Harsh Death Moor: a Gothic and Dark Mystery Crime Thriller by Grayson Blackwood

Author:Grayson Blackwood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER
Published: 2025-08-24T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18: Bone Whisper

Jonas spread Agnes’ ledger across the scarred surface of his rented room table, its brittle pages glowing faintly under the harsh bulb above. The marginal notes were cryptic but deliberate, their faded ink hinting at secrets buried deeper than the murders themselves. As he traced the scrawled handwriting with his finger, patterns began to emerge—names of founding families linked by a single phrase repeated throughout: The pact remains unbroken.

“What did you know, Agnes?” Jonas murmured under his breath, piecing together fragments of her coded language. It wasn’t just about debts or favors; it was a binding agreement between Greyfen’s oldest bloodlines, one that had survived for generations through coercion and silence.

Determined to test his theory, Jonas sought out Caleb Rourke at the docks, where the fisherman-turned-developer stood arguing with a supplier over spoiled nets. Caleb glanced up as Jonas approached, his weathered face hardening into a mask of suspicion.

“Detective,” Caleb said gruffly, wiping his hands on a rag. “What do you want now?”

“I need answers,” Jonas replied, cutting straight to the point. “You’ve been vocal about your land disputes. Did you ever cross paths with any of the founding families?”

Caleb hesitated, glancing around as if expecting someone to appear from the fog. Finally, he nodded reluctantly. “There’s one family—the Henshaws. I found something they didn’t want me to see—a document tying them to illegal deals decades back. I used it to get what I wanted.”

“Blackmail,” Jonas stated flatly.

“Call it what you like,” Caleb shot back, his tone defensive. “They weren’t exactly innocent victims. But if you’re thinking they’re behind these killings, think again. They don’t act alone.”

“Who else is involved?”

Caleb leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “If I were you, I’d stop trusting Lena Moreau. She’s not who she says she is.”

Before Jonas could press further, Caleb turned away, signaling the end of their conversation. Frustrated but intrigued, Jonas stepped back into the street, his mind racing with possibilities. Could Lena be tied to the families? Or was Caleb trying to deflect suspicion onto her?

As he reached the corner, movement caught his eye across the street. Through the swirling fog, he spotted Lena standing beneath a flickering lamppost, her expression unreadable. She didn’t approach or call out—she simply watched him, her presence both deliberate and unsettling.

For a moment, Jonas froze, locked in her gaze. Then, without a word, she turned and disappeared into the haze.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.