“Excuse me? Wear whatever?”
Derrick sighed. “You look fine.”
My mouth dropped open at his lackluster praise. “Fine? Everything isfineto you, isn’t it? Meat pies, a woman’s appearance, they’re the same thing. How charming. Hold on while I swoon from your compliments—wait…no. It went away.”
He turned so fast, I collided with his chest. Clamping his hands around my forearms and tugging me closer, he dipped his head and spoke low in my ear.
“Trust me, Tessa, you’ll know when I’m being charming.”
I gave him a mock pout and patted his cheek. “I don’t think so, Detective, but good try. Take me home. I need to pick out an outfit.”
Chapter 11
“Nice dress.” Abrams gave me an encouraging smile from across the carriage.
I surveyed my carefully selected royal blue tunic with its snug waist, custom leather belt, and fur-trimmed sleeves. “Yeah, it’s fine, I guess.”
“I apologize again for showing up late. I know Detective Chambers was planning on picking you up at six. There was a situation at the agency. He’ll meet us at the castle.”
Situation, huh? I refused to analyze my disappointment. It didn’t matter to me that Derrick had sent his rookie officer in his place, not one bit. Hand on a spell book and strike me down if I’m lying. I coughed and darted a look at the cloudless sky.
The castle came into view, distracting me from further tempting the fates. Nestled among sloping hills and manicured gardens, the palace was the jewel of the kingdom. The setting sun bathed the bleached stone towers and ornate spires in an orange glow. On both sides of the winding drive stood giant topiaries sculpted into spirals. Lantern posts were spaced between them, already lit, illuminating the cobblestones.
We came to a halt in front of a grand staircase. It was easy to imagine the night of the ball, with carriages lined up around the bend and guests in their finest attire ascending the marble steps. If I closed my eyes, I could almost hear the strains of the kingdom’s orchestra seeping through the ballroom windows, smell the savory delights, the fruity wine, and the expensive perfumes wafting through the air.
“This is the ballroom entrance. It’s closest to the courtyard.” Abrams gestured for me to follow him down a long hallway lined with gold-framed paintings and elaborate wall sconces. My shoes clicked over the polished marble, the sound echoing into the vaulted ceiling.
“The crime scene has been guarded around the clock since the night of the murder. We collected evidence, but the royal family wanted the area preserved. You’ll be doing a final walk-through before Detective Chambers releases the scene.”
We came to a set of doors that opened into the courtyard. Abrams stopped to talk to a guard, while I stepped onto the stone path that led away from the castle. An eerie silence descended. It felt like hallowed ground. My shoes sank into the thick grass as I weaved through the rose bushes and marble statues. Even the fountain in the distance remained silent, its waters tranquil and unmoving.
I walked toward the fountain. It was much larger than I’d expected, more of a circular wading pool. In the center was a tiered statue where streams trickled and poured into the basin. The water was dark, maybe three to four feet deep, surrounded by a stone barrier. I noticed a single rose petal floating on the surface and watched it ebb and flow almost in a trance.
When my fingers brushed over the stone boundary, I felt a jolt through my hand. The symbols on my palm pulsated, and a familiar wave of dizziness crashed through me.Not again. Around me, the courtyard faded. I squinted against the gloom. What was happening?
With murky water covering my face and body, the only light came from the ripple of the moon penetrating the water’s surface. A weight pressed on my shoulders. Powerful hands held me under as air bubbles escaped my lips, replaced by the tang of icy water. I watched the bubbles rise, helpless to follow.
Can’t breathe…It hurts.
My lungs burned like a fire inside my chest. Frantic, I splayed my fingers along the silty bottom, looking for leverage. Pebbles scrapped my palms, and weeds slithered against my skin. The last breath in my body withered away. I struggled beneath the firm grip, choking, desperate to reach the surface.
Panic surged. I inhaled water instead of air. The thrashing stilled along with my movements. My eyes were open to the pale moonlight that grew darker and darker. The weight was gone, but I remained at the bottom, looking up.
Forever.
“No!”
I fell to my knees in the grass, gulping in rapid bursts of air. The courtyard came back into focus as I tried to calm my pounding heart, its rhythmic thump echoing in my ears. What a horrible vision. It had felt so real. The pain in my palm faded, and I braced myself against the fountain to stand. Had I just witnessed Ella’s final moments? Abrams was still talking to the guard, oblivious to my turmoil. I sat on the stone wall and closed my eyes, taking in deep, soothing breaths of air. This symbol vision thing was starting to get ridiculous. Vivian had never mentioned experiencing a ghost’s memories.
A rustling jolted my eyes open. It was coming from a tall hedge that lined the courtyard. A stick cracked under a boot—someone was positioned on the other side. I inched closer and bent to look through a small opening in the hedge, finding a pair of ink-colored eyes staring back. The man had an angular face and a sharp nose, a curl of sandy brown hair covering his left brow. He watched me for an airless moment, then lifted a gloved finger to his lips.
“I’ll find you,” he rasped before vanishing from the opening.
I ran the length of the hedge and rounded the corner. The man was gone. Trees and shrubs formed a dense cover, and the fading light created pockets of darkness, a perfect setting to hide his escape. Searching the foliage for any sign of movement, his words echoed in my ears.
I’ll find you.
Not the most comforting phrase from a stranger loitering around a crime scene.
