Beauty and the Beast
by Ed McBain
Matthew Hope spotted her on North Sabal Beach, one of those
fabulous Gulf Coast keys that yearly draw ever more people
to condo life in the Sunshine State. She was spectacular,
'carved of alabaster, pale white exquisite face framed by
ebony cascades of hair, the flesh of her naked breasts
almost translucent, lustrous in the hot rays of the sun,
wide hips flaring above the restraining strings of the bikini
patch, a shimmering mirage in black and white that came
closer and closer, pale gray eyes in that incredibly lovely
face, the scent of mimosa as she passed and was gone.' That
was on Saturday.
On Monday, Michelle Harper came to Hope as a client. Below
the short sleeves of her T-shirt, ugly bruises obliterated the
whiteness of her arms. Adhesive was taped across the bridge of
her nose and both her eyes were discolored, one puffed
almost entirely shut. She wanted Hope's help in filing a
complaint with the police. She wanted her husband arrested
and put away.
On Tuesday, Michelle Harper was found dead on Whisper Key
Beach. Her hands and legs were bound with wire hangers and
she had been burned to death. An empty five-gallon gasoline
can lay some ten feet from the body.
By four that afternoon, George Harper had been charged with
the brutal murder of his wife.
Big, black and monstrously ugly, George Harper vociferously
denied the charge. And somehow, Hope believed him. But in
committing himself to help Harper, Matthew Hope is drawn
into a hall of mirrors filled with lies, sexual perversity,
and thrillseeking corruption. The result, says The Sunday
Times (London), is 'a strictly X-rated fairy tale' and a
thoroughly good read.
Beauty and the Beast
Series
Back To Main Page