<< Go Back

Danger in Cranberry Cove

By June Foster

Order Now!

Chapter One


Fifteen years ago
The full moon played hide and seek as a cloud drifted through the night sky, the trek becoming more perilous. But he had to complete his mission—for the sake of those gathered down on the beach. If there was trouble, he had to attend to any possible repercussions. If the mischief persisted, the consequences would only escalate.
Remaining incognito became imperative. He couldn't take the chance of being exposed. It could look bad to the locals. Besides, no one would ever suspect he would sneak up on a group of teens at the bay. Much less snap a picture. But he had no other choice.
A piece of driftwood cracked as he took his next step. He froze and held his breath. Had the little group heard? A few more strides led him through a clump of grass, and his foot sank into soft squishy mud. But he dared not switch on his flashlight. Darkness was his friend tonight. Remaining unnoticed was vital.
Ten more steps and he paused.
In the bright moonlight, the small group of four came into view. They sat on the sand huddled around a fire.
He crept closer, squatting down behind a rock. Only a few yards away. Silence became imperative.
A cloud passed over and in a moment the moon shed light on the little group. He lifted the viewfinder, peered through the lens, and pressed the shutter button. Several times. More than one angle would be helpful.
He focused on the entire group and then shifted the viewpoint to capture each individual. He had to identify those who'd gathered there.
He adjusted the lens and peered through the camera again. No surprise who he saw. He'd figured out months ago the students who hung out together.
Ten shots. Should be adequate. He slowly took a few steps backward. If only he could leave without being noticed.
Grains of gritty sand trickled into his shoes as he continued toward the trees to return to the parking lot beyond. A half mile.
The light from the fire was no longer visible, and the sound of voices didn't stretch this far. He pulled in a deep breath and mopped the sweat off his brow as he neared his car. August could be a warm month in southwestern Washington.
He pulled the camera strap from around his neck. Then he removed the memory card. He would take no chances of anyone seeing the pictures. Others might believe the worst.
He slipped the card into his front pants pocket and relaxed in the driver's seat. His mission complete for tonight, he still didn't have the assurance he'd sought. Only time would tell.

*****

Julie Wilder pumped her bike harder, sending the vehicle sailing over the pavement. Her skin absorbed the warm August sun like her fluffy towel soaking up water after a shower. To think, today was a weekday, and she didn't have to go to school. She could hardly believe she was a high school graduate.
Julie braked and stopped in the parking lot designated for beach visitors. She tossed a strand of hair out of her eyes and took in the beautiful view of the piece of land jutting into the ocean. The marine-blue water of the open sea met the sky at the horizon. She loved living in Cranberry Cove with her Aunt Emma, though the circumstances which brought her here were not happy. She missed Mom and Dad more each day and always would.
Julie shook off the memories. Nothing could spoil the delightful freedom. Though Aunt Emma said college required discipline, she couldn't wait to study nursing.
Julie glanced toward the gravel path leading to the beach. On the pavement near a clump of grass, something red caught her eye. She clenched her teeth. Tourists. Some didn't care about keeping the beach clean and threw their trash on the ground.
She reached for the object, and then turned it over in her hand. Weird. A card from someone's camera. Maybe somebody didn't want the memory card any longer or perhaps lost the device. She stuffed the item in her jeans pocket and continued along the path.
She had the same size card reader at home for her own camera. When she got to her computer, she'd take a look at the contents. Perhaps she might recognize the people in the picture and return the card to the person who snapped the shots.

Order Now!

<< Go Back