Page 1 of Evil Bones
PROLOGUE
Don’t panic!
Don’t you dare panic!
Wind rocked the ancient Buick. Rain drummed millions of tiny missiles against its hood and roof.
Her fingers ached from maintaining their ten–two o’clock grip on the wheel. Her neck burned from the strain of craning forward. Pointless. The altered posture did nothing to improve her cataracts-clouded vision.
Beyond her little bubble, the world was a swirling maelstrom.
Please, dear Jesus!
Protect me!
When no deity appeared to offer guidance or aid, Bella eased off the gas but maintained enough pressure to continue her agonizingly slow forward creep. Terrified of going faster. Terrified of coming to a stop on the blacktop.
Bella alternated between chastising and defending herself.
You should have checked a weather report. You should have told the kids you were going out.
You should have stayed home.
Bella usually listened to her children when they told her to wait. Sometimes they came. More often they forgot, too busy with their jobs and their lawns and their kids.
She needed eggs for the angel food cake promised for the churchbake sale. What could go wrong? The trip to the Publix took only twenty minutes.
Unless something unexpected happened to alter the usual script.
This predicament really wasn’t her fault, Bella panic-reasoned. The storm had come out of nowhere, a dark monster racing across the late afternoon sky.
Bella squinted hard behind her thick trifocal lenses, frustrated that the car’s high beams seemed not to be penetrating the thick curtain of rain.
Have mercy, dear Lord!
A fast-food wrapper winged out of the gloom, danced across the glass, then whipped off in an airborne pirouette.
Fresh tears ran down Bella’s wrinkled old cheeks.
More rapid heartbeats, then a glow lit the far-off horizon. Bella watched the approaching brightness contract and separate into two orbs. Moments later, a pair of headlights in the opposite lane flashed past.
The blast of air and spray of water triggered a new round of palpitations and prayers.
Twice, headlights took shape in the rearview mirror, looming like creatures with fiery eyes. Twice, the creatures swung wide to pass. Twice, Bella watched taillights recede into the wet void.
More supplication.
Please!
More self-castigation.
This is your own fault, you idiot.
Another blustery gust almost dislodged Bella’s hands from the wheel.
Brake now!A cluster of panicky neurons bellowed.
Wait until you can safely pull off!a more rational gaggle countermanded.
