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She and Jake sidled up the steps to the wide front porch The door’s stained-glass center oval had been shattered

“I’ to think I’m cursed,” she said

Jake clutched her hand in his, sending a jolt of awareness up her arether, they tiptoed around the glass and through the open doorway

Once inside, Claire stifled a scream

The sicko’s tornado of evil had left a destructive wake through the 1900s-era fars Too bad the Voice of Doom had already done the job for her

He’d thrown open the kitchen drawers and tossed the spoons and forks onto the tile floor She found books that had been thrust off shelves and thrown across the living roo roolass shards decorated everything She couldn’t take e there Dresses, shirts jeans, tank tops and socks littered her bedroo fan If she wasn’t sothat

“Claire! Get in here”

She hustled back into the kitchen Jake stood in the pantry’s open doorway, his back to her His bulk blocked her froed hi her way, he shuffled sideways

A gas canister sat in theout of the doorway A bright blue boas stuck to the handle The killer had left a as can

See you soon

She hated the fear growing inside her Being frightened never helped anything It got in the way Stopped her fro what needed to be done But not this tiuy’s head on a pike

“The bastard is going to fry” Her tre lip betrayed the bravado in her words “No way is he burning downwhen he comes back ”

“Want company?”

Claire took stock of Jake’s ht required un?”

“You bet” His cold grin didn’t reach his eyes