Page 91 of If Looks Could Kill
“Come close now,” Pearl croons. “Both of you. That’s right. Now, close your eyes.”
They both obey. Nick puckers his thick lips as if expecting a kiss.
“No cheating,” she coos. “Keep them closed.”
“How long?” demands Nick.
“Just a moment more,” she whispers. “Now, here’s the secret. Are you ready?”
“What is it?” bleats Lou. “Don’t keep us waiting.”
“Here it is,” she breathes.“Women”—she pauses and watches theireyebrows rise expectantly—“are sick of men like you who use brute force to hide how weak and dull they are.”
The best part, the very best part, is how long they wait with dopey grins of excitement for her words to catch up to their beer-soaked brains. Those stretched seconds after she has finished speaking are priceless. So is the anger, and then the mute terror that scrapes over their faces as they open their eyes and see exactly who they chose to harass on a late-night train.
Tabitha—At a Time Like This(Late Night, Sunday, December 2, 1888)
“Medusa,” he repeated. “The lady who lives here is… Medusa.”
I nodded.
“Snakes for hair,” he said. “Turning men to stone.”
I thought of the eerie statue in her foyer. “I think so. Yes.”
He raked his hand through his hair. “And you’ve seen her? Snakes and all?”
I nodded again. “Snakes and all.”
“Butyou’renot turned to stone.”
“I suspect,” I told him, “it’s men she particularly likes.” I caught myself. “To petrify.”
Mike threw up his hands. “And who can blame her?”
This stung. “I know you can’t believe me,” I said. “But I’m telling the truth.” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “There’s something wrong with her. With Miss Stella. That’s her name.”
“Snakes for hair will do that to you,” observed Mike. “Put you wrong in the head.”
“I mean, something sinister,” I said. “Or, maybe, just terribly sad andlonely. But either way, I believe she’s dangerous.” I reached for the door.
Mike fingered the splintered wood on the door. “Maybe she won’t hurt you, but her rough visitors will.”
“But my friends are inside,” I said. “The longer we talk, the more they’re in danger.”
Mike listened at the door. “It’s quiet in there,” he observed. “Is that a good sign?”
“Or it’s a house full of corpses,” I muttered.
“You said there were two Medusas.” Realization hit him. “Is the other one… Pearl?”
It felt like a violation, to betray her secret. But no part of me could lie to Mike.
“It only just happened to her,” I babbled. “Just this afternoon. The first time ever. She doesn’t know why. She’s terrified.”
“And that’s why you came here? To this other Medusa woman’s house?”
I nodded miserably.
