âWho are you? How do you know my name?â
âDoesnât matter.â
He was taller than her, but no more than six feet or so in boots. Worn jeans were topped by a black T-shirt. He had good hands, she noted, and surprisingly long hair. Far too long for your average cop.
âIt does to me. Look, I appreciate you saving my life, but Iâm fine, now, and I really donât have time to play games.â
He drew her closer until his mouth moved against her temple. âYou need to go back to New York. No questions, no detours, just get on the highway and drive.â
He used the fingers of his other hand to capture her chin. âDo it, Isabella. Now. While you can.â Then he drew her closer still, set his mouth next to her ear and added a soft, âIf you want to live, you need to get as far away from this house as possible.â
In Memory of Sheena
You were a strong, brave girl all through your life.
Now Heaven has a beautiful new angel. Fly fast and free, sweet Little Pea. Weâll always be with you. Weâll always love youâ¦
Jenna started making up stories before she could read or write. Growing up, romance always had a strong appeal, but romantic suspense was the perfect fit. She tried out a number of different careers, including modeling, interior design and travel, but writing has always been her one true love. That and her longtime partner, Rod.
Inspired from book to book by her sister Kathy, she lives in a rural setting fifteen minutes from the city of Victoria, British Columbia. Itâs taken a lot of years, but sheâs finally slowed the frantic pace and adopted a West Coast mindset. Stay active, stay healthy, keep it simple. Enjoy the ride, enjoy the read. All of that works for her, but what she continues to enjoy most is writing stories she loves. She also loves reader feedback. Email her at [email protected] or visit Jenna Ryan on Facebook.
Isabella RossâHer ex-boyfriend left her a haunted mansion in Maine.
Donovan BlackâHe is a descendant of Darkwood Manorâs malevolent original owner.
Katie Lynn RossâIsabellaâs cousin disappears from the manor soon after their arrival.
Darlene CalvertâDonovanâs cousin is desperate to get out of town.
George CalvertâDonovanâs aunt feels like a prisoner of her own fatherâs will.
Orry LucasâThe acting Sheriff has aspirations and more than a few secrets.
Gordie TallahasseeâThe local Realtor sees a gold mine in the shadowy manor.
Robert DrakeâThe developer is hungry to purchase Darkwood Manor.
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
The road that wound northward along the rocky Maine coast felt slick beneath the tires of David Morris Gimbelâs vintage Corvette.
He grinned as the car jumped forward. You couldnât do speeds like this in the city, and a vehicle needed to stretch its legs every now and then. Plus the text message heâd received that afternoon had sounded urgent. He was considering the implications when his cell phone interrupted.
He glanced at the screen. âIâm twenty miles away, Haden. More problems?â
âLights winking off and on,â the man on the other end responded. âIâve been hearing moans and thumps, too. Then, not five minutes ago, a wail that made every hair on my body stand up. Saw a shadow on the cliff, but it disappeared when the wail started.â
David navigated a hard corner one-handed, squinted into the misty night. âShadows are made by people. So are noises and light switches. Wail couldâve been a dog hunting for a mate.â
âIâve had three dogs in my time, Gimbel. None of âem ever made a sound like that.â
âNineteen miles.â David scoped the road before him. Unless his mental GPS had been thrown off by the moonless September night, he was two wide turns away from Cemetery Point. He gunned it through number one and strove for patience.
âLock your doors, draw your shades and pour a couple fingers of whiskey. The next sound you hear will be me screeching to a halt in front of your cottage.â
âI can hear you screeching from here,â the man retorted. âAw, hell, I shouldâve called my nephew instead of a nonbeliever like you.â
The tires slipped, but David didnât back off the gas. âSince when do federal sharpshooters buy into the woo-woo scene? Pour the whiskey, Haden, and wait for my headââ
He broke off, swore sharply.
He heard Hadenâs gruff âGimbel? You there?â right before his cell phone landed on the floor.
The silhouette of the guardrail was a blur, but he figured the nose of his car hit it at more than three times the posted limit. If ghosts existed, he was about to find out.
Closing his eyes, he prayed his death wouldnât be painful.
âWas he out of his mind? Are you?â Katie Lynn Ross crouched slightly to peer through the peeling wrought-iron gate in front of her. âThatâs not a picturesque New England house up thereâitâs spook central.â She scratched at the rusty bars. âSomeoneâs playing a Halloween prank on you, Bella. And donât start with the ancestral thing. Contrary to Grandma Corriganâs belief, the children of her bloodline are not mortal links to the spirit world and therefore drawn to areas where such specters appear. This is Davidâs idea of a final joke. Places like Darkwood Manor donât exist.â