"The Malice of Cain"

SYNOPSIS:

Deidre and Tyra are identical twins caught up in a sibling rivalry run amok. They have but two things in common: Their breath-taking looks and a mutual malevolence. Deidre is a successful businesswoman obsessed with money and belittling her "financially inadequate" beau, Chet. Tyra works as a low-paid law clerk and lives with a brutal, controlling thug named Stone.

The ladies divergent paths begin early in life: Deidre seeks her mother's approval by playing the role of the good girl and doing well in school. Tyra, having long since lost interest in her studies, is a "wild child." By age eighteen she terminates an unwanted pregnancy, is homeless and a high school drop-out. After several failed relationships, Tyra returns to school. She works hard and eventually lands a job as a paralegal.

Meanwhile, the girls' mother is stricken by Alzheimer's disease. Deidre, having always been closest to her, takes control over her medical care and widens the estrangement between their mother and Tyra.

Tyra masks her hurt and buries herself in her work. Later she meets and moves in with a charming, well-to-do young man known as Stone. Tyra also becomes the doting stepmother to his son from a previous relationship.

While Deidre focuses on money and career success, Tyra watches her relationship with Stone sour. She learns that he is a drug dealer with a violent temper. He abuses her physically and psychologically. Despite the adoration of a caring and handsome co-worker named Theo, Tyra is afraid to leave Stone. But over time, and with careful planning she and Theo find time to engage in a mid-day tryst. Their plan is to keep it on the downlow.

Unfortunately their plan goes awry when one of Stone's confidantes, a conniving yes man named Luke, sees them leaving a motel. Later, Tyra infuriates Luke by rebuffing his advances and he alerts Stone to her infidelity. Several days later they kidnap Theo.

Stone agrees to spare Theo under one condition: That he kill Tyra. A frightened Theo initially agrees to do it. However, his love for Tyra is strong and he tells her of Stone's ultimatum. Tyra then devises a more diabolical plan-for Theo to kill Deidre and pass the corpse off as her. Tyra's plan is to assume her sister's life and then she and Theo can leave town--and Stone would be none the wiser.

A frightened and desperate Theo carries out the plan, but afterward is convinced that Tyra is out to double-crossed him and keep her sister's money for herself. Further complicating matters is his belief that Tyra, playing the role of Deidra, has fallen for Chet.

When Tyra grows weary of Theo's jealousy she brings Stone back into the picture, again putting Theo's life in danger. With Luke lurking nearby, strange alliances are formed and the result is a series of killings based on greed and one twin's extremely twisted sense of right.

Excerpt:

...When Theo came to he was lying on his back in tall wet grass. Not far away was the sound of the water lapping at the shore. His head throbbed as he tried to get his bearings, which was hard because there was no light to speak of, until either Stone or one of his men shined a flashlight directly into his eyes. His clothes were damp and despite the sweat that coated his face, he began shivering. The idea of trying to escape never crossed his mind. He was at the mercy of a sociopath, and that meant he would have to do as told, or die. And maybe die anyway.

"You awake, sleeping beauty?"

He recognized Stone's voice and started at the sound of a pistol being cocked.

"Thought that might get your attention."

Fear again gnawed at Theo's insides. "Where am I? What do you want?"

"I'll keep it simple: Where we took you is none of your fucking business." Again the smell of liquor from Stone's mouth wafted into his face, further nauseating him.

"I'll do whatever I have to," Theo said wearily.

"That's the way I like my bitches to talk."

Stone's friends also found his statement amusing. More chuckles from the other hyenas, Theo thought.

"Mr. Dawkins, this not only concerns your life, but that of your cute little niece as well. What's her name?"

"Falecia." One of the other men said.

"Ah, yes. Little Falecia. I would suppose she's about fourteen or so, being that she's in the ninth grade at Mount Eden High…"

Theo moaned from a combination of head pain and resignation. He knew where the conversation was headed. He was close to his niece, acting as a father figure since his own brother had abandoned her at birth.

"If I was forced to kill her, I might want to fuck her first. So would my homies." Stone let his words linger before continuing. "Every little orifice ripped apart like meat in a lion's den." He laughed quietly.

"You wouldn't want that to happen to your brother's daughter, would you, Mr. Dawkins?"

"Leave her out of it," Theo pleaded.

"You've watched too many bad movies, my friend." Stone pressed the gun to the tip of Theo's nose. "No more bullshitting. I'll get to the point. I want Tyra dead."

"Then why don't you kill her?" Theo asked angrily.

"Because you're going to."

Theo half-laughed half-cried. "Me? I'm not a killer."

"It's not a skill that requires a college degree."

"I can't!"

"Yes you can. Or your niece will be tortured unmercifully and left somewhere to die, slowly and painfully. And alone."

"Come on, man…"

"Listen, Theo. It's your niece or the bitch."

"God…" Theo whined.

"He's not going to help you, Theo. For now, I am the only God you should concern yourself with, because I'm trying to decide whether I should take or spare your life."

"How am I supposed to pull this off?" Theo shot back.

"I will give you the key to the apartment. All you have to do is go in the house and shoot her. Fast and easy."

"I-I never done anything like that before. What if I get caught?"

"You won't get caught. After the deed is done, you will call my boys. They'll come in, mess things up a little, take some jewelry and make it look like a robbery. You'll be good to go."

"How do I know you won't double-cross me?"

"You don't. I hate to keep repeating myself, but you have a choice. Die here and now, knowing that your niece is next, or kill that bitch and trust that I let you live your remaining years in peace."

Theo took a deep breath. "I've never fired a gun before. Do I have to use a gun?"

"Anything else will be too messy, or increase her chances of her getting away. A gun is quick and certain," Stone said matter-of-factly.

"When…" he could not believe he was going to go through with it, but what choice did he have? "…do you want this done?"

"Saturday evening."

"Why so soon?"

Stone blew his rancid breath in Theo's face. "You ask too many questions! You don't call the shots, I do!" He backhanded Theo across the face with the pistol.

"You'll do it when I'll be out of town. That will give you one day to recuperate. I'll see to it that Tyra will be home alone."

There was a moment of silence. Stone fumbled around his pocket for something. Suddenly a shiny object dangled before Theo's eyes. It looked like a key. Stone lay it on his chest.

"That's the key to the backdoor of the apartment. I guess there's no need for me to give you directions," he added disdainfully.

Theo said nothing. He closed his eyes and whimpered, sobbing, "Okay, I'll do it! I'll do it!"

Stone laughed. "Atta boy."

"You're crazy!" Theo sputtered.

"Don't make me show you just how crazy I am," he answered sternly. "I want this shit over and done with by the time I get back."

Theo nodded.

"We'll give you a ride to the outskirts of town. When we get in the van I will give you an unloaded pistol. Tomorrow you can go get your own damn bullets." He switched off the light, further disorienting Theo. "And whatever you do, don't try going to the cops. You'll be watched like a hawk. And just so you know, I wiped the gun clean."

"But it does have several cases on it," one of the other men added. "And I don't think it would be wise to go running to the police station with it. Never know what they might pin on you, rookie."

He felt the men grab at him and pull him to his feet. A powerful blow was delivered to the back of his head and he found himself slipping into an even deeper sea of darkness...