Someone is happy

Staring in horror at the blood-soaked figure sprawled on the floor beside the open kitchen door, Josie screamed.

She shut her eyes, but the hideous sight remained with her.

“Muggy!” she cried. “Oh, Muggy!”

Opening her eyes, she took a reluctant step toward the unmoving animal.

“Muggy. Muggy,” she wailed.

The little terrier was on its back, its head twisted to the side, eyes wide in a blank, unseeing stare.

The wind battered against the glass storm door, startling Josie. She grabbed the Formica countertop for support as her entire body lurched in a tremor of horror.

Josie felt sick. She started to turn away, but something caught her eye.

What was that shiny thing in Muggy’s stomach?

Pressing both hands over her mouth, she squinted at it. It took her a while to realize it was a letter opener. A silver letter opener. The letter opener from the desk in the den.

“Who did this?” she cried out loud, hot tears streaming down her cheeks.

Her horror was rapidly turning to anger. “ Who did this?”

How had it happened? Had someone come to the back door? Had Muggy come running to investigate?

Josie tried to picture it. Someone pulled open the storm door, came into the kitchen, and murdered the poor little dog with the letter opener from the den.

But who? Why?

“Muggy,” Josie cried, shutting her eyes again, shutting them so tightly they hurt. “Oh, Muggy.”

Josie suddenly realized she wasn’t alone in the kitchen.

Opening her eyes, her hands still pressed against her face, she turned to find Rachel standing right behind her.

Rachel wore a long blue-flannel nightdress. Her hair was tied back and fell forward over one shoulder. She looked very pale in the fluorescent light of the kitchen.

Rachel’s emerald eyes were aglow as she stared at Muggy’s corpse, and Josie was horrified by the evil smile on her twin’s face.

“Rachel!” Josie cried, turning to face her.

“There’s the puppy,” Rachel said brightly, her smile growing wider. Rachel pointed down to the gruesome sight. “There’s the puppy.”

Why is she so happy? Josie asked herself, suddenly frightened. Why does she think this is funny?

“There’s the puppy,” Rachel repeated in her singsong voice.

“Rachel, you shouldn’t be down here,” Josie scolded, still gripping the top of the counter.

“But there’s the puppy,” Rachel insisted, smiling, her green eyes shiny and excited.

Without warning, Erica appeared behind Rachel. “When did you get home?” she asked Josie. And then her eyes fell on the murdered dog. “Oh no!” Erica cried weakly. Her mouth dropped open in horror.

“There’s the puppy,” Rachel said, pointing.

Rachel’s words seemed to break Erica out of her silent spell.

“Oh, no,” she muttered. “Oh no, no, no, no.” Then Erica’s expression changed. She grabbed Rachel’s shoulders, her features tight with concern. “Come away, Rachel. Come with me.”

“But there’s the puppy,” Rachel protested.

“Don’t get upset, dear,” Erica told Rachel sternly. “Don’t get upset. Come upstairs.” She dragged the still-smiling Rachel out of the kitchen.

Josie, left alone, shut her eyes once again. Why was Rachel so happy? she asked herself, suddenly feeling exhausted and drained. Why was Rachel so happy?

And who came into my house and murdered my dog?

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20