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Category: Erotica
Description: Prudence Bailey has just learned that Laura Bailey, the woman she has always believed to be her mother, is in fact a distant cousin. Laura adopted Prudence when she was four years old after her father, Joshua Adams, brutally murdered her mother, Jane, then killed himself. She has no memory of the past and, after Laura's death, decides to return home to Salem Massachusetts to learn more. Twenty years have now passed since the murder / suicide took place. Almost immediately she meets Detective Matt Cavanaugh, her neighbor. Matt is gorgeous and sexy and Pru is instantly attracted to him. Matt is also linked to her past. His father, now a retired police officer, was first on the scene the night of her parents' deaths.From the moment she returns Pru experiences visions that lead her to believe that the circumstances surrounding her parents' deaths are not as they seem. The facts don't add up. And when a recent murder that Matt is investigating is linked to the past they discover that Pru is right and the killer is still on the loose. Will they discover the killer's identity in time or will history repeat itself?
eBook Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press, 2011
eBookwise Release Date: August 2011

Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [71 KB]
Words: 14832
Reading time: 42-59 min.

Chapter One

Pru pulled her car into the driveway of the old farm house in Salem, Massachusetts. The property management agent hadn't arrived yet so instead of getting out, she just sat and stared at the house. So this is where I was born, she mused. She didn't remember it, of course. Until three months ago, she hadn't even known she'd been adopted let alone that Laura Bailey wasn't her birth mother. Laura was a distant relative on her mother's side of the family and had adopted Prudence when she was almost five years old. She had then moved them both to California. "To put as much distance as possible between you and the stories that surrounded your parents' deaths," Laura had admitted. She had been successful in doing that for twenty years and Pru knew that if Laura had not been dying, she would never have told her the truth.

After several minutes of contemplation, she pulled the key from the ignition and slid her long, lanky body out of the car. I might as well take a look around while I wait, she thought as she absently slid an elastic band off her wrist and used it to pull her long blond hair into a haphazard bun. Her blue eyes gazed around and took in the property. The house was very quaint and in surprisingly good condition considering no one had lived in it for such a long time. The lawn had been mowed and the landscape was beautiful. She'd have to remember to ask the agent who had been maintaining the property. Maybe they could continue if I decide to stay? The sound of a car door slamming distracted her from her thoughts and she turned in time to see a woman get out of the car and hurry toward her.

Her hand extended, the woman said, "Hello, Prudence. I'm Maryellen Johnson. I'm sorry I'm late."

"Pru Bailey."

"Well Pru, let me show you around the place," Maryellen said, and walked toward the front door. "I am sorry for your recent loss."

"Thank you."

"I understand your mother was a distant relative of the original owners?"

"Yes. She was Jane Adams' fourth cousin."

"Did you know that Jane's husband was a direct descendant of one of the people who were accused of witch craft in the late sixteen-hundreds?"

"I had heard that."

"Then you're aware of the history of this house?"

"I don't understand."

"Rumor has it that Joshua Adams was also a witch and used his powers to kill his wife because she was having an affair. Then he killed himself. "

Pru laughed nervously. "A witch? In this day in age? Please don't tell me you really believe that?"