Five Tales of Horror and Suspense

By CD Wilsher

A young man finds out from a fortune teller that there’s always a price to be paid. A rich man doesn’t quite have the 25th high school reunion experience he expected. Beware of strangers on a train. A dog may not be man’s best friend. An aging hitman takes a trip down memory lane.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CD Wilsher
• Release date: May 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463804704

CD Wilsher

I’ve been a lawyer for thirty-three years and so I am experienced in dealing with conmen, liars, and thieves. And that’s just the other lawyers! The legal profession does cause you to see people at their worst, their most desperate, and their most wounded. It’s easy to be cynical when you’ve deal with the legal system, but once in a while a glimmer of humanity manages to peep through. And it’s all of grist for the crime novelist’s mill. Be sure to check out my blog Post Industrial Noir at cdwilsher.com.

Book preview

cover.jpg

FIVE TALES OF HORROR AND SUSPENSE

By

CD WILSHER

Copyright © 2018 by Christopher D. Wilsher

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing, 2018

ISBN 978-1-5323-2716-2

Cover Art Design: Dawné Dominique / DusktilDawn Designs

cdwilsher.com

CONTENTS

MADAM OROBAS

REUNION

PREDATORS

AXEL

THE MATADOR

MADAM OROBAS

Let’s go in there, Sheree said, pointing at the tent. We haven’t tried that yet.

Joey looked at the giant cardboard figure of a fortune teller, painted gold and green, which was next to the entrance. Above the entrance, in large letters, a sign that read MADAM OROBAS.

A fortune teller? he said, his voice a little weary. You gotta be kidding me. That’s way too corny. Anyway, we’ve already spent more money than I planned.

Sheree grabbed his hand. Come on. Don’t be such a cheapskate. She might be able to tell our future. Yours and mine. It’ll just cost a few dollars. What’s to lose?

She pulled him into the tent, which was empty except for a woman sitting behind a table. A crystal ball was on one side of the table, and an incense candle on the other -- the place stunk of incense. A large cage was on a stand next to the table. It appeared to be empty, but as Joey got closer, he could see a small snake curled up in a corner.

The woman was dressed in a black kaftan, and she had a black turban on her head. She was heavily made-up and there was no telling her age. She could’ve been anywhere from forty-five to eighty.

Please, sit, she said.

Sheree started to slip into the chair, but the woman held up her hand. She pointed at Joey.

No, you, Mister Franks. You sit in the chair.

Joey frowned. How do you know my name?

She gave him an enigmatic little smile. Just sit in the chair, please.

He shrugged and dropped into the chair.

Please give me your hand, she said.

You’re not going to use the crystal ball? he said, joking.

That won’t be necessary.

She took his hand in hers, which were hard and scaly. Joey knew how this scam worked. She’d make some general statements that were guaranteed to be true. You’ll be going on a trip. Or, there’s an illness in your family. Then she’d look to see how he’d react and take it from there, feeding off his reactions. It did bother him that she knew his name, though. He couldn’t quite figure that out.

After a couple of minutes she looked up, stared him hard in the eye. She really is going to town on this, he thought.

You are a stock broker, yes? she said.

Joey nodded.

I see you do not have much money.

Joey glanced at Sheree. That’s not really --

The woman held up a hand. Does not matter. You will soon come into money. Quite a lot of money.

Sheree let out an excited little whoop.

This confirms the woman’s a fraud, Joey thought. Fact was, he was near the end of his rope at Connor & Carlson, LLC. His review was this week and he’d be lucky to keep his job, let alone come into any money.

What else do you want to know? the woman asked.

That’s fine, Joey said. You’ve told me plenty already. That’s all I need to know.

She threw him a sly glance. There is much more, believe me.

What do I owe you?

That will be ten dollars, please.

Joey reluctantly