The Barrens by Joe Goodglass

Author:Joe Goodglass [Goodglass, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: darkstroke books
Published: 2021-07-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

“Welcome,” Scarlet said when Blake and Hannah stepped inside the main foyer. Jacob noticed her golden shoulder-length hair was down and no longer was she wearing glasses. “Fortunately our other guests have arrived, and with some friends I might add. You’ll love them.”

Jacob and the group followed Scarlet out to the side patio, where a half-dozen people were conversing with one another, glasses of wine in hand. A platter of cheese and crackers paired with sliced deli meat and bruschetta topped with diced tomatoes had been placed upon a wicker table stationed a few feet in front of an outdoor fire pit. Through the flickering flames, Jacob caught a glimpse of the cloud-covered moonlight reflecting off the dark surface of a nearby body of water.

“Good evening, everyone,” Scarlet announced as she stepped out onto the veranda. “I have some wonderful news. We have all been graced by the presence of four graduate students from Princeton University.” She extended a hand, palm face-up, toward Hannah, Blake, followed by Caleb and Jacob.

Behind the group, Jacob spotted Lilly standing in the far corner of the patio, her attention directed toward the dark woods which surrounded the swampy lake.

“Greetings, and welcome. My name is Richard Marlowe,” a tall, bald man with dark eyebrows introduced himself. “And this here is, my wife, Alice.”

“They just got married,” Scarlet said in a playful tone, one hand to her mouth, as if trying to keep it a secret.

“Pleased to meet you,” Alice said, extending a long boney arm toward Hannah.

“It’s our pleasure,” Hannah replied as they shook hands.

“So, you all go to Princeton?” Richard asked, his icy blue eyes locked on Hannah’s.

She nodded and replied, “Yes, we’re PhD students.”

“Very impressive,” he said, his attention now split between Hannah and Blake. Jacob took this time to grab himself a second glass of wine, along with a handful of hors d’oeuvres.

“Where are you all from?” Blake asked. “We didn’t see any other houses, let alone a service road on our way here.”

Alice was about to respond when Richard cut her off. “We have a small cottage across the lake. It’s more of a vacation home. But it takes some time getting there due to the lack of infrastructure, as I’m sure you’re all well aware by now.”

Jacob, in his peripheral vision, noticed Lilly had turned her back to the rest of the group, glass in one hand, cigarette in the other. She appeared indifferent to their arrival.

“We too have a vacation home here,” another man said, his full attention on Hannah. Beneath his thick reddish beard were two triangular-shaped scars, located a half-inch below each cheekbone.

Just like the ponytailed fellow, Jacob thought. I wonder what it could be from.

“It’s quite a nice getaway, especially from the hustle and bustle of the city,” the bearded man added after taking a sip from his glass.

“Where’s Eve?” Scarlet asked him.

“Unfortunately, she couldn’t make it out here tonight, due to some personal family matters,” replied the bearded man. He drew a hand to his mouth and coughed once, then a second time after turning away from the group.

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