Chapter 85

Finally, it’s over.

Time to focus on Ben Cotter.

* * * *

I arrived at the mountain house around five o’clock in the afternoon. I’d tried to call earlier, but it had gone to voice mail every time. Ben was nowhere in sight, which was another cause for alarm. He always met me on the front porch, rain or shine. I grabbed my bag and hopped out of the car to run up the steps.

“Uncle Ben!” I called out. No response. I opened the front door—it was always unlocked—and went inside. The place smelled like death.

No.

I threw my bag on the couch and ran down the hall to Ben’s room. The door was open, and the smell of puke assailed my nostrils, causing me to almost gag. I saw Ben’s legs around the corner of the bed on the other side, and I rushed over to him.

He was passed out on the floor. I could see his chest slowly rising and falling. He was covered in vomit, and it was all over the sheets, too.

Fuck.