Page 132 of Haunted Prey

SOLD.

It had taken almost a year before anyone finally bought it. A nice couple with two kids, and their grandparents who occupied the downstairs.

I almost cried when I’d first been contacted about the sale. I wasn’t sure if it was from sadness or relief. I decided it was a little bit of both.

It felt like the final door to that past closing, Harper Pointe would only serve in my memory. Yet, even in my mind, it would be locked away with only a few scattered moments of my childhood to resurface.

I closed out the tab and moved to another page showing a different house, this one older, in a more Victorian style, with colorful arched windows, and red inlaid brick. A willow sat just beyond the small porch. Surrounding the house was nothing but forest, save for a set of wooden stairs leading down to a small river. There was a shed attached to a small barn at the back and from one end you could see a large body of water in the distance from the hillside.

It needed some fixing for sure, mostly in the barn, and inside of the house by the images I’d peeked through, but it was hidden, somewhat remote with the nearest town twenty minutes away.

I’d caught the listing for the house after seeing an article about homes with creepy histories and finding my old house being mentioned.

This house had a uniquely dark past. It had once been a small orphanage for disabled and mentally ill children. The man of the house had also owned a lumber business while his wife took care of the household. They seemed like the kind that cared, that wanted the best for the kids. Until it was revealed some years later, he had been paid by parents to kidnap their sick kids, what they considered a burden, forcing the kids to work. Many ofthem died very young and instead of burying them, he put them in the river, letting them float down into the straits.

After the man and his wife went to prison, the house remained empty for many years. Then it was picked up by some eccentric guy for a hunting lodge that he never used. He sold it to a group of new age fundamentalists, who tried to start a small community home but failed. It lay empty again for some years and was picked up by a growing traveling business looking to turn it into a rental, but they eventually moved on from it too when they didn’t care to make the repairs.

It had been up for sale for a couple of months, no one looking to buy a house with that kind of history.

Now, however, a couple of weeks later, the listing said: SOLD.

My heart fluttered a little. At that same moment, a notification popped on my screen and I saw it was an email from Micheal.

Eve,

I hope you’re doing well. I just wanted to let you know I’m more than happy to help with the visas you asked about. I should be able to have them sent to you by the end of the month. These will be temporary as we work on securing more permanent ones later. Speaking of visas, I’m glad to hear the IDs are working for you. You can thank Lez—or rather, his connections—for that.

As for the investigations following Severfalls and the events with Emery, Dom and I have continued to keep tabs. Congratulations on your thesis, by the way—I appreciated the extra additions you made. After it came to light, the FBI and police initially focused on Kennedy’s company andthe investors involved in Projects Mockingbird and Redbird. However, they’ve ceased much of their investigation as of last week and aren’t looking to release any records. My guess? Someone high up in the government knew what was happening but doesn’t want their name tied to it. Safe to say Kennedy and Co. are done.

As for our part in it all, don’t worry—we’ve covered our tracks. The furthest they’ve gotten is identifying the attack as the work of masked men they couldn’t trace. We disposed of the vehicles, and Dom cleaned our records, thanks to having access to Cassidy’s logins through her work. While the feds found information about us as kids on your laptop, there’s nothing linking us directly to Severfalls. Still, it’s safer for you and Emery to lie low, especially since he was the most exposed. Luckily, they still think he drowned in the river—even if they haven’t found a body. My guess is the case will be closed by the end of the year. Here’s hoping.

That said, you’ll always have a safe place here with me if you need it. But considering the visas, it seems like you’re looking to make a new start somewhere else. I’m happy for you both.

Take care and let me know if you need anything else.

Best regards,

Micheal

I closed his email and saw another I had missed this morning from Jamie.

Eve,

I’m sure you’re having a great time with your mom’s “friends” in Cali. Just wanted to let you know your “thesis” (let’s be real, it’s basically a short novel) has hit over a million views—and it’s still climbing. Good thing you forwarded all the contacts to me because you’ve got several dozen people wanting interviews. Don’t worry, I’ve already declined them.

We’re doing okay here, just missing you. Wish you could’ve been here for graduation, but I get it—those “Cali friends” have you busy. Just promise me you’re staying safe (you better be).

Oh, and Lena says hi. She also doesn’t want you worrying about her. She’s been through hell this past year, but you know her—tough as nails (her words, not mine). She’s got plenty of support, and I know you’d be here for her if you could.

Call us when you get a chance.

Take care of yourself,

Love,

Jamie

PS: See attached photo

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