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    Janus
    Janus
    Janus
    Ebook43 pages31 minutes

    Janus

    By Michael Compton

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Sibling rivalry leads to murder when the competition between identical twins becomes obsession. The lives of two respected archaeologists are in near perfect parallel, except for the one thing they cannot share--the woman they both love. One twin has her. The other is determined to take her back--and no act is too extreme to make that happen. "Janus" is a thrilling short story from the author of GUMSHOE that takes a disturbing look into the mind of a murderer.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMichael Compton
    Release dateDec 26, 2018
    ISBN9780463417386
    Janus
    Author

    Michael Compton

    Michael Compton writes screenplays, novels, and short stories. With his wife, Sherry, he co-wrote the 2011 thriller "Carjacked," starring Maria Bello and Stephen Dorff. He is the author of the mystery novel "Gumshoe," and co-author of the futuristic adventure saga, "Inferno 2033." His short works have appeared in The Baltimore Review, African American Review, and others, and he is a contributor to "The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture" and the scholastic edition of "Three Early Stories," by J.D. Salinger. He teaches English and Screenwriting at The University of Memphis. A portion of all his earnings from book sales goes to support animal rescue.

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      Book preview

      Janus - Michael Compton

      JANUS

      by

      Michael Compton

      JANUS Copyright © 2016 by Michael Compton. All rights reserved.

      Kindle Edition published by The Journey Press, LLC.

      No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

      For information contact:

      info@thejourneypress.com

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      JANUS

      I

      II

      III

      IV

      V

      I

      I can’t say precisely when the plan to murder my brother first formed in my head, but looking back, it seems as if the germ of the idea must have always been there, much like the shared chromosomes that bound us together.

      Knowing his habits, I had timed my arrival at his home perfectly. When the side-entry door into the den opened, I was standing behind the bar pouring two shots of very fine tequila. Jan entered, just getting home from the University. He was surprised to see me.

      Jay!

      His exclamation was almost a gasp. He even gave a little hop-step, like a startled rabbit. Had the door keys that dangled from his fingers been a watch, he could have been the March Hare.

      What are you doing here? The door was still open behind him. He had to think to shut it.

      Oh…just thought I’d drop by for a visit.

      He blinked at me twice. You’re supposed to be in the Yucatan.

      I shrugged. I left.

      We heard from Mérida that you’d disappeared. Two days ago.

      And you’ve been frantic ever since.

      Jan frowned and dropped his keys with a clatter into a brass dish. The dish rested atop a scale reproduction Olmec head that seemed to mimic my brother’s unhappy expression.  

      When he made no other response I said, I took the liberty of pouring myself a drink.

      He snorted. Just like you took the liberty of letting yourself into my house?

      I poured you one too, I responded, raising a second glass.

      "How did you get in here?

      I nodded toward the kitchen. There’s a broken pane in the back door. I just reached through and turned the knob.

      He took three strides toward the kitchen and looked at the glass on the floor. That wasn’t broken before.

      Oh? I said. I hope you haven’t had a prowler.

      What the hell is this, Jay!

      I found his anger amusing, but rather than smile or laugh, I became very earnest. Jan, I need to talk to you, I said. It’s important.

      The urgent and sincere tone of my voice threw him. We never talked to

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