Chapter 198

In the large oak tree across the yard from her window, a bird flapped its wings, drawing her attention. She had just gotten off from the phone with the Freda girl, but not without telling the her to inform her sister about her call.

The bird had a round facial disk with a very pronounced ruff. It wasn’t an owl but it was large. Very large. The unusual bird could easily weigh at least twenty pounds. She stared at it, and it stared right back. She could see its eyes, round and shiny black. She had never seen a one like this. If she didn’t know better, she would think it was a harpy eagle. Emma leaned all the way out of the window sill, concentrating on the bird.

She watched it closely as she tuned her mind to the path of the raptor. The beak was wicked looking, curved and sharp, the talons enormous where they curled around the thick branch of the tree. It had a keen intelligence shining in its eyes. Emma’s breath caught in her throat, her heart beating in sudden excitement