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feel the warmth of her body. "I wanted to please you," she said huskily. |
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Charlie turned away from the woman and walked stiffly back into the center of the room. Then, still in a daze, he walked soberly over to the heavily draped windows to stare out at the fading grayness of the day. There was a twisted kind of half-smile on his otherwise stunned face. When he spoke, his voice was muted by his strained emotions. "Should . . . should I assume that my beloved ex-wife suffered the same fate?" |
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Jubell Caron sighed. "Not all things are as we see them. She was once your lover and she pleased you, but in the end there were others whom she displeased as much as you. But the powers of Jubell are strong, Mr. Frazier. The circle is round, the cycle is complete. She, too, has joined those who face the consuming fires of hatred in a life without life." |
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"You'll have to be a helluva lot more specific than that. I have to know. Is she dead?" |
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The woman got up and approached him again, this time encircling him with her long graceful arms and drawing him to her. "Are you not pleased?" she whispered. |
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Charlie pushed her away. "Answer my question, damn it. What about Ruthie? Is she dead, too?" |
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Jubell nodded. "Your anger is wasted. She has been dead a long time." |
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