Secrets in the Shallows by Savannah Wagner

Hey all! I am in the process of trying to get my mystery novel published. I have decided to publish sample chapters each Friday in hopes of gaining some traction before the release on Kindle!

• Synopsis:

Grace is a young reporter for her small-town newspaper who is following a mystery that has haunted her family for decades. She assigns herself to a project at Camp Jasper Wood in hopes of finding out the truth. The disappearance of her cousin, Bethany Alaina Fields remains a mystery in the present day. It was said that Alaina left in the middle of the night with her belongings. However, when her empty car was found on the side of the road, it was believed that she was abducted. At the crime scene, there are no signs of struggle or evidence to indicate that Alaina was forced out of the car. Her body is never found, making it a cold case. With the help of her two friends as well as the other camp counselors, Grace uncovers secrets of the past and ultimately solves Bethany Alaina Fields' disappearing act.

Introduction

June 4th, 1999

Jordan

Bethany Alaina had vanished. There was no trace of her anywhere near Camp Jasper Wood. The entire camp staff, including the eldest campers, joined the search party in the woods the next day. The sun was shining above us, as if the world wanted to move on from the tragedy as if it never happened. I didn’t want to move on. Last night, I wasn’t concerned about her disappearance. Not until it was reported that her car was found abandoned on the side of the road. That wasn’t like her. That was such a cause for concern that I knew that I couldn’t move on. 

Where is she?  I thought as I kept walking through the woods, surrounded by other people just as scared as me. Oh gosh Alaina what have you done? When I see you again, I’ll….. What if I don’t see you again? What if you’re gone forever? 

Panic weighs its heavy plate on my chest, stopping me from breathing smoothly. No, we must keep moving. Looking. Searching. Finding her. 

I place one foot in front of the other, but the ground is making me dizzy. I feel like my world is spinning.  I am starting to feel like I could vomit. 

“Very funny, Alaina. You can stop the joke now,” I accidentally say out loud. A camper beside me hears me and just glares in my direction. 

I have been out all day on my feet searching and still nothing. Not a trace of DNA near her car. No fragments of her hair or blood. Nothing. I must come to terms that she is never coming back.

“Did she say anything to you about leaving?” A police officer asks me later that day. 

I think back; my memory is fading. “She said she might go home to take a break, but I didn’t believe her.” 

“Is this normal for her?” He asks me. I know he’s doing his job but I’m starting to get annoyed with all the questioning. I don’t care about questions. I care about the facts, but so does everyone else. 

I shake my head with confidence, “No, it’s not normal. None of this is normal.”