“That’s an excerpt fromThe Ravenby Edgar Allan Poe,” Lucia gasps.
“I remember Ms. O’Leery made us dissect that entire poem piece by piece in high school,” Matteo grumbles.
“This is fitting though seeing as how we just got a box full of raven feathers,” Lucia adds.
I clutch the paper in my hand. “This is a warning. Someone is trying to tell us that the Marconis are back.”
“How? That’s impossible.” Matteo cries.
“Someone must be trying to resurrect their names and come after us.” I stare at the typed script. “This poem is a warning. ‘Forgotten lore.’ Everyone has forgotten about the Marconi’s until now. The ‘tapping’ and ‘rapping’ at the door signifies this delivery. The abundance of raven feathers signifies the deaths that have occurred or will at the hands of this family.”
“Wow, Cugina, that’s deep.” Matteo lets out a low whistle.
“This is why you got straight A’s in English class back in high school,” Lucia laughs.
“Let’s open the next box.” I grab the crowbar.
The second box reveals the same result. A mountain of raven plumes with a single piece of paper on top. The typed note contains another excerpt from The Raven.
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow: —vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Namelessherefor evermore.
“‘Ghost’ has to mean the Marconi family has been a ghost for so long and now they’re back, right, Cugina?” Matteo points at the words on the note. “But who the fuck is Lenore?”
“That’s the poet’s lover who died,” Lucia replies.
“We didn’t lose anyone with that name,” Matteo mutters.
“Poe is lamenting his lover, so the person who sent us this must be lamenting the elimination of the family.” I look around as if expecting the answer or sender to pop out and explain it all but only darkness fills the space.
“We need to be careful, this sounds dangerous.” Lucia adjusts her coat.
“Eh, I don’t know about that. I mean what gangster is going to be running around quoting Poe? They just have their guards go and off people.” Matteo closes the lids.
“Someone who is smart and calculated and wants to torture their victim until they kill them.” I sigh. I’ll admit, whoever this person is would have won Ms. O’Leery’s approval in secondswith the symbolism that is going on here. “Come on Matteo, we need to go, we have a meeting at my place with AJ.”
“What do you want to do about the crates?” Lucia asks.
“I don’t know, just leave them there for now. Maybe we can return the favor if we find out who this is.” I shove the pieces of paper into my pocket and head for the door.
My nerves are on edge and my heart beats faster.
By some miracle the Marconis have been resurrected and are out for revenge.
But who is the one calling the shots?
Chapter eighteen
“I’ve gone through the footage so many times and there’s nothing suspicious.” AJ, our tech guru, presses a button to fast-forward the feed on his laptop. “Until you get right here…”
