Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“Okay,” he finally says as he looks to the porch. “I’m gonna head back to my place…watch some footage from last night. Kidding. That would be weird.”
“Yeah, that comment was more in the creeper realm.”
“I’ll quit while I’m ahead.”
He turns to start off the porch, but an idea springs to mind. “Wait!” I say. “Stay right there.”
I don’t even wait to see if he heard me. Just close and lock the door. I head back to the kitchen and grab the leftover stroganoff. When I return to the door, I hand it to him.
“I made it last night, so it’s still good. Not everyone likes stroganoff, but give it a chance. I have a pretty awesome spice combo for it.”
He stares at the Tupperware as if he doesn’t know what he’s holding before saying, “Um…thank you…I guess.”
“Yes, thank you is the correct response, creeper,” I tease with a wink.
“Thank you,” he says, smiling as he turns and, without another word, heads back along the walkway to the driveway, then to the sidewalk, glancing my way briefly as he returns to the Morgans’ place.
I close and lock the door. I take a deep breath, almost a gasp, as though some part of me is surprised I survived that encounter. Mom and Dad would freak out if they ever found out what I’d just done.
Hell, if they heard the wild shit he told me, they would already be on the phone with the cops. And I’m trying to figure out if that’s what I should be doing, but instead follow another of his suggestions.
Sitting at my desk, I run Google searches while Kyra hops about her cage, which I’ve set nearby to keep her company. She chirps, her head bobbing about like she’s trying to figure out what’s captured my attention.
“Zane Grayson” “disappearance”
“Zane Grayson”
“Z Grayson” + “disappearance”
This isn’t going anywhere…
“Disappearance” + “Jason Kilbourne”
I’m inundated with headlines and posts.
I see what I’d expect—information about the day he went missing, interviews conducted with family members, pleas for information from the public.
Zane knew the person he believed was the second victim of this mystery abductor, and he saw a response on a subreddit about my Instagram post, which gives me an idea.
“Reddit” + “disappearances” + “Jason Kilbourne” + “victims”
The first result looks promising: serial abductions in Wyachet, Georgia.
I follow the link to a forum about Jason and see a comment from Dman281. A quick scan reveals this is the post Zane read about the second victim, Michael Grayson.
Zane Grayson…
They’re related.
Now I get why he was so cryptic.
“Well, Kyra, I found a little something about our new friend.”
I read the post:
Dman281
4 mo. ago
Hey everyone. Lurker on this sub, first-time poster. Wanted to see if anyone knows anything about JK receiving a letter from a secret admirer before his disappearance. I know Michael Grayson, and he contacted me about a letter from a supposed admirer about a month before his disappearance. He was trying to figure out who sent it. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, and I’ve tried to give the cops this information, but they don’t seem interested or think there’s a connection.
From what he read to me, the letter was very ornate—like poetic language, not the way people talk. A lot about his appearance. Had some weird shit about how he was like a Grecian statue. No signature. Will provide more specifics to any serious inquiries, but please, no bs.
If anyone knows of something like this with JK, please reach out. I’m not on here much, but I’ll get a notification for PMs.
EDIT: If you run a blog or podcast, please do not contact me. I’ve shared all I’m comfortable with, but any help is appreciated.
The guy posted this four months ago, so everything Zane told me about the post and my letter checks out.
I pull up on my phone the pic of my letter:
Leif,
I see you.
Heart and soul that you wear on your sleeve.
The beauty of this form—a marble statue in a world of drooping clay.
An heir to the beauty of your ancestors.
I hope, when you look in the mirror, you see yourself as I do—
A divine gift to the mortals who have the privilege of finding you in their gaze.
Maybe one day I can find the courage to share these feelings with you face-to-face.
Or maybe it’s best to let them remain untainted by the disappointments that come once a dream has been realized.
Just know, you are seen.
You are adored.
Sincerely,
Yours and only yours
Marble stone instead of a Grecian statue, exactly like Zane said. A lot about looks. Unusual, poetic language. Not signed.
But Dman281’s description is so vague, couldn’t a lot of love notes fit this description?
Still, it’s more ominous now that I know it might not be some cruel prank from my ex-friends or their asshole buddies.
As I put my phone on the desk, Kyra approaches the edge of her cage and tilts her head, like she’s watching me as I continue my investigation on my laptop, this time for “Michael Grayson.”