Page 27 of He Sees You

I stand at my bedroom window, staring at the black plume resting on the exterior sill like an offering.

The morning sun catches its iridescent surface, revealing hidden purples and blues in what seemed like pure darkness.

It's positioned exactly in the center, parallel to the window frame, untouched by the wind that's been rattling the panes all night.

Someone placed this here.

Someone who climbed up to a second-story window in the middle of the night, in December, to leave me a feather.

I should be terrified, should be calling for my father, showing him evidence of a stalker.

Instead, I'm opening the window, letting the cold mountain air flood my childhood bedroom as I reach for it.

The feather is soft between my fingers, larger than I expected.

Ravens are bigger than crows—I researched that for my third book.

They're also more intelligent, capable of problem-solving, of remembering faces for years.

They bring gifts to people who feed them.

They hold grudges.

And they even mourn their dead.

I set it on my desk, right next to my laptop, where I can see it while I write.

My phone buzzes with a text from Juliette:

How's the writing going? Mountains working their magic?

I almost tell her about the feather, then stop.

How would that sound? "Someone left me a gift in the middle of the night, and instead of being scared, I'm inspired"?

She'd think I've lost it. Or worse, she'd tell my father.

Actually making progress. You were right about this place clearing my head.

Her response comes within seconds:

Told you! My brother swears by mountain air for creativity. Have you run into him yet? Cain Lockwood?

My pulse quickens.

Right.

Juliette's mysterious brother who lives up here.

The hermit Dad mentioned last night, the one who plays violin at odd hours and decorates with deer skulls.

The one Dad suspects might be the killer.

Not yet. Dad mentioned him though.

She texts me back within a few moments:

He's odd but harmless. Brilliant, actually. Just prefers trees to people. If you see him in town, say hi. He knows your work.