Two ten-year-old girls, Ari and Mandy vanish. One is found so traumatized she can’t remember what happened or who she is. A barrette in her hair with a name on It identifies her as Ari.
Ghosts from the long-ago past haunt the old Barker House, one locked away, the other only a shadow on the floor of one room. Old Charles Barker, occupying the house, runs an ad for a live-in house aide. Natasha Wycoff, using the alias Natalie West while she flees from an abusive husband, answers the ad. The old man watches her avoid stepping on the shadow, and decides she’s the right person.
Sarah Volek is called home by a terrible tragedy—both her parents perished when their house in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula burned. Ivor, Sarah’s young brother was away at boy scout camp the night of the fire and is now her responsibility,. They’re spending the summer at their folks’ cabin in the woods while Sarah considers what to do.. .
When ex-special agent Joe Windfeather returns from the jungles of Central America to the reservation where he was raised, he brings chaos with him. This Death Bird narrowly misses killing the woman he loves. To get rid of this monster he must bring a parrot fetish to a taboo place in the jungle and leave it there. He may or may not survive.