The Other Daniel - A Camille Grisham Novella (8 page)

The four female names were written in white
marker, in the same crude penmanship that was evident on the
shipping label. Camille didn’t recognize the names, but she knew
who they were. The phone call that she now knew she had to make to
Special Agent Crawley would most likely confirm her suspicion.

There would be no more time to weigh the
pros and cons of joining his task force. The copycat had just made
the decision for her.

“Do you know what any of this means?” Chloe
asked.

“Look on the back,” Camille answered in a
solemn voice.

Chloe turned the paper over. Beneath the
traces of blood that had seeped in from the other side she saw
three names written the same as the four on the other side. But
unlike those names, the ones she looked at now were very
familiar.

Jacob Deaver

Paul Grisham

Camille Grisham

A question mark occupied the space under
Camille’s name.

“He’s leaving his options open for victim
number eight.”

Silence filled the room while everyone
attempted to process Camille’s words. But for Camille there was
nothing left to process. She knew what needed to happen next. In
her heart of hearts she always knew it would come down to this,
whether through Daniel MacPherson’s design or some other unforeseen
circumstance. But she never could have imagined this full circle
moment would come with such dire personal stakes.

Daniel Sykes would be most proud of his
fledgling protégé, whoever he was. Camille now knew it would be her
job to find him. “Would you excuse me for a moment? I have a phone
call to make,” she said before quietly slipping into her father’s
office.

True to his reputation as the most
emotionally-barren man on the planet, Special Agent Peter Crawley
didn’t waste a second of time with personal pleasantries.

“Let me guess, Camille. You received a note
too.”

EPILOGUE

MISSION STATEMENT – BY JACOB DEAVER

At least I’m not alone. I
take solace in that fact, though perhaps I shouldn’t. It is a
selfish thought, and considering the circumstances, a completely
heartless one. The truth is I wouldn’t wish my current circumstance
on anyone else in the world.

Paul Grisham is strong.
But he is losing his will, much like I am. We have been told that
our suffering has not been in vain, that it is serving a much
higher purpose. The purpose, we are told, is justice. Justice for
twenty-seven people who died needlessly. Justice for the families
who continue to grieve over their loss.

What about our suffering?
What about our families?

My original ambition was
to write a book about Daniel Sykes, the man who I am told is
ultimately responsible for the misery that I am enduring. But my
ambitions have since changed. My only purpose now is to stay alive,
and the only way to do that is to tell the Daniel Sykes story the
way it should have been told in the first place: through the eyes
of those who continue to suffer from his actions.

I have come to learn that
theirs is the only truth that matters. Theirs is the only truth
worth telling. That truth isn’t just about grief and loss and pain.
It is about love. It is also about vengeance. Vengeance against the
one who allowed it to happen. Vengeance against the one who tried
to wash the blood of twenty-seven people off of her hands without
thinking anyone would notice.

Someone noticed. And this
is his time.

The message I am charged
with delivering is very clear. Camille Grisham can no longer run.
She can no longer hide. She can no longer keep the truth of who she
is from the world.

At least I am not alone
here.

But if Camille doesn’t
step forward to accept the justice due her, I fear that it will not
stay that way much longer.

~JD

COMING SUMMER
2015

THE DARKEST
POINT

A CAMILLE GRISHAM NOVEL