Epilogue

Los Angeles, Present Day

Excerpt from Good Morning with Josh and Jenny

Jenny Durso: “Stone, some people have said that this is all just a way to keep your name in the spotlight. After all, there’s no proof any of it happened.”

Stone Graves: “They can say whatever the hell they want. I can’t explain what happened to all our data files, but I have my suspicions. What I – what we – experienced in Hastings Mills, at the Rawlings house, has made a believer out of me. Demons do exist, and they’re out there.”

Josh Black: “So, what’s next for Stone Graves now that you don’t have your show anymore?”

Graves: “I don’t know. The last year’s been so hectic, with the book and getting married, I haven’t thought about the future. After what happened, do we really want to put ourselves in danger again? Maybe it’s time to take it easy.”

Durso: “Well, whatever you decide, I’m sure it could never be as exciting as what’s in the pages of your book. This has been fascinating. (Jenny holds up a copy of the book) A Town Possessed. Get it now in your favorite bookstores or online. Stone Graves, thank you for joining us today and have a Good Morning.”

Graves: “Thank you, Jenny and Josh.”

Black (looking at camera): “Coming up next, chef Alan Abercromby will show us how to make twenty-minute meals that will amaze your friends.”

“Aaaand, cut!” The segment producer clapped her hands. “Mr. Graves, that was great. If you could follow me, we’d like you to sign a couple of books as giveaways for some contest winners.”

Stone followed the woman to a small alcove, where the couple of books turned out to be a dozen. After he signed, an assistant showed him to the green room, where Randi and Claudia waited with excited looks. His wrist gave a sharp quiver before they even spoke.

“We just got a call. The mayor of Rocky Point wants us to do a full investigation of Wood Hill,” Randi said.

“Corday’s bringing the car around,” Claudia added.

“Whattya say?” Randi asked.

Wood Hill. Where it all started. Did he want to face that again?

Stone looked down at the book he held. With a smile, he tossed it onto a nearby couch.

“What the hell. Let’s go.”

Hastings Mills, NY, Present Day

Curt Rawlings placed an ice cream bar in Abby’s hand and fixed her oversized sunglasses. The town park was filled with people enjoying a beautiful summer morning, with groups of teenagers playing Frisbee or just sitting on blankets, couples strolling hand in hand, and senior citizens chatting on benches.

As he guided her through the park, describing what he saw, a baseball cap tumbled by in the breeze and came to a stop in front of them. The hat was blue, with the Yankees logo on the front. Dark smudges stained the material. He picked it up and looked inside. A name was written in faded marker on the brim.

P. Telles.

He looked around for a garbage can but there weren’t any in sight.

“Daddy? What is it?”

“Nothing, sweetheart.” He stuck it in his pocket, intending to toss it out later.

“Can we go to the swings next?” Abby asked.

Curt’s body gave a twitch and he stopped. A large black beetle crawled out of his pocket and up his shirt.

“Daddy?”

“I’ve got a better idea,” he said. “How ’bout we take a walk along by the river?”

“Okay!”

He took her hand and led them down the path.

“I hear the current’s really strong this summer.”