The Haunted Child: A completely unputdownable paranormal mystery thriller (A Rylan Flynn Mystery Book 4) by Dawn Merriman

Author:Dawn Merriman [Merriman, Dawn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Second Sky
Published: 2024-08-16T00:00:00+00:00

The farm on Briley Road looks exactly as it did yesterday. The maroon car is even parked in the same place.

A dark sedan.

I shake my head. Gloria did not kill her son. I’m even more certainof that than I am of Andrea’s innocence.

This time, I don’t bother with knocking on the house door. I go straight to the barn with the indoor arena.

The sliding door is open a few feet. I’m not sure if I should just walk in or knock. Is there an etiquette for barns? I do both, knocking as I slip through the gap. “Gloria? It’s Rylan Flynn from yesterday.”

A snort from Sugar the horse carries down the short hall, but Gloria doesn’t answer. From here I can see part of the arena and expect Gloria to ride by. Instead, Sugar wanders into view, saddled, but with no rider.

“Gloria?” I reach the wall of the arena as Sugar puts his head over toward me. I haven’t spent much time with horses, and the animal’s big head makes me slightly nervous. Still, I reach out a tentative hand and touch the horse’s soft nose. Sugar pushes into my hand.

“Hey, boy. Where’s your mama?”

Sugar tosses his head and takes a step away from me.

“Gloria? Are you in here?” A small warning bell begins to chime in my head. Would Gloria leave Sugar alone in the arena all saddled?

I listen hard, but all I hear are birds chirping high up in the rafters.

Sugar is now pacing erratically in the arena, tossing his head and blowing.

The alarm bell in my mind grows louder.

Something is definitely wrong here.

I draw closer to the arena wall and reach a hand to the upset horse. “Here, boy, it’s okay,” I coo.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see the toe of a boot. Gloria lays crumpled against the wooden wall of the arena.

“Oh my God!” I shout, looking for the handle to the gate. My hands are shaking so badly I can’t slide the bolt.

Sugar is now running back and forth across the arena, agitated even more by my excitement.

I finally slide the bolt, but before I can step into the arena, Sugar bolts past me. I watch helplessly as he runs out the open door.

I don’t have time to worry about the horse running free. I hurry to Gloria and drop to my knees. She lies on her side, her face pale. Too pale.

“Gloria.” I shake her shoulder. She doesn’t respond. With rising panic, I press my fingers to her neck. “Please, God. Let her be okay,” I pray.

Her neck is cold.

“No, no, no, no.” I roll her onto her back and try the other side of her neck. Her head tips to the side and her open eyes stare up at me.

I can’t look.

I press a shaking hand to my mouth, trying not to cry.

A ringing comes from Gloria’s pocket. Without thinking, I fish the phone out. The screen says Victoria.

I hit answer and a woman doesn’t waste time with pleasantries.

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