Southern Gothic Read Online Free

don’t you tell us what Tucker wants and you can be on your way.”
    Cecily chuckled — an off-putting, airy sound like a dog’s squeaky toy that could barely squeak. “I’m not here on Tucker’s behalf. Not in the least. I’m here for me and for me alone.”
    “Then why don’t you tell us what it is you want.”
    “Your help, of course. You are one of the few people in this town, possibly in this entire world, that can actually help me because you are one of the few that has managed to face the Hull family and survive.”
    Max gestured to the trailer. “We do survive, but not unscathed.”
    Cecily chuckled again. Sandra’s eyes narrowed, and Max wondered if the old cartoon image of steam boiling out of one’s ears could actually happen.
    Clearing his throat, he hoped the sound might snap Sandra into a more professional state-of-mind. To Cecily, he said, “Exactly how are you related to the Hulls?”
    Her eyes perked up. “Ah, you’re finally asking an intelligent question. That’s good. I was beginning to think the family had overestimated you. Let me save you the trouble of taxing your brain too greatly. I’m the daughter of Terrance Hull. I’m the reason for all of this mess with Tucker.” She raised a hand to stop Max’s questions. “You see, the Hull family is a patriarchy. Except that’s too simplistic. It’s an extreme, orthodox patriarchy. Everything revolves around control of power through the male line.”
    “And you’re the only child of Terrance Hull?”
    “You are smart. Yes. Father had no other children. Only me. A daughter. He tried for more but Mother suffered complications — her uterus was not healthy enough, I suppose. After me, she couldn’t have another child. Divorce was never an option. We are too religious a family to allow such a blemish. Father asked our witch to cast a spell that would help him gain an heir, but no spell could help Mother. And unfortunately for Father, other than a weak uterus, Mother’s health was excellent. She will probably outlive him, and so, he could not hope to remarry and try with a younger woman.”
    “Couldn’t he just get rid of her? Accidents happen in your family.”
    “My, my. I had heard that you thought low of us, but I had no idea how low. No, Mr. Porter, we do not murder our own to make life easier.” Over her shoulder, she said to Sandra, “You better watch out for this one. If he doesn’t like what you’re doing, you might find yourself the victim of an accident.”
    Max grabbed Sandra’s hand and yanked her close. Her fingers dug into his flesh. Better that than having to pry those fingers off of Cecily Hull’s neck. “So, Terrance had you, and to your twisted family, that’s a bad thing.”
    Ignoring the jab, Cecily continued. “It was Father’s idea to bring back Tucker. Then, at least, the family could live under the sure hand of Tucker while waiting for me to produce a boy. That was their plan, anyway.”
    “You don’t sound too keen on the whole idea.”
    “This is the twenty-first century. I grew up in a family stuck in the nineteenth — at least when it comes to views about women. So, no, I am not keen on the idea. In fact, I want to help my family modernize its views. I want to force the family to accept me as the new head. To do so requires the aid of special people with special skills. You and your little research firm are some of those people.”
    Max kept expecting a camera crew to pop through the door and inform him that he had been the target of some prank show. “You want to hire us to help you become the next head of the Hull family?”
    “I want to hire you to do something you badly need done — get rid of Tucker Hull.”
    “I thought you didn’t murder your own.”
    “Tucker’s already dead. He’s also unnatural and in my way.”
    “So, exceptions can be made.”
    “Always. In return for your assistance, you will receive substantial income, and I can easily throw in a better home. Most