Page 1 of The Girl in the River

PROLOGUE

SOMEWHERE ON THE RIVER

The river monsters swarmed all around her.

The little girl was seven years old and trembling as her parents led her to the motorboat at the water’s edge. “I don’t want to go,” she cried. “I can’t swim.”

“We have to get out of here,” her daddy said. “Hurry.”

Mama stroked her hair. “Come on, baby. Daddy’s right. It’s not safe.”

Terrified as she pictured the slimy reptiles rising in the mist, she dug her heels in. She heard the raging water slashing on the jagged rocks. Saw the river monsters that surged from the muddy depths and snatched you beneath the surface. They whispered to her at night when she slept.

The wind hissed over the water and her sneakers sank into the muddy ground. Dark clouds moved across the sky. Thunder rumbled.

Daddy climbed in the boat and her sister jumped in. The boat rocked back and forth. Then Mama scooped her up and handed her to Daddy. She closed her eyes and began to cry. She could see the eyes of the serpent watching her, teeth gnashing.

Mama climbed on board next, the boat swaying. “There, there, baby, the life jacket will keep you safe.” She slipped her arms into the shoulder straps and Mama tightened them.

The motor sounded and Daddy took off, ripping through the brown water and bouncing over the waves as they splashed and swirled. Mia hugged her knees to her chest and shivered as the spray washed over her.

Mama huddled next to Daddy as the boat zoomed into the deep part of the river. Lily pads floated past. Twigs snapped from a tree above as the wind picked up. Leaves blew across the surface.

A water moccasin slithered through the brush as they passed a bed of moss.

Fear gripped her. Thunder clapped in the distance. Lightning zigzagged across the darkening sky. Daddy looked back over his shoulder.

“Hurry, honey,” Mama said to Daddy.

“It wasn’t supposed to storm,” Daddy muttered. He swung the boat around a curve and sped up. They zipped around a fallen tree branch, then hit a rock. She bounced and clawed at the boat’s side to keep from being thrown over.

Another clap of thunder. More lightning, big yellow streaks that shot across the dark sky like fireworks. Then another sound – something pinged off the boat.

Mama screamed and ducked. Her daddy said an ugly word and swung the boat to the right. Another ping, then he swerved again. A big tree had fallen and he was heading straight toward it.

The boat spun around a curve then thunder and lightning popped again. Metal sizzled and sparks flew.

Mama screamed. Daddy tried to control the boat but smashed into the tree. The force threw her and her sister against the side. Suddenly, fire burst from the back.

Mama threw the life raft over the side.

“Get in, girls!” she shouted.

Mia was terrified but her sister took her hand. “We gotta go!”

Together they climbed into the lifeboat. Mama ran back toward Daddy, but suddenly the boat exploded. Flames shot up and then spread, catching Mama’s clothes. Mama’s screams flooded her ears, then Daddy’s. Mia watched in horror.

Water sloshed over the side of the boat, soaking her. Her sister cried out and clutched at the seat. Mia gripped the side of the lifeboat and looked for her parents, but it was too smoky.

She wanted to get Mama and Daddy but the boat was a ball of flames. The waves grew higher, then ripped the lifeboat away. They slammed into a rock, bounced back and kept going. Her head ached. Pain shot through her back.

Then the current swept them over a rapid. River monsters lurched from the darkness. She closed her eyes as they snatched her and carried her away.

ONE

CROOKED CREEK

Twenty years later

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