The Pumpkin Man

CHAPTER

FORTY-NINE

Scott pulled up the one-lane road on the hill that was River’s End and stepped out of the car to open the gate. The path beyond led to the Perenais house. He’d spent a lot of time there lately. There was something about this place. Something very wrong. He knew it in his soul, though his mind still wanted to simply follow up on evidence and catch a serial killer.

He pulled up the gravel road and shut off his headlights before he got close enough for anyone in the house to notice. For a second, he felt as if he were sitting in limbo. Behind him, the soft rush of the ocean whispered. Ahead of him, the vague silhouette of the small house stood against the deep blue of the sky. The darkness of the edge of the world rushed over his car like a wave.

Scott leaned back in the cushion of his seat and took a deep breath. He didn’t know whom or what he was watching for, but he knew that tonight he had to stay awake. He had to try to protect those kids in this house from whatever might be coming to get them.

He didn’t know that he was already too late.