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"Did either of them express any fears to you?" Sheila asked.
"Fears?"
"About being in danger, or anyone wanting to harm them?"
"None that I can recall," Autumn replied, her eyes searching Sheila's for something.
"Do you have any idea why someone might leave tarot cards at the scene of the crimes?" Finn asked, his tone businesslike.
Autumn shook her head. "I really can't say. My readings are based solely on the energy surrounding my clients, not on any specific tools or props."
Sheila scribbled a few notes on her notepad, her mind whirring with questions. "Ms. Wood, do you know of anyone who would want to harm either of the victims?"
Autumn's expression remained blank, giving away nothing. "I'm afraid I don't have any specific knowledge of their personal lives or relationships outside of our sessions."
Sheila sighed, feeling frustrated. Another dead end. She glanced at Finn, who was scribbling notes furiously on his notepad. They needed to find something, anything, that would help them catch the killer before they struck again.
"Autumn, where were you last night?" she asked.
"Last night? Oh, I was at home," Autumn replied, her voice airy and noncommittal. "I spent most of my evening reading and meditating."
"Can anyone vouch for your whereabouts?" Finn asked.
"No, I'm afraid not. I live alone, you see," Autumn said with a hint of sadness. "But I assure you, I had nothing to do with the deaths of those two poor souls."
Sheila exchanged a quick glance with Finn, who looked equally skeptical. There was no solid evidence against Autumn, but her lack of an alibi didn't sit well with either of them, apparently.
"Was there something more you needed to ask, detective?" Autumn said.
Sheila sighed, attempting to hide her frustration. "No, that'll be all. Thank you for your cooperation, Autumn. You're free to leave now."
"Of course," Autumn replied with a serene smile. She stood up gracefully, ready to depart.
"Wait," Sheila said before she could stop herself. Her mind raced with the idea that had just formed, a potential opportunity to gain more insight into Autumn's mysterious world. "Would you...would you be willing to give me a palm reading?"
Finn shot her a surprised look, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. But Autumn seemed delighted, her eyes lighting up as she nodded enthusiastically.
"I'd be more than happy to, Detective Stone," she said warmly. "How about tomorrow morning at my shop?"
"Sounds good," Sheila said, ignoring the disapproving look Finn gave her. There was something about Autumn that she couldn't quite put her finger on, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.
As Autumn walked out of the room, Sheila could feel Finn's eyes on her. She knew he disapproved of her decision, but she couldn't let that deter her. If there was even a chance that getting closer to Autumn would help solve this case, then she had to take it. And besides, she thought with a shiver, what harm could one palm reading do?
The door clicked shut behind Autumn, and Finn turned to Sheila with raised eyebrows. "Why did you agree to that palm reading?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
"Because I want to learn all I can about her," Sheila replied, her gaze still fixed on the door as if she could see through it to where Autumn stood on the other side.
Finn rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. "I don't like it, Sheila. The supernatural stuff gives me the creeps. Besides, I think Autumn is dangerous."
"Look, Finn, I'll be careful," she assured him, finally turning to meet his eyes. "But if there's even a chance that getting closer to her will help solve this case, then I have to take it."
Before Finn could respond, Sheila's phone began to vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw her father's name on the screen. Her stomach clenched—he could only think of two reasons he would be calling out of the blue. Either he needed something, or something was wrong.
"Hello?" she answered, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Sheila!" her father said, sounding troubled. "It's Star. She's in trouble and could use your help. I'd go myself, but with my knee pain and all—"
"What's wrong? What happened to her?"
