Section from "The Book Club Murders"

Chapter 1


Claude lay in bed, eyes closed, but nonetheless, awake.  His bedroom was exceedingly warm causing him to sweat buckets until his sheets felt saturated.   Funny, it was winter and he thought he had turned the heat down to 58 degrees earlier in the evening.  He slept best when a chill was in the air and the ceiling fan delivered just enough of a gentle breeze to keep him comfortable.
It wasn't long before he couldn't stand it anymore and he threw the top sheet and light blanket off and his eyes sprang open.  Five seconds later, his eyes adjusted to the blackness, revealing her standing near the end of the bed.
"What are you doing here?  What time is it?"  he frantically asked.
Moving around the corner of the bed, she edged closer.  "Does it matter?"
Claude had thought he would never see her again.  Fear seeped into his brain as he wondered how she had entered his apartment.  And the heat, the damn heat and sweat were driving him insane.  He was literally swimming in his own sweat soaked sheets and trembling as he watched her come closer.
"I thought we needed some time together," she said while removing her clothes and nestling close to his body, making the sweaty heat even more unbearable.
"I, I can't.  It's too hot in here.  Let me turn down the heat," he pleaded.
"You know I like it this way.  Stay in bed."  She then began her special process.