Passion's Fire

by Jeanne Foguth

  Jacqueline blinked at the pure venom in Nora’s voice and her inner chill grew. “What happened to them?”

  “They burned to a crisp.” Nora grinned.

  It was all Jacqueline could do not to keep a calm tone. “When?”

  Nora made a terminating motion with her hand. “Years ago.” Her voice hardened. “Would you believe that they’d been living it up on my money?”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “You remember how they were always living it up? Taking cruises? How my mother always wore designer clothes?”

  Jacqueline didn’t, but she nodded anyway.

  “When they died, they left me with a mountain of unpaid bills.” Nora took a gulp of coffee and the rhythm of her dancing feet picked up.

  Assuming Nora was the imposter, had she just been told the reason Nora had adopted her identity? Jacqueline had to get out of the stifling apartment and find time to think this mess through.

  “How would you like it if your folks did that to you?” Nora demanded.

  “I wouldn’t.” Could Nora have begun impersonating her to pay off the debt or had the debt motivated her to walk away from her own identity?

  Nora lunged to her feet and began pacing in a gait reminiscent of a caged tiger. “God, I hated them. I almost wish they were still alive so I could have the satisfaction of killing them myself.”

  “Surely you don’t mean that.”

  “Bet me. They taught me, though. Oh, yes, they taught me. I’ve never let anyone ruin my life since.”

  Jacqueline placed her mug on the cluttered coffee table. As she did, she read the address label on The Artist’s Magazine. The subscription was to Jackie Cardew. Her worst suspicions were confirmed. Feeling shaken, she straightened. “Nora, it’s been good to see you again, but I really have to run. The guy I’m supposed to meet should be off work soon. I’m sure you understand.”

  “Oh, you bet I do.” Nora’s voice took on a hard edge. “You said you were meeting a girl, not a guy. You’ve finally figured it out. Haven’t you?”

  It was difficult to get enough air into her lungs. “Figured what out?”

  Nora gestured to the coffee table. “It took you long enough.” Nora’s cornflower blue eyes made contact with Jacqueline. The insanity and hatred in their depths terrified her. “You always were so naive and stupid. But you’ve served your purpose.” Nora gave a high-pitched demented laugh. “Oh, yes, you’ve served your purpose.”

  Jacqueline tried to stand, but Nora leaped at her and roughly pushed her back into the red chair. “Sit down, dammit. I need to figure out what to do with you.”

  Jacqueline took a deep breath to settle her stomach. “Nora, we can work this out.”

  “You don’t get it, do you?”

  “Get what?”

  “That there can’t be two of us. One of us has to die. And it isn’t going to be me.”

  Fear transformed into controlled fury. Jacqueline sat very still and watched Nora resume pacing. Dear God, what am I supposed to do? “Nora, if you want to pretend to be me to keep your parent’s creditors off your back, fine. I don’t care. I’d just like some help with the IRS.”

  “You never were any good at lying. You still aren’t. There’s no IRS problem. How’d you really find out?”

  “Actually I’ve had problems with the IRS for the past two years, plus I met Capolucho.”

  “That loser.” Nora snorted. “He really put one over on me. Eek. Do you know that at one time I actually thought he’d be somebody?” Her fists clenched and unclenched at her sides. “He turned into a big nothing.”

  “Maybe if he’d gotten his one man show,” Jacqueline ventured.

  “Forget it. His work wasn’t worth spit. I should know.”

  “No one will ever know. Everything he did burned in that fire.”

  “Nothing of value burnt.” Nora’s glittering eyes studied her. “You really don’t get any of it, do you?” Jacqueline shook her head. “I set that fire. His work was ugly. Nothing but big ugly splotches of color. Anyone could do it.” Nora gestured toward the immense canvas, which had captured Jacqueline’s imagination. “See what I mean? Passion’s Fire, my ass. Worthless piece of crap is more like it. And you know what? That asshole gallery owner told Ray he was going to be famous. Wealthy. Eek. For that shit. Can you believe it? I asked myself why it should be Raysy and not me. Now do you get it?”

  “What happened?”

  “Nothing. I couldn’t take the stuff to the same gallery after the jerk didn’t die in the fire. No one else on the island wanted it.”

  “You intended to kill Capolucho?”

  “Of course I did, you stupid fool. It would have worked, too. I made sure of that.” Jacqueline started to stand. Nora grabbed a fat candle and flailed hot wax at her. “Sit.” She sat.

  Jacqueline forced her voice to remain calm. “It seems like none of your fires ever accomplished the goal you wanted.”

  Nora’s eyes gleamed with a maniacal light. “Maybe you aren’t so stupid after all.” She leaped across the space separating them and grabbed Jacqueline’s wrist, pinning her to the chair with a surprisingly strong grip.

  “Who’d you tell where to find me? Raysy?”

  “No. No one.”

  Her laugh was tinged with hysteria. “God, I was wrong. You’re still as stupid as I remember.”

  In light of the circumstances, Jacqueline was inclined to agree with her. “Nora, we can work this out.”

  Hysterical laughter was Nora’s response. With horror, Jacqueline realized Nora was insane; probably criminally insane. A small part of Jacqueline wanted to help her. The larger part wanted to pull free from the bruising grip and flee. “Nora, you’re welcome to use the nursing degree and my name. I never really wanted to be a nurse, but you were always perfect for it.”

  “You really believe that, don’t you? Eek. Don’t you know why I wanted to be a nurse?” The pressure of the fingernails increased on her biceps.

  Jacqueline blinked as she chose her words. “To help people?”

  Again, Nora’s insane laugh rippled and echoed through the living room and seemed to surround Jacqueline with coils of doom. “Help people? Only for my own good. I wanted to meet a wealthy doctor.” Nora made a wild gesture with both hands, which served to simultaneously free Jacqueline and throw her onto the sofa.

  “Why a doctor?”

  “God, what a stupid fool you are. To marry him, of course. Plus doctors have great access to drugs.”

  “So drugs aren’t something new.”

  “I’ve been using since junior high. Oh, eek, does that shock you, Miss Goodie Two Shoes?”

  Now that she thought back on Nora’s behavior, it didn’t. Jacqueline shook her head, then tried to steer the conversation in a direction that would calm Nora. “Have you met any nice doctors?”

  “Why in hell would I want nice? Nice is for sissies. Nice can’t get it up. But you probably wouldn’t know about that, would you. Prissy as your man was, I’ll bet you’re still a frigging virgin.”

  Jacqueline’s teeth ground together. She should have listened to Link and stayed in Alaska.

  Though she kept her attention on Nora, she glanced around the room, assessing it for possible dangers and useful weapons, the powerful colors in Passion’s Fire held her attention for a moment. “Tell me about that painting. What’s it supposed to be?”

  “Don’t you know anything? It’s lava. The asshole was painting it when we met.”

  “Oh.” Jacqueline felt woozy from breathing the sweet, heavy scent, the flickering light, the sheer stress of the situation. She’d never buy vanilla, again.

  “I was swamped with bankruptcy, courtesy of my parents, and good old Freddy had gotten royally smashed the night before and beat the shit out’ta me. All I wanted to do was kill myself once and for all and have it done with.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  Nora’s shiny eyes focused on Jacqueline. The sheer insanity in their depths made her skin cr
awl. “You should be sorry Raysy saved me from that beautiful, hot, cozy lava.” Nora laughed. “Freddy sure was. You should see how guys look when the flames started licking their body. Particularly some parts, know what I mean? A little oil in just the right places does wonders!” She looked like she was talking about one of the high points of her life. “I loved watching that wimp die.” Nora licked her lips and snatched a candle. “Now I can watch you die.”

  “You aren’t a killer.” She hoped it was true.

  “Bet me.”

  “Capolucho is still alive,” Jacqueline said softly.

  Nora snorted as she brandished the candle. “So what? Your worthless husband isn’t. And Raysy taught me to use a stronger drug.”

  The bitter taste! What had been in the tiny sip of coffee? Poison? A sleeping potion? “Nora, please sit down. Watching you pace makes me dizzy.”

  “It won’t hurt once you’re dead.”

  “You aren’t going to kill me here.”

  “How would you know?”

  “In your own living room? I don’t think so. Right now you’re upset, but we can work this out.”

  “Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Eek, I can’t believe how stupid you are. The only way is for you to die.”

  “Then why haven’t you killed me already?”

  To her horror, Nora reached behind her back with her free hand and pulled out a butcher knife. “You want it here and now? Fine!” She moved both hands back and forth. Candlelight glinted off the knife’s shiny surface.

  Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me. You are with me, aren’t you?

  Suddenly, Nora thrust her arm high and stepped back, finally freeing her arm.

  All her attention stayed on Nora as she held the menacing pose. As Jacqueline edged her arm away, childhood memories echoed in her mind, ‘Whenever you’re facing an opponent, keep your attention on their eyes. You’ll know what they’re going to do.’ It worked with animals. She hoped that it worked with maniacal people.

  Jacqueline steadied her nerves and tried to appear calm, even though she was prepared to tip the chair over, if that’s what it took to get away. “This is nice furniture. It would be a pity to stain it with blood.”

  Confusion flitted through Nora’s eyes.

  “Killing me in your own apartment is a really bad idea.”

  “You’re giving me advice on how best to kill you? Unbelievable. Eek, what a stupid, stupid, stupid fool. I suppose you’re going to tell me the best way to do it.”

  “Only if you’d like to listen.” Jacqueline hoped her tone sounded unruffled and rational.

  “I’m listening,” Nora hissed.

  “If you kill me here, you’ll leave traces. Think about all the technology the homicide department has. Even if you think it looks clean, they’ll be able to find traces of blood, maybe other things, too.”

  “Like what?”

  “Hair. Clothing fibers.”

  “Why would they look here?”

  “I’m not the only one who knows about you. Besides, you can’t leave my body here. That would create quite a stink in a day or so. How would you explain it to Henri?”

  The knife wavered as Nora laughed. “Henri! Henri was a freaking mutt.”

  “Aside from the smell, you’d have the problem of moving me. Alive, I can walk. Dead, you’ll need to drag or carry me to get me out of here.”

  “I could hack you up and cart you off piece by piece.” Nora licked her lips.

  “Of course you could. But that would leave blood. Really, it’s not a good idea. And it would be a shame to ruin your carpet.”

  “Fine! I’ll burn you.” Nora thrust the candle at her.

  Jacqueline held her ground. The taper stopped a fraction of an inch from her stomach. She could feel a pinpoint of scorching heat grow, but didn’t dare glance down to make certain her shirt hadn’t ignited. “That is an alternative.” Amazing how calm she sounded. “However, if I burn, so does your own home and furniture.”

  “So what?”

  “This is a great apartment.”

  “Bullshit! It’s a dump.”

  Jacqueline ignored the comment. “When my body is found, they’ll eventually identify me as Jacqueline Cardew. How will that help you? If I’m dead you’ll have lost the use of my name. Alive, you can keep it.”

  “You’re lying.”

  “Am I? Envirohab was a government project. My DNA, dental records and fingerprints are on file.” At least she hoped they were.

  “That’s a lie. Your stupid project wasn’t that important.”

  “Maybe not, but the government loves paperwork, and they made us take all sorts of tests.” The knife lowered, but remained clutched in Nora’s white knuckled hand, while the candle was gripped in the other and still held too close for comfort. She tried not to visualize blisters bursting on her skin. “Once my body is identified,” Jacqueline continued, “your life as Jacqueline Cardew ends.”

  “Then no one is going to find you.” Nora took a step backward. “Go.” Jacqueline didn’t like the idea of turning her back on Nora, but rose and casually did just that as she put the chair between them and took a step toward the door. “Don’t even think of trying to get away.” The hissed words sent a shiver down her spine.

  With a wild yip, Nora leaped over the chair.

  Jacqueline jumped, but Nora grabbed her. She felt heat at her back. “Where are we going?” The stench of scorched hair burned her nostrils.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know!” Nora made a slashing motion with the knife. The tip of the blade missed Jacqueline’s wrist by a hair. “Walk to the door, but not too fast. I don’t believe your fucking meek act, but since you seem to like the idea of dying, I’d just as soon not have a mess here.”

  This was the best opportunity she was likely to get and it was imperative that Nora drop her vigilance. Trying to appear indifferent, Jacqueline shrugged and took a step toward freedom. Before her second step, her ponytail was yanked and the blade swished through the air. As she tried to catch her balance, locks of hair fell around her feet and short tresses flew everywhere.

  “Why’d yo— ”

  Nora laughed. “The door.” The tip of the blade bit into her lower back and she cringed as Nora’s maniacal cackle shrilled. “This is fun. Better than fire. I can watch you die piece by piece and still burn you.”

  “You like fires, don’t you?” Jacqueline said.

  “Love them.” Nora chortled. “Except they don’t always work right. First Raysy gets out alive, then that jerk, Adam, dies instead of you. At least I got it right with the rest. Good ole Freddy’ll never beat me again.”

  She really had set Envirohab’s fire. This couldn’t be real. “You were trying to kill me even back then? Why?”

  “You’re so smart, figure it out yourself.”

  “Because of taking my name?” Jacqueline asked as her fingers circled the doorknob.

  “That was part of it. Mainly I needed to get rid of Raysy once and for all. That jerk really messed things up for me in LA.”

  “How?”

  “I had a surgeon interested in me, and was even making some money on those lousy paintings, until Raysy showed up.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t simply murder him.”

  “That would have been more fun, but I didn’t have a chance, because the fucking quack made me use legal means. Then the jerk doctor dumped me anyway. He got his reward, though.”

  “How?”

  The knife tip dug in and Jacqueline took a step forward.

  “Ives was a plastic surgeon. I got my boobs from him and gave him the best ass he’d ever had, but then he found out about Raysy.” The knife hit a nerve and Jacqueline flinched. “He dumped me and took up with a two-bit piece of fluff.” Nora’s laugh made Jacqueline cringe. “I toasted them both in bed. It was beautiful. The fire got so hot that the flames were lavender.”

  Jacqueline tasted bile. “How many people have you
burnt?”

  “Everyone but you and Raysy, but don’t worry, I plan to make it a clean sweep.” The knife tip bit deeper into Jacqueline’s vertebra. “Open the door. Slowly.”

  Pretending to comply, Jacqueline held the door with her foot and rattled the knob. “It’s stuck.”

  “It can’t be.”

  Jacqueline rattled it again.

  Nora shoved her aside.

  Jacqueline stumbled, but quickly regained her footing and grabbed the chrysanthemum’s pot. She swiveled and smashed it against Nora’s knife hand.

  Nora shrieked with pain and fury.

  The knife dropped to the floor.

  The pot burst and a shower of petals, leaves and dirt covered the knife.

  Nora screamed and hurled the candle at her.

  Jacqueline ducked, but hot wax sprayed over her hair and back, several drops singing her cheek.

  Nora lunged at her.

  Jacqueline jumped sideways. Her left foot slipped on a floor cushion and she fell backward, toward the coffee table. She twisted and managed not to hit her head.

  Nora jumped her from behind, one hand yanking her hair, the other clawing her nose.

  Jacqueline rolled under the table. The thick glass edge hit Nora’s temple, but Nora continued coming at her with slashing crimson fingernails.

  Jacqueline tried to roll out of the way, but collided with the column. She kicked Nora’s hands away, then rolled out from under the table.

  Nora jumped on her stomach and wrapped her hands around Jacqueline’s neck. She fought the pressure, but it increased. It felt like her entire head was being torn from her body.

  Jacqueline used her legs and flipped Nora off.

  Nora landed with a thud.

  Jacqueline scrambled out of reach.

  Circling away from Nora, Jacqueline was grateful for all the wrestling matches she’d lost to Rory. He’d been a much larger, heavier and stronger opponent, so she’d had to learn ways to compensate. But she’d never learned to fight dirty enough to deal with this situation.

  “What, no more advice on how to kill you? Eek, I can’t believe how stupid you are.”

  Nora grabbed the coffee mug and hurled it toward her face.

  Jacqueline ducked.