“And let me tell you something else! Your stay here in the funeral home is about to end. With the moving equipment in this storage room, I’ll load you two into the company van. Then I’ll drive to the gravesite and bury you both. And if you’re wondering what happened to the guy originally intended for this over-sized casket, well let’s just say he’s all burned up about what I’m doing here!”

She laughed at her own quip. Dan knew exactly what she meant. She had loaded “Tiny” Tim Overton into the cremation chamber and had incinerated his body. The mortuary’s equipment was designed so that, in a pinch, one person could work alone, though it did take longer.

Janice confirmed the remainder of what he had already guessed. “His few family members will never suspect what’s happened here this morning. Now, if you have no further objections, I’d like to get started.”

Dan had objections alright; he had a million of them. Before he could voice a single one, his casket began to move. Electric motors hummed as the hydraulic fork lift slowly hoisted the box. With a strained throat, he yelled at her.

“Janice! For God’s sake, STOP!”

To his amazement, the movement did stop. Surprisingly, he heard someone else in the room. He didn’t recognize the voice, but it was definitely feminine. The unknown woman was arguing with Janice.

Dan pounded on the lid with faltering strength. He screamed to be released from his black dungeon. Desperation pressed inside him like an ocean of water against a tiny dam.

He heard Janice screaming at the other woman. She warned that she wouldn’t hesitate to use her gun. Dan could testify to that. His wife of seven months was a cold blooded killer. Nothing would stand in her way of revenge.