Chapter 1

Jessie peered through the smeary windshield as the wipers swept back and forth. The heater was set to maximum, but it was still bitterly cold. She pulled her woollen scarf tighter around her neck and wondered if she would ever make it home tonight.

               She had left university around lunchtime and skipped her last lecture. Her intention was to get a head start on the holiday traffic. But the interstate soon became busy with folks heading home for Christmas. So, at the first available exit, she left the chaos and headed cross-country instead.

               At first, she had made decent progress. However, after entering the Blackwater region, the weather took a turn for the worse. The rain quickly changed to sleet, then to snow. To begin with, Jessie enjoyed the spectacle. There was nothing more exciting than snow at Christmas. But as it began to lay, the road ahead became hazardous, slowing her down to a crawl.

               Jessie gave a loud yawn and wished the journey were finished. It had been nearly five months since she had last seen her sister, Kelly. She enjoyed her studies, but now simply longed to be back home.

               She squinted as her pickup truck's headlights shone on a road sign up ahead. Dinky's Diner—next exit.

               'Thank heavens, I'll grab a coffee and give Kelly a ring, tell her I'm running late.'

               She eased her foot off the gas, hit the turn signal, and left the main road.

               After a short drive down the bendy, snow-covered route, she arrived at another sign that read: Welcome to Pentonville.

               She continued along, glancing at either side of the main street. On her left was a huddle of timber buildings: a grocery and a drugstore. Beside those were a bar and a gas station. On her right, the sheriff's office, a school, and a row of houses.

               She drove past a cluster of run-down outbuildings until finally she reached the diner. Jessie checked her rearview mirror and noticed the Saint Christopher necklace hanging from it. She smiled on seeing it, then signalled to pull into the parking lot. But as she did, a shadowy figure shot out in front of her.

               Jessie hit the brakes, lurched forward, and the truck skidded to a halt.

               She rubbed her eyes, then peered through the windshield, expecting to see an angry pedestrian. But there was no one there.

               With her heart thumping in her chest, she restarted the truck and parked up. After grabbing her bag, she climbed out and headed into the diner.

               Inside, the restaurant was hot and stuffy and smelled of coffee and grease. She lowered her hood and glanced around. A middle-aged woman wearing an apron and a baseball cap smiled at her from behind the counter.

               'Take a seat, sugar, I'll be right over.'

               Jessie nodded, unbuttoned her jacket, and sat in a booth beside the window.

               'Coffee?' said the waitress as she approached, carrying a jug.

               Jessie noticed the waitress's name on her badge: Thelma, and nodded. 'Yes please, and do you have a payphone?'

               'Sure thing, honey. Over there, beside the bathroom.'

               Jessie went over and removed a handful of coins from her pocket, then dialled her sister's number.

               'Hi, Kelly.'

               'Is that you, Jessie? I can hardly hear you.'

               'Yeah—it's a terrible line.'

               'Where are you?'

               'Dinky's Diner, Pentonville.'

               'Where?'

               'Oh, some backwater hick town in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, I'm running late because of the weather. So, I thought I'd better let you know. I can't wait to see you.'

               'I know, it's been ages.'

               The diner door opened, sending in a blast of cold air. A young man stepped inside. His lips were cracked and pinched, his face blue from the cold. Snow clung to his straw hat, and his boots were covered in mud.

               'Christ almighty!' said Jessie, nearly dropping the phone.

               'What is it?' asked Kelly.

               'This guy looks ready for Halloween.'

               The young man turned and glared at her with his bulging, bloodshot eyes. He then noticed Thelma and shuffled toward her.

               'Howdy, Nathan. What brings you out on a night like this?'

'I'm looking for Mary Lou?' he said, glancing around.

'Sorry, Nathan. I don't think I've seen your sister since yesterday.'

               Nathan frowned and rubbed the back of his neck.

               Thelma placed her hand on his shoulder. 'Don't look so worried, Nathan. She couldn't have gone far in this god-awful weather. Now, can I get you a piece of pie while you're here?'

               'No, I need to find Mary Lou!'

               He turned and headed for the door. But as he came level with Jessie, he paused and shot her a sideways glance.

               A lump came to Jessie's throat, and she quickly looked away.

               'Jessie, are you still there?'