She Is Vengeance E-Book

Kristin Murdock

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Krimi
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Though often drawn in to difficult circumstances not of their own making, the women in She Is Vengeance always have the final say in what impacts their world.

These strong women guide their own outcomes against a myriad of settings, from libraries to farms, beaches, the city and even a deserted lighthouse.

A collection of crime stories with a difference, the quick reads in She Is Vengeance all have strong female protagonists who refuse to be the victims in their own life stories.

Leseprobe

SHE IS VENGEANCE

KRISTIN MURDOCK

CONTENTS

Preface

Sally’s Sea Change

Winner: Scarlett Stiletto Awards Second Prize, 2010 / Winner: Most Satisfying Retribution, SS Awards, 2010

A Beginner’s Guide to French

Winner: Elyne Mitchell Award, 2016

Death On The Books

Plenty More Fish

Winner: Most Satisfying Retribution, Scarlett Stiletto Awards, 2019

Cat People

Revenge Takes The Cake

‘Winner: Body in the Library, Scarlett Stiletto Awards, 2020

Loose Ends

A Death In The Family

The Irony of Silence

Winner: Body in the Library, Scarlett Stiletto Awards, 2020

See The Light

Giving It Your Best Shot

Chinese Whispers

About the Author

Copyright (C) 2021 Kristin Murdock

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2021 by Next Chapter

Published 2021 by Next Chapter

Edited by India Hammond

Cover art by CoverMint

This book 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 events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author’s permission.

‘In revenge and in love woman is more barbaric than man is.’

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE

Beyond Good and Evil

PREFACE

Growing up in regional South Australia and sharing a birthday with ‘Queen of Crime’, Agatha Christie, Kristin Murdock is an multi award-winning writer.

This collection of short stories has strong, female protagonists.

“One of the joys of writing is being able to empower characters, especially female ones, to take charge of their own lives and outcomes,” Kristin says.

Published as a Young Adult author (Bad Boys – Pan Macmillan) and contributing to three crime anthologies, Scarlett Stiletto (The Second Cut, The Eleventh Cut and The Twelfth Cut), Kristin is currently working on a crime series based in different locations in Australia.

SALLY’S SEA CHANGE

WINNER: SCARLETT STILETTO AWARDS SECOND PRIZE, 2010 / WINNER: MOST SATISFYING RETRIBUTION, SS AWARDS, 2010

In the beginning, Sally only explored the sandy curve of Burner’s Beach as a way to avoid Michael.

Their trip from Adelaide had deteriorated from a spacious, double lane highway to a gravelly snake-like track that sloped its way to the base of sheer limestone cliffs. Escaping from the car, Sally found that the camping area, sandwiched between towering, scorched rock faces and a seductive lapping of waves, was heavy with oppressive heat. The long journey finished with the stress of erecting the heavy, cumbersome camper trailer.

Fortunately, Michael had invited friends on his big adventure and Sally expected his moodiness to be diffused in the social atmosphere. Their conversations tended to be brief and snappy these days. Michael had a way of muttering quietly, causing Sally to strain to hear until she realised he was spouting more sarcasm, primarily about her weight.

They were temporarily alone in the camping ground, accompanied only by low, shrubby trees and a damaged, green sign indicating the trees had been planted a decade earlier by local school children. At opposing ends, drop toilets stood like corrugated iron bookends.

Sally, arms aloft, steadfastly clutched the corner of the canvas annexe. She watched her husband’s dark head leaning into a trailer, one hand frantically delving into a box of rattling junk while the other swiped sweaty hair from his forehead.

“See if you can hold on to that properly while I find the rope,” he said, his flinty, brown eyes attacking her from beneath dark brows.

There had been a time when Sally fancied Michael’s eyes as melted chocolate; warm, soft and comforting. He’d thought it cute at the time (“how sweet”, she seemed to remember was his pun).

When she reminded her husband of it recently, he smirked.

“Trust you to be thinking of chocolate.”

Sally tipped her head backwards, stretching her aching neck and searching the air for a hint of coolness. Beyond the hump of sand, heat shimmered in waves on the horizon, contorting the blueness of the sea into hypnotic curves. To the east, large clumps of rock rose awkwardly out of the water; jagged reddish-brown chunks seemingly thrust sideways into the seabed, the gentle sea caressing them softly.

Michael was still clattering amongst the contents of his poorly packed drawer (which he claimed was, somehow, Sally’s fault) while Sally’s arms began to prickle with pins and needles. The echo of a car’s engine broke the silence, its noise resounding along the narrow cliff track, which was the only way into the camp ground.

“Sounds like Kate and Tony,” Sally commented hopefully.

“Or Geoff and Amanda,” he countered.

Michael stretched upright and brushed dirty hands over his red board-shorts, bought especially for the occasion. He peered expectantly around the edge of the camper but as yet no vehicle had appeared.

“My arms are going to sleep,” Sally said.

“Let it down then.”

He spoke dismissively and walked to the uneven camp track looking expectantly along the narrow road. “I’ll see if the others have a spare rope.”

Michael’s interest was now in the arrival of their friends. Mentally he had already chosen the place they should park their caravans, with, in his opinion, best access to the beach. He’d also planned where the communal barbecue should be placed, as Michael and Sally had no room to bring one of their own.

Sally stretched and massaged the blood back into her arms. A silver four-wheel drive, with caravan bouncing behind, appeared around the bend. As it rattled into camp, a cloud of silvery gulls flew up from the rocks.

Michael ran a hand across his head and folded up the collar of his polo shirt. Sally took secret delight at the tiny thinning patch that was taking shape in his once thick hair.

“I might go cool my feet,” she said.

Michael turned and muttered disinterestedly.

“Yeah, sure, love.”

He closed the distance between them and clapped one hand on her rear end, squeezing a handful of flesh.

“Perhaps you should take a walk?”

Sally looked down as she slipped on her thongs, momentarily studying the chubby feet that protruded from the straps. Well practised, she ignored Michael’s jibe and walked the short path to the beach. In a matter of seconds, she was treading the cooler, yellowish sands of Burner’s Beach.

While one end of the beach abutted the scattered rocks that reared from the ocean, the western end of the beach yawned its way into a hazy distance. A matted web of scrubby vegetation came to the sand’s edge, which was pristine, thanks to the laws of the local conservation park.

Water lapping her ankles, Sally leaned over and immersed her hands in the cool salty ocean. The reflection of a sad face framed by cropped, blondish hair was contorted by the water and typically Sally’s focus was on the flab that oozed over the waist of her board shorts.

She wasn’t looking forward to the intimate laughter from the perfect couple, Kate and Tony, or from Michael’s workmates, Geoff and Amanda. Sally stood up and viewed the sandy, endless curve of land where persistent waves had left a lace of wispy seaweed and a random smattering of shells at the high-water line. She inhaled; the air was sharp and intoxicating. On impulse, Sally stepped out of the water and began to walk west.

She wished she had taken her iPod from the car, but she ran her favourite tunes through her head instead; after all, she knew them word for word. What a blessed relief after Michael’s company on the drive from the city!

Meryl Streep belting out the numbers from Mamma Mia was just the boost she needed right now. Who couldn’t love the Greek Islands where white-washed houses clung to the cliffs and feisty, cheerful women lived beneath perfect blue skies? Now, that was a holiday!

The white arc of Burner’s Beach soothed and relaxed Sally as she got her thoughts in order. It was no easy physical effort though, trudging along the soft sand, making Sally fully aware of the extra twenty kilos she had added since her last holiday with Michael. That had been years before, a spontaneous trip to New Zealand where they had hired a zippy, red car and explored the South Island. A lot had changed since then.

Eventually, Sally rested on the cool sand near the water’s edge. Looking back to the green brim of their camper trailer that poked above the low trees, Sally realised she hadn’t walked very far at all.

About now, Kate and Tony would be ceremoniously popping their luxurious pop-top and breaking out the deck chairs and gin. Back in the real world, Kate and Tony lived opposite Sally and Michael, and Michael and Tony had an unacknowledged rivalry in all things material.

When Tony and Kate added a pergola to their house, Michael had added a (slightly larger) one to theirs. When Michael hired a landscaper to update the front garden, supposedly in the name of water efficiency, Tony had done the same thing.

When Tony showed off his latest pride and joy, a new caravan, Michael and Sally had gone across to christen its arrival with a gin and tonic. All the while, Michael was planning to purchase a more macho camper trailer, which eventually led to this camping trip to the edge of nowhere.

Sally refused to acknowledge her suspicions on why Geoff and Amanda were invited. Geoff worked with Michael at an insurance firm where Michael was technically Geoff’s boss. Surprisingly he didn’t dwell on the fact and, on the surface at least, it didn’t seem to affect their relationship. However, Michael had made it clear that Geoff would need to keep a daily check on their clients. Difficult when there was no phone service at the base of the cliffs and it would require a drive back along the coast road to be in phone range. At the campsite, they were practically cut off from the world.

Unable to avoid the campsite or company any longer, Sally retraced her steps along the beach. She hoped to sneak a quiet gin and tonic with Kate and avoid Amanda, whose harsh, nasally voice and explosive laughter were at odds with the peace of the beach. Sighing, she broached the sandy hill.

“Hey Sally,” Kate waved from the shade of her roll out awning, her blonde ponytail jiggling.

“We finally made it!”

Kate held up a glass and tinkled the ice invitingly. Sally grinned and stepped carefully between the spindly bushes to meet her friend. Michael and Tony were busy tethering a piece of canvas to a nearby tree.

From the corner of her eye, she could see Geoff and Amanda’s caravan obscured behind a group of low trees.

“Hopefully she’s blown away in the breeze,” Kate whispered.

Sally laughed, thinking of Amanda’s unbelievably thin figure.

“Don’t worry about her Sal,” Kate added, sensing her friend’s trepidation. “At least Geoff’s good company.”

Kate was right on the money. Geoff was a great guy: genial, kind and with eyes the colour of spicy green olives. Why do I always equate eyes with food? Sally wondered briefly. But before she could consider it further, Kate thrust a drink in her hand.

“Here, get this into you before she floats past,” she advised.

Sally only managed a sip of the fragrant mix before Amanda, sporting navy blue shorts and a pink singlet tiny enough to fit Kate’s eight-year-old daughter, appeared before them like a piece of horrendously coloured driftwood.

“Hi girls,” she paused and looked pointedly at Kate’s glass. “Don’t suppose I could have one?”

Kate smiled tightly before going back into her van.

“New shorts?” Amanda queried innocently, picking out a twig from her sandal.

Sally looked down at the shapeless blue material currently stretching harshly across her thighs.

“Never underestimate a fat woman,” she quipped cheerily.

Sally studied the pattern of tracks left in the sand by a recently passing lizard. Inwardly, she swore at herself for making a comment that wasn’t even relevant. It was a stupid defence mechanism she’d picked up somewhere.

Amanda smiled smugly at her. It was going to be a long week.

Later, when the sun had vanished into the haze of the distant point and the cool evening air had settled around them, the group circled their deckchairs beneath the awning of Kate and Tony’s van.

“Top spot Michael,” Amanda said approvingly. Her head swivelled to peruse the inky coolness that surrounded them. “There’s not another soul for miles.”

“Thought you’d like it,” Michael replied with a cheeriness boosted by red wine. “You’ll be able to do a few beach runs.”

“I won’t be straying far from camp,” Amanda said, clasping one hand around her left ankle. “I strained my Achilles at the gym last week.”

Usually, Sally didn’t contribute much to small talk, often amazed how being overweight could make a person invisible. Suddenly though, she needed to be included.

“I thought I might walk up the beach every day.”

“Good on you,” Geoff commented from his deck chair, olive eyes on her as he sipped red wine.

Tony balanced a platter of biscuits and dips on his huge hands and offered them around the group.

“Don’t think I’ll worry too much,” he commented chewing a wedge of cheese.

Kate slapped him on the leg as he went past. “You are so lazy, Tony Grafton.”

“You still love me though, right?”

Amanda let out a trill of laughter. “You two make me sick,” she said. “I need another drink. Anyone else?”

Michael straightened up in his chair. “Sure, I’ll give you a hand.” He turned to Sally. “Want one, love?”

Sally took in the sudden animation of his face, the smudged circle of red wine on his lips.

“No thanks, I might head off to bed.”

Michael didn’t take the hint and kissed her on the head like a child as she passed by. Geoff appeared deep in conversation with Kate and Tony and unconcerned as his wife vanished into the bushes with Michael. It was the last image Sally had as she listened to the rhythm of the waves and the slap of the canvas walls before eventually drifting off to sleep.

Sometime later, it seemed like hours, she abruptly awoke, aware Michael was still not beside her. Scrambling in the darkness she found her mobile phone and checked the time — 2:30 am.

Sally pulled on her track pants and cautiously opened the zip of the camper. Above her, a million stars shone with clarity enhanced by the pristine air of the beach. Two voices punctuated the perfect silence, accompanied by the occasional harsh peal of laughter. Sally saw two figures sitting close together on the beach, wine glasses angled into the sand on each side. With a now familiar weight settling in the pit of her stomach, Sally forced herself back into the camper.

The next night, it happened again, only this time, Sally saw Michael’s arm snaking around Amanda’s waist. Standing in the shadows of the bush, she became aware of another figure further along the sand. It was Geoff, his position betrayed by a glint of the dull moon on his glasses. For a moment, in shared silence, they caught each other’s eye before Geoff melted back into the bushes.

Sally never expected it to affect her so much — finally seeing the proof of what she had suspected for so long. Angrily wiping away tears, she fought the urge to cross the sand and scream obscenities at her husband and the woman he now engaged in a lingering kiss. Wooden legs somehow propelled Sally back to the silent campervan where she leant on the canvas, stomach churning violently. Her fingernails clenched the fabric, embedding themselves. It was no use, Sally leaned into the nearest bush and vomited.

Michael was up before Sally the next morning but she decided not to seek him out. Instead, she threw on a voluminous old t-shirt of fluorescent orange and resumed her ritual pacing along the beach. The tranquillity helped galvanise her thoughts, and she was surprised how far she walked before turning back.

Near the campground path, Tony stood on the beach, surrounded by various tackle boxes and patiently dangling a fishing line in the water. Sally was amazed at her ability to offer false cheerfulness.

“Fish for tea?”

Tony grinned, dipping the rod as though just the mention of it had brought one on to the line. “That’s Kate’s plan,” he said with a throaty laugh. “I think it might be easier to go to a seafood restaurant.”

“Nice walk?” he added. “You’re becoming a bit of a regular.”

Sally breathed the crisp air, “It’s soothing ... and so deserted.”

“Well, you’re not hard to see with that shirt on,” Tony commented winding his reel slightly.

Funny how Michael thinks I’m invisible then, Sally thought, clenching her hands to hide the sudden well of emotion.

Aware of a shape in her palm, Sally opened her fingers.

“Look at this,” she said, revealing a toffee-coloured shell edged with softly speckled serrations. On finding it at the point, Sally fancied the beach had offered a reward for her aching calf muscles and heavy heart.

“That’s a cowrie shell. You don’t find them very often. They’re good luck you

know.”

Sally curved her fingers protectively around the shell. Good luck? she thought. That was exactly what she needed.

“Where is everyone?”

“Kate’s reading, I think. Geoff’s gone along the road to find phone service so he can ring a client. Not sure about Amanda or Michael.”

Sally nodded and knew Tony caught her sadness. She walked off abruptly, mind buzzing with what Michael and Amanda were up to, especially since he had sent Geoff off on work errands. Kate would hardly cramp their style either, once her nose was buried in a book.

Approaching the corner of the camper, Sally could hear voices from the table in their annexe.

“‘Never underestimate a fat person,’ she says.” It was Tony, derisory and smug.

Amanda’s laughter cut through her like a knife. Sally moved away, embarrassed by the ridiculousness of her own words.

She stumbled to Kate’s van, finding her friend with her glasses perched on her nose and finger poised on the corner of the next page of her latest novel. The smile she offered quickly disappeared when she saw Sally’s face.

“Sally, what’s wrong?”

Sally squeezed into the narrow caravan seat. She pulled up the hem of her ridiculous fluoro shirt to wipe away her tears, not caring what was revealed beneath.

“Michael and Amanda.” Their names were bitter in her mouth. “They’re having an affair.”

Kate was incredulous and shut her book with a jolt, the bookmark fluttering uselessly to the floor.

“You must be mistaken Sally,” she said, though the truth of it all was plain on her friend’s face.

“How do you know? How long?”

Sally shrugged, glad Kate believed her and that she wouldn’t have to explain further.

“How do you know? Where are they?” Shocked, Kate stumbled over her words.

“I just know,” Sally said with sudden calmness. “But she’s not getting away with it that easily. He’s my husband not hers.”

“Does Geoff know? What can I do Sal?”

Sally looked at her dear friend who was normally so coherent and found it within herself to smile.

“Sorry Kate, I shouldn’t have barged in here like an idiot but ... ” she trailed off uncertainly.

Kate placed a hand on her shoulder, encouraging her to continue.

“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Michael tonight. We can sort it out.” Sally clutched the cowrie shell in her hand. “Wish me luck.”

The confrontation with Michael was brief.

“Hi Hon, Amanda and I thought we might go out snorkelling and try to spear some fish. Geoff has all the gear we need. He thought Amanda could give it a go but he’s not here so I might—” he broke off when he saw the chill in his wife’s face. “What’s up?”

Sally gripped the nearby table.

“I know you’re having an affair with Amanda.”

The conversation was mercifully quick and involved no shouting or tears, though, typically, Michael was on the defensive.

Half an hour later, Michael and Amanda could be seen wading through the shallows brandishing snorkels and spears. Amanda turned and waved cheerily back to Kate and Sally who stood together on the shore.

Kate was unable to control herself any longer.

“What happened?” she hissed.

Closer to the water, Tony still sat doggedly on the beach with his line, accompanied by Geoff who cradled a beer in one hand.

Kate looked as though she would burst.

“Did you talk to him? Why are you letting them go off together?”

Sally laughed with unexpected lightness. “One question at a time.”

“Sally!”

“Michael’s promised to call it off. ‘A stupid mistake,’ he said.”

Sally turned to her friend, absorbing the incredulous expression that twisted her face.

“I know you think I’m pathetic, Kate, but I’m willing to try and make things work.” She straightened her shirt with a sigh. “Who else would have me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Kate snapped. “You don’t have to put up with this garbage.”

“I know,” Sally admitted. “Look, I really appreciate your support, but it’s alright, really. I’m sorry I even bothered you with it. Michael doesn’t want to make a scene now; he’ll talk to her in the morning when Geoff’s out checking on clients so ... ”

“Should Tony and I make ourselves scarce?”

Sally placed a comforting hand on Kate’s shoulder.

“No, really, I just want this all to be over and for things to go back to normal. If you disappear in the morning it will seem a bit odd. Michael thinks Amanda will freak out so it’s probably better if you are around.”

“If you say so.” Kate wasn’t convinced. “Will he really do it?”

Sally sighed but put on a brave smile.

“He promised.”

Morning dawned bright and clear as it had all week, with barely a breath of wind to ripple the placid water. Sally set off walking in her usual old, fluorescent number: a relic from the eighties. She wore her iPod and sang along to Mamma Mia, toes digging into the damp sand to the tune of “Dancing Queen”. She intended to be in the best mood possible when she returned to camp.

Tony, despite several unsuccessful attempts at fishing, set up again with typical cheerfulness, determined to catch something. As usual Geoff had driven off to phone the insurance clients.

Determined to stay low profile when the inevitable confrontation between Amanda and Michael loomed, Kate busied herself by tidying the van.

Sally kept the cowrie shell in her pocket, counting on its ability to bring good luck. Absently, she rubbed it like a magic lamp, her eyes focused on the distant point of land. She decided to stay positive. After all, today was a new beginning.

About forty minutes later, back in her caravan, Kate prepared a cup of coffee for Tony who had returned from the beach for his ritualistic morning cuppa. Kate was considering whether to tell Tony of the complications in the lives of their friends when an agonised shriek from outside caused her to spill milk all over the tiny sink. It was unmistakably Amanda, but instead of her usual laughter, it was a harsher, more urgent scream. Tony and Kate looked at each other. Though Kate had promised not to intervene, she had never anticipated such a reaction.

Tony, sensing the urgency in the scream, was already out of the van and running purposefully in the direction of Geoff and Amanda’s caravan.