The Death Club Page 17

  I could not have imagined this life.

  A month ago, the possibility of a relationship with my daughter and a home filled with happiness seemed impossible. Now we’re so happy we’re practically a cliché; we’re the family other families envy.

  And she has a friend.

  And I am enjoying my job again.

  And everything is just too good.

  My eyes wander around the room, and I consider where we could hang some more pictures. There’s a blank wall behind me, and through the open door there’s blank walls throughout the hallway.

  That’s when I see it.

  On the floor. In front of the door.

  An envelope.

  I look over my shoulder to see if Harper is almost finished. The popping of the popcorn is getting more frequent.

  I push myself up, walk through the hallway, and I pick up the envelope.

  There is no address written on the front, just my name, with the Ls curled up at the end and a heart in place of the dot above the I.

  Was this hand-delivered?

  I turn it over. Dig my finger beneath the flap and tear it open.

  A single piece of A4 paper unfolds in my hands.

  It is blank, aside from the imprint of lipstick formed by a kiss, and the words I miss you written below it.

  I take out my phone and Google her name. Destiny Hill. The first article that comes up reads:

  Teenage Girl Obsessed With Teacher Discharged From Hospital Into Police Custody

  Harper returns from the kitchen with a large bowl of popcorn, and sees the look on my face. Her smile fades, and she asks me, “What’s the matter?”

  I go to speak, but I stutter, unable to answer.

  Then I finally say, “Oh, nothing — just a bill I wasn’t expecting.”

  “Oh. Never mind. Come watch the movie.”

  “I’ll be one minute.”

  I walk into the computer room and, checking that Harper isn’t watching, I place the letter and the envelope in the shredder. It gives me a sense of satisfaction to watch the paper slice into perfect strips, making the note indecipherable, and removing Destiny once again from our lives.

  I resume my place on the sofa, press play on the movie, and take a handful of popcorn.

  As it turns out, the movie is quite good.

  And when it finishes, we say goodnight and sleep soundly in our beds, undisturbed, and for our newfound bond never to be broken again.

  I have my daughter back.

  And that is all that matters.

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  Also by Rick Wood

  The Sensitives:

  Book One — The Sensitives

  Book Two — My Exorcism Killed Me

  Book Three — Close to Death

  Book Four — Demon’s Daughter

  Book Five — Questions for the Devil

  Book Six - Repent

  Book Seven - The Resurgence

  Book Eight - Until the End

  Shutter House

  Shutter House

  Prequel Book One - This Book is Full of Bodies

  Cia Rose:

  Book One — After the Devil Has Won

  Book Two — After the End Has Begun

  Book Three - After the Living Have Lost

  Chronicles of the Infected

  Book One — Zombie Attack

  Book Two — Zombie Defence

  Book Three — Zombie World

  Standalones:

  When Liberty Dies

  I Do Not Belong

  Death of the Honeymoon

  Blood Splatter Books

  Psycho B*tches

  Home Invasion

  Anthologies

  Roses Are Red So Is Your Blood

  Twelve Days of Christmas Horror

  Twelve Days of Christmas Horror Volume 2

  Sean Mallon:

  Book One — The Art of Murder

  Book Two — Redemption of the Hopeless

  The Edward King Series:

  Book One — I Have the Sight

  Book Two — Descendant of Hell

  Book Three — An Exorcist Possessed

  Book Four — Blood of Hope

  Book Five — The World Ends Tonight

  Non-Fiction

  How to Write an Awesome Novel

  Thrillers published as Ed Grace:

  The Jay Sullivan Thriller Series

  Assassin Down

  Kill Them Quickly

  Contents

  1. @LuvvaGirl99

  2. Will

  3. Harper

  4. Will

  5. Harper

  6. Will

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  8. Will

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  10. Will

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  58. Will

  59. Harper

  60. Will

  61. Harper

  62. Will

  63. Harper

  Three Weeks Later

  64. Will

  Join Rick Wood’s Reader’s Group and get two ebooks for free

  Also by Rick Wood

  Also by Rick Wood

  Also by Rick Wood