Eagle Valley
Book Three in the Hunted Series
by Jamieson Wolf

Prologue

FROM: THE BURBANK POST, Entertainment Section, July 1st, 2007  

…..In other news, Hope Falls delivers another shocking death in a continual bloodbath! Viewers are left wondering where this story line can go, what with so many beloved Hope Falls residents diminish one by one!  

In other Hope Falls news, the introduction of Miriam’s great niece from Paris, heir to the family fortune and her butler Darian make quite the pair. It looks like us loyal viewers are in for quite a treat this year!…

***

Somewhere off the Coast of Burbank California    

The lights were dim. The sand felt dry and coarse along her palms and still she ground her hands into the sand, so glad she was to feel dry ground under her feet.  

She lay on the sand, sure that no one had seen her, sure that she had not been noticed. She was able to rest a moment, let her wet clothes bake in the hot summer heat. They would dry quickly. She had dressed for practicability.

Her dress, its simple cotton soft and clinging to her body, would dry soon. For now she could rest.  

Closing her eyes, she calmed her heartbeat, put a hand there to feel it beating under her skin. Eight hours in the water, eight hours.

She could remember little except the body numbing cold of it, the bite of the water as it carried her.  

She tried to make sense of what had happened, what had happened after she had left the tunnels, but it all blended together into shadows. Part of her mind was closed to her now and she didn’t have the key to unlock it.  

Stretching, she turned over on her back and stared up at the sky. It shone down on her, it’s stars like blessings. She could remember the stars from her childhood, knew what colour her hair was, but she could not remember other things.  

But she had a plan. She knew that she had to get to them, she had to find them.

And when she did that, than she could figure out what to do.  

It didn’t help that she had this extra baggage to carry around, as if she had a whole other person inside of her. But it had been helpful in the past, so she let it be.

It couldn’t hurt to have a voice in your head once in a while.  

Standing, she looked around.  

She was in a secluded beach, along the coastline.

She could see trees near by, but could hear traffic. Thank god, she was near civilization. Where there was a road, there was traffic.  

She shook out her dress checked to see that no one had followed her. Before she revealed herself from the darkness, she had to be sure she was safe. It would be a game she had to play from now on. Just like checking both ways before you cross the street, she thought wryly.

She walked across the beach until she got to the road. It wasn’t too well lit at this time of night, but it was quiet.

 It felt foreign to her, after the rushing of the water. She had to sleep. She had to find somewhere to sleep. She had to get money.

 Standing at the roadside, she waited for a car to show its headlights before she stood partway into the road. She pulled up the dress so her leg showed.

The car slowed and she saw it was driven by a man. He smiled at her as he rolled down the window.  

Smiling back, she bent down to address the driver, so some cleavage would show. “Could you give a girl a lift?” Miriam asked.   

Chapter 1

Deep Inside Eagle Valley, New Mexico…  

Susan looked at the sunset outside the cabana window. She placed her hands on the glass and felt the suns last rays on the lids of her eyes. This sun had felt like a haven to her; odd, she thought, how the same sun, in a different place, could mean fear.  

She smiled when she felt Derrick’s arms around her. He pulled her close, cupped his hands around her stomach.

“You okay?” He asked. He kissed her neck.  

“Better now.” Susan replied, leaning back into him.  

She looked out the window again, marveling at the sight of palm trees and white sand.

“How are you doing?” Susan asked, squeezing Derrick’s hand.

 “The same.” He repeated. “I’m just tired of hiding.”  

“You know we have no other choice. Howard could come looking for us.”

 “Susan, it’s been three years.” “I know how long it’s been.”

“ I know how long it’s been.” There was ice in her tone. “I know exactly how long it’s been. You don’t have to lecture me.”  

“I’m just saying; maybe it’s time we enjoy a little bit of freedom. Get away for a bit. Take a trip.”  

“Where, Derrick? You know we’re being watched.”  

“I know we were being watched. They weren’t able to track us here and that was three years ago, Susan. A lot can happen in three years.”

 “Like more people dying.”  

“What do you mean?”  

“It’s still happening. It’s still gong on, Derrick.” She took a piece of paper out of her pants pocket. It was a newspaper article. She handed it to Derrick.  

He took it and began to read.

 FROM: THE BURBANK POST, Entertainment Section, July 1st, 2007  

…In other news, HOPE FALLS delivers another shocking death in a continual bloodbath! Viewers are left wondering where this story line can go, what with so many beloved Hope Falls residents diminish one by one!  

 He looked up at her. “So?”

“So?” Susan mimicked. “What do you mean so? It means it’s still going on. It means he got Miriam and kept on killing.”  

“There’s nothing we can do about it, Susan. But we can’t waste our lives like this.”

“Do you not remember the assassins sent after us? Do you not remember almost dying three years ago? God, Derrick, if I lose you too…”

Tears welled up in her eyes and Derrick pulled her closer.

“Forget it, forget what I said.” He stroked her hair and rubbed her back.

“I’m sorry, it’s just so hard hiding out, not being able to do anything. I can’t stand not doing anything, it drives me crazy.”  

Susan turned to face him, putting her hands on either side of his face.

“I know, I’m sorry, I know it’s hard. God, this constant hiding is making me afraid of my shadow. It’s so hard to live a double life, Derrick. God, I feel like I’m living in a soap opera.”

“You’re doing wonderfully.” He said, wrapping a curl of dark brown hair around his fingers. “You should win an Emmy.”  

Susan smiled at him, tears on her cheeks. “Yeah?”  

“Best Actress in a daytime drama any day.”

Susan chuckled. “Yeah, Diedre Hall eat your heart out.”  

Derrick laughed this time. “You should of won it last year.”

“I know…I had my hair done and everything.”

She pouted. They both erupted into laughter and than started kissing.

Susan’s life had changed the moment Miriam went missing in several ways: She had lost an anchor, gained a new one and found love all in one fell swoop.  

There are certain things that happen to people in intense, dangerous situations. They fall in love, for example. It was only natural, in the situation they were in, that Susan and Derrick would turn to each other, both having lost a loved one. Susan had lost a friend. Derrick had lost a lover.  

And it was natural that they would feel something for each other. They felt a bond; in a way, Miriam’s death had brought them closer. After six months on the road they were lovers. It happened so naturally, neither of them had ever commented on it, but just enjoyed it as much as possible.  

Cleo, though, was still alone. She felt even more alone while living with her daughter.

It was odd, trying to form a relationship with a daughter who was different than when she had left her. But she would have one to love too, soon. Cleo could feel it deep into her bones.

The fact that a loved one would be coming for her helped Cleo take on the day. It also helped her with the knowledge that this was not over.

This was not over. They would continue to be tested. Her bones told her this. She could feel it’s cold gnawing at her insides. The warmth of her lover to be was the only thing that kept her sane.  

She stepped into the kitchen of the cabana and cleared her throat. If she didn’t, those two would go on kissing the whole damn day. “Is there coffee on?” she said, smiling.