Gross!
A shadow catches my eye.
Looking up. I freeze.
A single black feather is pinned to my front door.
Redness is smeared across the glossy barbs.
Stepping onto the porch, I move closer.
The feather is bonded to my door by blood.
Next to it is a piece of paper taped to the door.
Skimming the note, I see it’s another verse fromThe Raven.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?”
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!” —
Merely this and nothing more.
Before I can process the ominous verse, my phone rings, shattering the silence.
Fumbling, I answer it.
“Hello?”
“Cipi!” It’s Matteo. The tone of his voice is urgent.
“What’s wrong?”
“You need to get to the south warehouse. Now!”
“What happened?”
“Just get down here, Cipi. It’s bad, really bad.”
“Okay.” Hanging up, I already know someone is dead.
Anger rushes through me and I tear the feather off the door.
It is picked up by the wind and disappears into the bushes.
Heading inside, I wash my hands. Then I grab my keys and head to my car in the garage.
A sensation in my gut tells me the pawn has been murdered.
Chapter thirty-four
Silence whispers Francesca’s name and visions of chess pieces plague my thoughts as I drive like I have nine lives.
