Busy Signal

Story 14 in the Tales of Suspense Series

Victoria Halloran was the heir of the great Whitcomb legacy which came with an estate beyond value situated on a private island, called Belle Isle, outside of Detroit. With her kind and attentive husband Herbert at her side, from there she reigned as queen on her throne.

Unfortunately her throne was her bed—she was a hypochondriac invalid that had not escaped her world of pillows and linens for more than a dozen years. Imperious, entitled, and bitter, she only found happiness when the world revolved around her. Other than through her overworked telephone, she had no contact with the outside world.

But when she eavesdrops on another party’s call and discovers a murder plot, she is desperate to convince others that something must be done to prevent it. The entire story takes place over a few hours largely with her alone in her bed, but the action and tension are larger than life and, as the clock ticks down to the appointed time of the killing, the scene is almost unbearable.

©2022 Jerry Jamison (P)2023 Jerry Jamison