Chapter 9

Myrtle Beach is roughly halfway between the borders of Georgia and North Carolina along South Carolina’s coastline. Though mainly a tourist town for beachgoers, a sizable local population thrived as businesses had to be on hand in order to serve the vacationers and as with any city of its size, Myrtle Beach had its own local college. He, Eliza, and Blakeney found themselves pulling onto a street not more than two blocks from the campus; students were the main residents.

The drive had taken the remainder of the day and now it was only a couple of hours until midnight. Normally, trying to speak with anyone at this time of night would be difficult, but seeing as it was a Friday night—and Amanda Hanson was a college student—they were sure she would be awake.

Blakeney took the last turn and the three of them found them-

selves facing and army of police and ambulances. The red and blue lights flashing off into the dark, reflecting every shiny surface in the vicinity, were like heral