SHORTS FROM THE SHELF features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, administrator of SHANNON MUIR’S THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. The story line featured currently is “Haunted by Dreamer Shores,” which will run over the next four consecutive days. This is Part Three.

Collin reacted by getting up and running out of the house. Olly started to run after him, but Breah held Olly back.

“He’s hurting, let him go!”

“But he broke into our home, violated our space. I shouldn’t give that a pass.”

“Olly, bringing in the past would just let in a lot of unwanted things. Let it lie.”

There came a knock at the door. Olly went to answer it, Breah followed close behind. It was their neighbor, Clif Royale, carrying a folder with him.

“Hello Clif,” Breah spoke first.

“Saw some figure darting through our yard away from our house coming from this direction. Just wanted to check on you.”

Clif stepped in the doorway uninvited.

“As you can see, everything’s fine,” Olly insisted. “Just go home, Clif.”

Clif closed the door behind him.

“Everything’s far from all right. I hired him to do a job on your wife. Clearly, it looks like that didn’t happen.”

“What are you talking about?”

Clif handed the folder in his hands to Olly.

“These are just printouts. I have high positioned friends who knew your wife back when she was running away from marrying that weak-spined Collin after knowing she’d conceived with a fellow music student. She didn’t always make the best choices in one night stands. I am sure there are pictures in there you would not want public. Go ahead, take a look.”

Olly flipped through a few and then sighed sadly. Breah already knew what he would be seeing there. Clif was not wrong, and powerful and wealthy enough to act on his threat.

“What do you want?”

Clif grinned a toothy grin and grabbed Breah’s wrist. She tried not to cringe.

“Exactly what Collin asked for. What I paid him to do and he failed to do. Looks like I’ll have to do the job myself.”

“How will you be able to face Tessa?”

“I can do whatever I please.”