The Beast House

No windows!

The Kutch house?

“Oh God,” she whispered.

Flinching with each step, she staggered to the single door. She reached out an arm, slapped the jamb, and tried to brace herself. The arm folded. She fell against the door. But she grabbed the knob and held on tightly until the worst of the pain subsided. Then she tried to twist the knob. It wouldn’t budge.

I’m locked in.

It came as no great surprise.

Still, she rattled the knob and yanked it, shaking the door in its frame.

Finally, she gave up.

She was out of breath, shuddering with pain.

She sank to her haunches. The bandage on her breast had pulled loose at the bottom. Blood was trickling from under it. She tried to press the tape down, but it wouldn’t stick. Her skin was too slippery. Raising the bandage like a thick blue flap, she blinked sweat and tears from her eyes and stared at the wounds.

Her shoulder was torn and raw as if she had been gnawed by a dog. Below that, her flesh was ripped by four long scratches. Smoothing the bandage gently into place, she looked at her other breast. The skin was unbroken, but dark with bruises like a crescent of half a dozen dots. She lifted it and found a similar half-circle under the nipple.

Teeth marks?

But not from the teeth of a man.

Some kind of wild animal? A coyote, maybe?

Who are you trying to kid? she thought.

It was the beast.

Elizabeth Thorn’s beast.

She couldn’t remember any of it, but she knew it had to be so.

Oh God, the thing had raped her.

Quavering, she hugged her belly and leaned forward. She pressed her forehead against the door.

It had raped her. But it hadn’t killed her. Someone had bandaged her wounds. And now she was a prisoner in the windowless house of Maggie Kutch.

It’ll be back, she thought.

It wants me again.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Hardy, a distance up the sidewalk, paused near the fence and took a photo of Beast House. As he lowered the camera, Nora waved. He nodded a greeting, and came forward. In spite of the mild breeze, Tyler thought he must be stifling inside his sport jacket. She was too warm, herself, and wished she’d worn shorts or a skirt instead of her corduroys.

“You remember Tyler,” Nora said.

“Of course. How could I forget such a lovely creature?”

Reluctantly, she shook his offered hand. “This is Abe Clanton,” she said.

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Hardy. I’ve read your books.”

Hardy looked surprised as he took Abe’s hand. “In the plural?”

“Sure. There were some thirty before Horror at Black River Falls?”

“Forty-eight, in fact. More than a few under pseudonyms. I’m delighted to find a man who knows I existed before Horror. Delighted and stunned.”

“I especially liked your Death Defiers series. Always kept an eye out for them in the PX.”

“Ah, you’re a military man. I should’ve guessed. That straight-shouldered bearing. A Marine, no doubt.”

Abe looked amused. “That’s right.”

“The author of Death Defiers is Matt Scott. May I ask how you saw through my nom de plume?”

“They had your name on the copyright page.”

“A singularly literate fellow,” he said, and turned to Jack. “Another leatherneck?”

“Used to be. Jack Wyatt.” They shook hands. “I saw your movie.”

“Ah.”

“I’m a singularly illiterate fellow.”

Nora laughed. “Hey, we met a guy last night you’ll want to interview. Captain Frank. He lives in a bus over there.” She pointed toward the woods along the far side of Beach Road.

“Interview?” Hardy asked.

“He claims his father found the beast on some island and brought it here.”

“The beast?”

She nodded toward the old house.

“That beast?” Hardy asked.

“Yeah. He’s full of all kinds of disgusting details.”

“Why should I be interested?”

“For your book.”

He stared at her, looking as if he might decide to smile. “I believe I explained, last evening, that I have no intention of writing about Beast House.”

“That’s right!” Nora snapped her fingers and looked very annoyed with herself for forgetting. “You did say that. I remember.” Suddenly grinning, she shook a finger at him. “You’d better interview Captain Frank for the book you’re not going to write.”

Hardy chuckled.

“Now don’t worry about us. We won’t breathe a word to a living soul that you’re not doing a book on Beast House. Mum’s the word, right, everyone? Your secret is safe with us.”

Tyler looked around and saw that the line was moving toward the ticket booth. A tight, sick feeling seized her stomach. Calm down, she told herself. It’s nothing to get crazy about. Maybe Dan won’t be here, after all.

But if he is?

She could wait outside, avoid him.

That wouldn’t be right.

She fumbled with the catch of her purse.

“I’ll get it,” Abe said.

“No, you’ve already…”

But he stepped ahead of her and purchased two tickets from the smiling blond girl at the window. They stepped aside to wait for the others.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Are you all right?”

“Not very.”

“I’m sure Dan’ll be glad to see you.”

“It’ll be easier if he’s not.”

Abe’s eyes looked solemn. He rubbed her shoulder lightly, and let his hand fall away as Nora and Jack approached.

Nora frowned with concern. “Are you sure you want to go ahead with this?” she asked.

“No. But I will.”

“Is there a problem?” Hardy asked.

“Tyler’s old boyfriend is supposed to be…”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Tyler said, annoyed with Nora for broadcasting her private business to the man. She turned away quickly and stepped through the turnstile.

Abe joined her on the other side, and took hold of her hand. Tyler looked up at him. “She’s got a real mouth,