Sarah returned to her hotel room, still shaken from her encounter with the hooded figure. She sat on the edge of the bed, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Who was this person claiming to be the last surviving member of the Order of the Blackwood? And what were their plans?
Sarah knew she needed more information. She pulled out her laptop and started searching for any records or articles about the Order. She found a few mentions in old newspapers, but nothing substantial.
As she scrolled through the search results, she heard a knock at the door. She hesitated for a moment before getting up to answer it.
Standing outside her room was a man in his late thirties, wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. He introduced himself as Michael, a local attorney.
"I heard about your investigation into the murders," he said. "And I think I can help you."
Sarah was skeptical but invited him in anyway. Michael sat down at the small table in the corner of the room and opened his briefcase.
"I represent the estate of a man named Samuel Blackwood," he said. "He was a descendant of the original Blackwood family that founded this town."
Sarah's interest was piqued. "What does this have to do with the murders?"
Michael leaned forward. "Samuel Blackwood was obsessed with uncovering the secrets of his family's past. He spent years researching the Order of the Blackwood and even claimed to have found evidence of their continued existence."
Sarah leaned in closer. "What kind of evidence?"
Michael hesitated for a moment before pulling out a small notebook. "This was one of Samuel's journals. He wrote about strange symbols he found in the woods and meetings he had with mysterious figures."
Sarah took the notebook and flipped through it, her eyes widening as she read.
"This is incredible," she said. "Do you think Samuel's research could lead us to the killer?"
Michael nodded. "It's possible. But be careful, Sarah. Samuel was convinced that the Order was still active and dangerous."
Sarah thanked him for the information and promised to keep him updated on her progress. As he left, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was getting closer to the truth - but also closer to danger.
She spent the rest of the night pouring over Samuel's journal, trying to piece together any clues or leads. As the sun began to rise, she realized she needed to get some rest.
But as she lay in bed, her mind racing with thoughts of the Order of the Blackwood and the hooded figure, sleep was the last thing on her mind.