Claire Jenkins was a mystery writer and art enthusiast who was married to a fellow writer named Alex. The Jenkins became close friends with Quentin Collins, the new owner of the stately mansion known as Collinwood.

In the summer of 1971, bizarre occurrences began to take place at Collinwood. Quentin began behaving very strangely, and he became prone to psychotic fits of violence. Claire and Alex grew very concerned for his well-being and feared that Tracy might be in danger so long as she was around him.

Before long, Claire and Alex came to believe that Quentin was successful in exorcising the harmful spirits from his home and person. Despite that however, they decided to leave Collinsport and take a well-earned vacation at the Cape. As they drove away, their car skidded off the road into a ditch and both Alex and Claire were killed in the crash. Witnesses reported seeing a ghostly white smoke filling the vehicle as it veered off of the highway.