They say its about the journey, not the destination...
Charlene Charlie Moreau is back in St. Francisville, Louisiana, to work on a movie. One night, she stumbles across the body of a Civil War reenactor, the second murdered in two days. Charlie is shocked to learn that her fathera guide on the Journey, a historic paddle wheeler thats sponsoring the reenactmentis a suspect.
Meanwhile, Ethan Delaney, new to the FBIs Krewe of Hunters, is brought in on the case. He and Charlie have a history of their own, dating back to when he rescued her from a graveyardled there by a Confederate ghost!
Charlie arranges a Mississippi River cruise so she and Ethan can get close to the reenactors, find out who knows what, who has a motive. They discover a lot more as they resume the relationship that ended ten years ago...but might die, along with them, on the Journey.
Praise for New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham
Graham is a master at world building and her latest is a thrilling, dark, and deadly tale of romantic suspense.
Booklist, starred review, on Haunted Destiny
Intricate, fast-paced, and intense, this riveting thriller blends romance and suspense in perfect combination and keeps readers guessing and the tension taut until the very end.
Library Journal, starred review, on Flawless
With an astonishing ease and facility, this talented and hard-working writer can cast her stories in any genre.
Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels
A masterfully created psychological thriller...leaving readers shocked and enthralled.
RT Book Reviews on The Hexed
Dark, dangerous and deadly! Graham has the uncanny ability to bring her books to life, using exceptionally vivid details to add depth to all the people and places.
RT Book Reviews on Waking the Dead, Top Pick
Murder, intrigue...a fast-paced read. You may never know in advance what harrowing situations Graham will place her characters in, but...rest assured that the end result will be satisfying.
Suspense Magazine on Let the Dead Sleep
Graham deftly weaves elements of mystery, the paranormal and romance into a tight plot that will keep the reader guessing at the true nature of the killers evil.
Publishers Weekly on The Unseen
Suspenseful and dark.... The transitions between past and present flow seamlessly, and the main characters are interesting and their connection to one another is believable.
RT Book Reviews on The Unseen
Darkest Journey
Heather Graham
www.mirabooks.co.uk
In memory of one of the finest friends I was ever privileged to know.
Greg Varricchio
Incredible musician, husband and father, Greg made hard times easier, brought laughter and smiles to so many so often, and lived every day with honor and an incredible ethic. The world is truly a poorer place without him.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
The Main Players
Charlene Charlie Moreau, actress
Ethan Delaney, FBI agent, Krewe of Hunters
From the Movie Set
Brad Thornton, writer and director
Mike Thornton, cameraman
Luke Mayfield, sound
Barry Seymour, electric and lighting
Jennie McPherson, makeup artist
Grant Ferguson, actor/extra (responsible for budget and accounting)
George Gonzales, in charge of location, setting and props
Jimmy Smith, actor/extra
Blane Pica, actor
Harry Grayson, actor
Krewe of Hunters
Thor Erikson
Jude McCoy
The Civil War Dead
Anson McKee, Confederate cavalry captain
Ellsworth Derue, Union medical corps
Other Characters
Jonathan Moreau, Charlies father, historian and tour guide on the riverboat Journey
Emily Watson, café owner
Farrell Hickory, owner of Hickory Plantation and Civil War reenactor
Albion Corley, professor and Civil War reenactor
Nancy Camp, Charlies high school friend
Randall Randy Laurent, high school friend of Ethans, parish detective
Sherry Compton, high school friend
Terese, Ethans great-grandmother
Chance Morgan, photographer
On the Journey (Celtic American Lines Ship)
Timothy Banks, captain
Gerard Gerry Amerind, doctor
Haley Howell, nurse
Rebecca Jennings, nurse
Ricky Simpson, entertainment director
Contents
Cover
Back Cover Text
Praise
Title Page
Dedication
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Extract
Copyright
Prologue
West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
High School
What are we doing? CharleneCharlieMoreau demanded, surprised that both her escortssenior girls high up in the hierarchy of one of their high school service clubs, the Cherubshad suddenly taken hold of her arms. Where are we going?
Shed started out blindfolded in a car with five of her friendsall of them giggling girls ready to claim the prestige of being a Cherub. Theyd been accepted into the club. Theyd gone through ridiculous weeks of pledgingrunning, fetching, even doing homework for the older sisters in the club, and now it was their final night. Their great hazing. But the five of them had been split up about twenty minutes earlier; shed been put in a car with Nancy Deauville and Sherry Compton, whod gently led her out a little while later.
Now both girls were gripping her arms, nothing gentle about it.
Nancy Deauville laughed softly. They say your mamas family has the sight. Were just leaving you where youll have to ask some of your ghostly friends for help.
Come on! What are you going to do? Tie me up in the Grace Church graveyard? Charlie asked, feeling her temper flare.
Oh, Charlie, no! Nancy said.
Sherry giggled. Were tying you up outside the graveyardin the unhallowed section.
Thats ridiculous. And dangerous, Charlie said angrily, a spark of fear entering her. Three girls have been killed close to here, just north of Baton Rouge! Her mom had been emphatic about her being careful, about her staying in the company of friends. A serial killer was at work in and around Baton Rouge.
Dont be alone, Charlie, her mom had warned sternly. Hes preying on young women who are on their own. Make sure you stay with your friends.
Charlie had thought these people were her friends. Now she wasnt so sure.
She tried to wrench free, but someone stronger had her arms now, and she heard multiple footsteps nearby.
Nancy and Sherry werent alone. Theyd met up with others.
The two were superrich brats whose dads held great positions with one of the local oil companieswhile her dad was a hardworking historian!
She didnt know why she was pledging anyway, except that Cathy Corcoran, her best friend, had insisted that they at least try. The Cherubs were respected at school, plus they had the best parties.
Charlie had managed to handle the weeks of doing what the older girls asked. Shed even shocked Nancy, dropping a pack of cigarettes on her lap after the other girl had demanded that she get them, even if she had to beg, borrow or steal them. Charlie hadnt had to do any of those things; someone on one of her dads tours had left a pack behind on the dock.
But this...
She didnt tend to be scared of much. Tonight, she was.
She wasnt afraid of the graveyard. She never had been. But girls had been murderedand not at all far away.
She was angry now, and that anger mixed uneasily with a fear that had nothing to do with the dead.
You know what? Dont bother. I dont want to be in your club, she said. This is ridiculous. Where are Cathy and the others?
Cathy is taking a little swim, Nancy said, and laughed.
Charlie felt her temper flare another few degrees. Cathy couldnt swimand she was terrified of water.
Thats it. Let me go, Charlie said. Im done with you and your stupid club.
They didnt let her go. She heard a male voice whisperingprobably Todd Camp, Nancys football-star boyfriend. Or maybe it wasnt Todd. At least three other people had joined Nancy and Sherry; she could tell where they were all standing by listening to where their voices came from. All told, there were at least five people there, probably including some of Todds football goon friends.
We should just let her go. Come on, Nance.
Todd was there, Charlie was certain. But he wasnt the one who had just spoken. Todd did anything that Nancy said. Probablyas Charlie had heard whispered in the hallwaysNancy only gave it up for Todd when he behaved.
Listen to whichever of your juvenile delinquent friends was just speaking. This is criminal. You should let me go this instant, Charlie said.
No way, so shut up, you whiny pledge. Youll be glad when we come back for you. Everyone wants to be a Cherub, and tomorrow youll be glad you didnt chicken out, Nancy said.
Someone approached her and whispered into her ear. She recognized the voice. It was a friend. Jimmy Smith. Charlie, Jimmy said urgently, it wont be that long. Tomorrow you really will want to be in the club. Im so sorry, but just go with this, okay?
I do not want to be a Cherub, she yelledand meant it. I will never be a Cherub. You are the most immature group of brats Ive met in my entire life. Let me go!
Chicken! Nancy laughed.
Charlie was strong; she worked out in the dance troupe and was also on the gymnastics team. She could have easily taken Nancy and Sherry.
But the two girls werent alone, and whoever was holding her now was stronger than she was. Her captor forced her down to the ground, and someone tied her wrists and ankles around something cold and hard. A tombstone, she thought.
Assholes! she hissed, struggling against the ropes that held her.
Watch your tongue, pledge, Nancy snapped. Or you wont get to be a Cherub.
Dont you get it? I dont want to be in your damn club! Charlie shot back.
Maybe we should just let her go, she heard Jimmy plead.
Shut up! Youre ruining my speech, Nancy said. Oh, pledge. May all cherubs and angels everywhere look over you this night. For you are not in the sacred graveyard of the church but in the unhallowed ground beyond, where criminalshanged for their sinslie, where many a Yankee was hidden in the earth, where the most evil among us rest uneasily for all eternity. But you, should you survive the hours ahead, will rise triumphant, a Cherub for all time, Nancy said dramatically.
Charlies blindfold was slipping; from where she lay she could just see Nancys arms upstretched to the night sky. She was wearing her cheerleading uniform, which seemed to be a disservice to the entire school at that moment.
Nancys arms dropped, and she turned, presumably to face the others. Lets get the hell out of here. This place gives me the creeps.
Damn you all! Charlie swore. Let me up! I dont want to be one of you stupid people.
Her words did no good. Laughing, the group hurriedly left, heading back to Nancys car and whatever vehicle Todd and the others had come in.
She screamed for a few minutes moreto no avail. Still, it made her feel better, and she realized she was at least ridding herself of the blindfold. It was just a piece of white cotton, probably someones ripped-up shirt.