Melody watches as Tam reaches the barn. He nervously glances around for a moment as if worried that someone might see him, then he pulls open a small wooden door at the side of the building and heads inside.
The sea breeze now comes in from the ocean, and Melody watches as it makes the long grass on the hill dance. Looking back down the hill, Melody feels as though the rest of the town is somehow distant, even though the hill isn't all that high. Something doesn't feel right about any of this.
Academic whiplash, Melody thinks to herself, remembering her professor's warnings about the reality of working in the field as opposed to studying all her days at a University.
If this doesn't qualify as “in the field” she doesn't know what would. Except now, instead of trying to solve an archaeological puzzle, she is trying to find out...
“Who is in on it,” she whispers, surprised by the sound of her own voice.
Yes, that's it. Who is in on it? The Deacons? Tam? McCorrie? In her mind, she starts to put her worries together. A deal gone bad. Her father rumbled in the night stealing something from the Deacon House. A struggle. He is killed... Then, what about the body? Tam takes it to the only sailor who goes out far from the island, McCorrie. Then, he dumps the body in the sea, weighed down by a bag of bricks, and Mr Sanders, her father, disappears into the abyssal waters.
No, stop that, she thinks, giving herself a good shake. It's all conjecture, and a pretty big one at that. But despite this, even if she does not know exactly what has happened on the island, something has occurred. And in the pit of her stomach, Melody feels that it is not something good.
Frustrated by the whirlwind of thoughts in her head, Melody decides to take a closer look to see what Tam is up to. As quiet as she can, she moves to the flaking red walls of the old barn. As she approaches, she hears Tam talking. But this time he is not talking to himself. There is someone else inside.
A gap between two old slats of wood allows her to peer inside. The stale air of the barn pokes out at her, and in the gloom she sees Tam standing with his back to her. She cannot see the other figure.
“Whit did ye tell her?” Tam says, his voice grim.
“Nothing! I told her nothing!” the other voice says.
“Then why is she askin' questions about Sanders?”
“I don't know...” the other voice answers.
Tam moves, walking closer to the other figure.
“Ye better be tellin' the truth, or this'll turn oot bad for aw of us!”
“I told her to stay away from Deacon House. But she won't listen.”
Tam moves to the side, and that is when the voice of the second figure becomes unnervingly familiar.
“We're going to have to do something about this, aren't we?” the voice says.
And in that moment, Tam moves again, revealing the figure finally to Melody. It is Rob Maclean, her erstwhile drinking buddy at the inn and pilot to the island.
Melody feels bitterly betrayed. Then, her foot touches something on the ground. It is an old green bottle that has been unceremoniously dumped by the barn. The impact of her foot is enough to nudge it slightly towards the wall of the barn. She watches almost in slow motion as it clinks against the wood.
“Somebody is here!” Tam seethes, rushing out of the barn with Rob at his back.
Their footsteps thud against the grass and soil of the hill. And in that moment, there is no doubt, they are heading in one direction and one direction only: straight to where Melody is hiding.
Want more? Click here to start reading Follow The Dark Tale (Book 3) on Amazon now!
Also by Laura Greene
Wild Cove Mystery Series
Murder At Wild Cove Book 1
Susan Dern is Missing Book 2
The Demise of Tom Hendry Book 3
The Past Life of Jane Scott Book 4
The Hooded Figure Book 5
Behind The Crime Series
The Secret Room Book 1
The Houston Party Book 2
The Unclaimed Dead Book 3
Frozen In Time Book 4
Harlan’s Secret Book 5
A Boarding Case Mystery Series
The Deadly School Book 1
Buried in the Dark Book 2
Close To Her Killer Book 3
Grave Danger Book 4
Hunt The Judge Book 5
A Disappearance Mystery Thriller Series
The Father’s Disappearance Book 1
What Everyone Knew Book 2
Follow The Dark Tale Book 3
Going To Find Father Book 4
Who Do You Trust Now? Book 5
The Father’s Tale Book 6
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About the Author
Laura Greene is an international bestselling Crime fiction and Murder Mystery author. She loves the outdoors. Hiking, exploring new adventures in nature and spending time with her family make for some of her favorite moments in life. When she’s not writing a new Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, she loves to connect with her readers whom she considers her friends. Join Laura Greene on Facebook.
