.
    “I can’t leave you,” he said. “Whatever has to be done, we will do together.”
    “My Roy,” she breathed close to his ear. “My lover.” Gently she pulled him toward the bed.
    *****
    “What did Dr. Goetz say?”
    David Richter held his wife’s hand and studied her worriedly.
    “He said it was all in my head.”
    David frowned.
    “I’m only kidding. He didn’t say that in so many words, but that was the gist of his message. What he said was something like, ‘Many people go through periods of mild paranoia. Even people with no other neuroses. For someone with your history, it isn’t at all unusual. Nothing to worry about.’ “
    David squeezed Karyn’s hand and nodded sagely. “I’m sure Dr. Goetz knows what he’s talking about, dear.”
    “Not in this case, he doesn’t,” Karyn said. “There is someone following me. A woman. Since the other day when I first saw her in the coffee shop, I’ve seen her again on the street, once at the library, and again just this morning in a taxi driving by right in front of our house.”
    “You’re sure it was the same woman?”
    “I’m positive. She was dressed differently, and always had her face covered or turned away, but I couldn’t miss that white streak in her black hair.”
    David listened thoughtfully. When Karyn finished speaking he rubbed his jaw and gazed off at a corner of the ceiling. “Karyn, about your going to work - do you think we might be rushing things a bit?”
    “No, I don’t! And what the hell does that have to do with anything?”
    “I just thought that, well, the added strain of taking on an outside job just now might - might - “
    “Might make me start imagining things?” Karyn finished for him. “Like people following me?”
    “I didn’t mean that exactly.”
    “Like hell you didn’t.” Karyn saw the hurt look come into his eyes, and she reached up to touch his cheek. “I’m sorry, David. I know you’re trying to do what you think is best for me. So is Dr. Goetz. It’s just that neither of you wants to consider the possibility that I am seeing exactly what I think I am seeing.”
    David smiled at her, but the doubt was still in his eyes. “I’m trying, dear. I’m really trying.” They talked no more about it that