Sierra Kay
Sweet Whispers
of the Devil
Story Note
Sweet Whispers of the Devil is a modern
and suspenseful retelling of The Old Woman
Who Lived in a Shoe. This story explores the
absentee father addressed from the perspec-
tive of sperm donors who probably shouldn’t
have been compared to men who actually
fill the father role. Half the time as I’m
writing I don’t see “it” coming until halfway
through. I know that if the ending is a sur-
prise to me, then it will also be a surprise to
the reader. When I’m telling my own char-
acters, “You’re wrong for that,” then I know
I’m creating something enticing.
“Your mother should’ve let take that bastard out years ago,”
Monique growled. She emerged from the Louisiana bayou and
prided herself on her ability to shoot an alligator’s eyeball.
Her ballsy stance seemed opposite of her job as a social worker.
She explained once, “There is nothing that keeps folks in line like
the potential for a bullet in the ass.”
Tori gripped the edge of the kitchen table before collapsing into
Luke’s chair, reclaiming that space as though holding at ground
zero could make him appear. She mentally reviewed previous
days, wondering what, if anything, she had missed. Wondering
how Richard knew about her children. “Where the hell did he
come from?”
Monique sat in what was normally Christian’s seat at the table
before crossing her legs at her ankle. “Sweetie, what you don’t
know about your father will fill a football stadium.”
“But I haven’t seen him since that day. What more was there to
know?” Tori demanded, eyeing her with guarded interest.
Monique exhaled and stared out the sheer curtain covering the
kitchen window. The neighbor’s car rolled up to their rear garage.
“Your father never bothered you again, but he reached out to your
mother, demanding money or joint custody.”
Tori buried her head in her palms before sharing thoughts with
Monique. “I begged Mom, begged her to leave. She had done it
before. She could do it again.”
Antoine came over and massaged Tori’s shoulders. She covered
his hand and gave them a squeeze of thanks.
Monique explained, “Richard is a bounty hunter. He has
resources at his disposal and knowledge of legal and illegal
methods of getting information that law enforcement only wish
they had.”
Understanding rained on Tori illuminating the sacrifices her
mother made to protect them … to protect her.
“He bled her dry for years, forcing her to pay for leaving him.
Why did you think your mother didn’t have any money—no
pension, no 401k, no nothing?”