Read The Reaper for Free Online Page A

caught in the front flap of the purse.
     
    Gently, he pulled the fishing line up and began to reel it in. Mike grabbed the tip of the rod to stabilize it and reduce sway.
     
    “You’re getting it. Slowly, slowly.”
     
    Clayton paid attention to the line, making sure he didn’t jerk it.
     
    “Five feet left. Someone reach down and grab it when it gets close.”
     
    Clayton didn’t look up to see who volunteered. He just kept his attention on the rod. To get this close and accidentally drop the purse back into the well would really piss him off.
     
    “Got it!” Barbara shouted.
     
    Clayton let out a pent-up breath. He set the rod down and reached for the purse. It didn’t look old, but the strap was broken and the outside leather worn. However long the purse was in the well, it had been weathered beyond repair.
     
    “Everyone, thanks for coming out. Time to go. I’ll have this and its contents analyzed and let you all know what I find, if anything. Thanks again. See you all in town.”
     
    Clayton walked away, but not before Arthur grabbed his arm.
     
    “I don’t think you’ll find anything in that purse. The house doesn’t want you to know.”
     
    Clayton stopped walking. “What makes you say that?”
     
    “Up there,” Arthur pointed at the second story windows with his cane. “When you got that purse into your hands, something was in the window, watching you.”
     
    “What are you talking about? You think someone is in the house?”
     
    “No, not someone. Something.”
     
    “Now Arthur, I hope you’re not seeing things,” Clayton said as he turned to go.
     
    Arthur grabbed his elbow with surprising strength and spun him back to face him. “Whatever it was I saw, I can tell you it was real and it was angry. I didn’t see eyes, but I felt it watching us. Then it glowed a fire-red and orange color. When you touched the purse, for a brief moment the whole second story of the house looked like it was on fire. Flames licked up the window panes — then turned a deep shade of red and by the time I was ready to point and tell you to look, it all went away.”
     
    “Arthur,” Clayton lowered his voice and leaned in. “You didn’t see anything of the sort. Go home and get some sleep. Thanks for your help today.”
     
    Officer Clayton walked away with the purse in his hand, wondering what he’d find in it.
     
    He also wondered if Arthur had started brewing his moonshine again or if he was finally losing his mind to age.
     
    When he reached his car, he stopped to look back at the house and saw Arthur in the open door.
     
    “What are you doing now?” he asked.
     
    “Going inside to investigate what I saw.”
     
    Arthur snarled on the word investigate and Clayton knew what that meant. Clayton had heard that some people in the area didn’t think he did his job well enough.
     
    “Hold up, just one sec.”
     
    He set the purse down on the passenger seat and walked to the front door. Arthur stepped in ahead and Clayton followed.
     
    It was dark and dismal with a nasty smell of burnt flesh. Sitting on the floor by the door was a small pile of luggage. On top of two suitcases sat a VHS videocamera.
     
    Clayton examined it as Arthur stepped farther into the house.
     
    “Hey, Arthur, hold up. Don’t go too far. We shouldn’t even be in here.”
     
    “I’ll do what I want,” Arthur said.
     
    Clayton hit the eject button and popped the cassette tape out.
     
    More evidence.
     
    “Hey Arthur, look at your shoes.” Smoke came off of Arthur’s feet.
     
    The old man leaned on the wall to lift his foot. Half of the sole was missing.
     
    “What the hell—”
     
    Clayton felt heat in his boots too. Smoke also came out from under his feet.
     
    “Arthur, we need to leave. Now!”
     
    At his age, Arthur could still move fast. He skipped across the living room and together, they walked out the front door and down the steps to the gravel drive.
     
    “What was in the floor?”