FORTY-FIVE

Sitting at her dining table, reading the tarot, Paulette suddenly felt the sting of a blade against her throat. She called out in terror. Her hand flew to her throat, but nothing was there.

Rising quickly, she hurried over to the window to look out at Jessie’s house. Everything seemed peaceful over there. The lights were all out. Jessie had called to say that she was exhausted and she was going to sleep early.

Let her sleep. She needed it. But Paulette would stay awake, She planned to keep a vigil all night, watching Jessie’s house.

The dark man was coming.

Maybe not tonight.

But he was coming.