Without warning, Dan heard something like a loud hand clap. It was the unmistakable sound of a silencer-equipped gun firing nearby. Then, for what seemed like hours, there was complete and total silence. What was happening out there?
Suddenly, the casket started to lower. The movement stopped and someone tapped on the lid. Hoping against all odds, Dan excitedly said, “There’s a latch on the outside. The key for it should be tied to one of the pall-bearer handles.”
“I see it. Give me a second.” The feminine voice was his savior. Thank God, his horror was about to end. The latch unlocked with a “click” and the casket lid opened.
The bright light of the storage room temporarily blinded him. He instantly closed his eyes as a soft hand grabbed his wrist. “Here, let me help you out of there.”
He blindly swung his legs over the edge of the large coffin. Panting with exhaustion, he stabilized his balance and set his feet on the floor.
The unseen stranger gasped. “Oh my God! She really killed Stacey!” He heard her burst into hysterical sobs of sorrow.
With his equilibrium re-established, he wanted to see the angel who had saved his life. He wanted to comfort her and, in doing so, perhaps receive comfort in return. He blinked a few times, taking another moment to adapt to the light. He turned and looked at the woman who stood weeping.
It was Stacy Clemmons.
Daniel McMann gasped and fainted to the floor.
