The Horror Within by Marjorie Swift Doering

Author:Marjorie Swift Doering [Doering, Marjorie Swift]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

For the first two miles, the only sound inside Parker’s touring car was the sound of its three passengers being jostled down the rutted road.

Parker finally broke the silence. “You missed a very interesting discussion while you were tending to Mrs. Sokel, Dr. Bell.”

“Oh?”

“Sokel’s little girl claims to have seen the so-called ‘beast’ her father and this young man’s brother say may have killed Lawrence Muldauer. Actually, she’s claiming to have seen the creature more than once.”

“Is that so?”

In the back seat, Christoph gritted his teeth.

Parker laughed. “In fact, she actually insists she saw it outside their house tonight while her mother was missing.”

“You find that funny?” the doctor asked.

“Her overactive imagination amuses me.”

Dr. Bell linked his fingers over his generous belly. “Maybe it’s pure imagination, but don’t forget, I examined Muldauer’s injuries.” He winced as Parker hit another pothole. “His throat was ripped out, and his arms and legs were snapped like kindling. And his chest... It was crushed as though he’d been put in a vise.”

“The damage to Muldauer’s throat could have been done by some animal that came along after he was killed.”

“I suppose that isn’t totally out of the question,” Bell said.

Parker glanced over his shoulder toward the back seat. “I suspect a man could have inflicted the rest of the damage—a big man, a very strong man, of course.”

“That may be possible, but not probable.”

“You’d know better than I do, but I’ve read that, under stressful circumstances, men are sometimes capable of performing incredible acts of strength.”

“Well, yes.” Bell fended off the cold, holding his collar over both chins. “They’ve done studies recently that...”

“Then, it’s possible.”

“Yes, but not likely.”

“But the girl described an animal that doesn’t exist. There simply is no such creature. Besides, doing that kind of damage sounds... vengeful. Humans seek revenge, not animals.” He threw another look toward the rear seat. “Consider this, Dr. Bell. More than one person may have been involved. Several people with a common grudge could have acted together to kill Muldauer.”

The doctor chose not to respond to Parker’s blatant innuendos and calculated timing.

Parker pressed the doctor for a reaction. “That makes sense, doesn’t it?”

“Parker, what are you trying to do?”

Christoph slid forward. “I know what he’s doing. He’s saying I did it—me and my brother, and maybe my father, too.”

Parker smiled. “Very astute.”

“I don’t know what that word means, but we didn’t do it.”

“My, my. Methinks he doth protest too much.”

Christoph’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the back of Parker’s seat. “I’m not sure what that means either, but I don’t think I like it.”

“Parker, for God’s sake, leave the boy alone.” Bell pointed up ahead. “There... my horse and buggy. Christoph, do you think you can help me get that wheel back on?”

“I can if it’s not broken.”

Pulling alongside the buggy, Parker set the brake and started to get out with them.

“It’s best you go on ahead, Parker. We can handle this on our own.”

“If you say so.” Restarting the engine, he turned to Christoph. “Young man.

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