Prologue: A Beautiful Night's Sky

The shortening of breath was making it difficult to concentrate as Professor Slidell, of North Western Oregon University, lay in the brush, bleeding to death. A pool of blood soaked through her clothes as she stared up to the clear night’s sky, as she reminisced of her imminent death.

It was a normal summery day and she had been invited to lecture at Camas Valley’s City Hall about the town’s history and of Joseph Keaton, the town’s first wealthy bachelor who had disappeared in the 1890s. Grateful to share her knowledge of the town’s history, Professor Slidell foolishly agreed.

Instead of the warm welcome she had imagined, the professor was met with hostility, especially from the Bryton family, the ancestors of the original settlers of Camas Valley. It had not helped that she felt that the Bryton family ancestors were responsible for the disappearance of Joseph Keaton and had announced it at the end of the first nights lecture. It was only suppose to draw the crowd in for the next days lecture. Instead, the crowd erupted into a shouting match – the Bryton family was none too pleased with her deduction. The Sheriff and his deputies only showed their presence when other crowd members began yelling insults back at the Bryton family members. On accident, Professor Slidell had started another battle between the Camas Valley residents.

Thinking back, as Professor Slidell’s vision blurred and here eyelids felt so heavy, all she could think of was the fact that now no one would ever discover the Keaton treasure.

A creak in the woods let the dying professor know she was not alone. And all she could do was watch her killer come closer, the footsteps heavy on the ground.

The footsteps stopped by her head, and the shadow of a hand drew to her mouth.

Metal pressed into her throat.

The last thought of Professor Slidell was of the beautiful night' sky over Camas Valley.