AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah. I’m okay.”
Harris took a step forward with a curious look in her eye. “Did you see—”
“Just dizzy.” Cassie gave the detective a tight frown. “I think that might be enough for me tonight.”
Underwood took the hint and covered Elizabeth’s body.
“Thank you again, Dr. Underwood. We’ll see ourselves out.”
Harris led the way back up the stairs and down the hallway to the front entrance. They left the building and as soon as Cassie felt the fresh air on her skin, the nausea started to drift away.
“Did you see something?” Harris asked.
“Elizabeth.” Cassie’s tongue was dry and heavy. “She said the same thing Hannah did. ‘It’ll be over soon’.”
“If he slit her throat before opening her chest, maybe he was speaking to her? Trying to reassure her?”
“Or maybe it means all of this will be over soon and our window of opportunity to catch the killer is dwindling,” Cassie suggested.
“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Yeah, me neither.”
Seventeen
Cassie woke up on Saturday morning with a renewed vigor. Electricity buzzed through her body.
Her brain had worked on Elizabeth’s case while she slept, and dawn had brought with it plenty of new questions. The idea that these were ritualistic killings circled Cassie’s mind. Learning that the weapon could be an obsidian knife added to that theory. And she knew where to go to prove her theory.
Dr. George Schafer volunteered at the local library. Twice a month, he lectured for free on a different artist, ranging from today’s world all the way back to Ancient Greece and beyond. Cassie had attended a few times and it was such a thrill to see people young and old alike enjoying his talks. Art history wasn’t always the most thrilling of subjects, but Dr. Schafer found ways to keep it engaging.
George had a way of connecting to people through art and his breadth of knowledge was astounding. With forty years of experience under his belt, he knew a little about a lot. And when he didn’t know the answer, he took the time to look it up and get back to you. He was a bit of a local hero for those who knew him.
Today’s lecture was on one of Cassie’s favorite artists—Artemisia Gentileschi. She was a seventeenth-century Italian painter who rose above her station as a woman to make a name for herself. She often painted women from myth and figures from the Bible. Artemisia’s rape played a pivotal role in her art, and Cassie had always been taken aback by the power depicted in her paintings, particularly Judith Slaying Holofernes.
Looking at it projected on the overhead screen that hung from the library’s wall, Cassie was overcome with emotion. She felt a kinship with the artist who lived with unspeakable pain and yet found a way to channel her anger and bravery into her work. She didn’t let society’s rules dictate who she should be. She instead used every opportunity to defy expectations and prove she was as good—if not better—than her male peers.
Cassie waited until the room cleared, and she approached George, who was packing his equipment. One of the library staff wheeled the projector away, and when George noticed Cassie’s presence, a grin broke out across his face.
“Ms. Quinn! What a pleasant surprise. How’d I do?”
“Incredible, as always.” Cassie found it easy to compliment George. He was a kind soul who gave his time for free. “She’s one of my favorites.”
“I seem to remember that from your entry interview.” George winked at her and grew serious. “How are you?”
“Been having some trouble sleeping,” Cassie said, “but I’m feeling good today.”
“That’s fantastic to hear.” George paused and stared at Cassie, trying to read her mind. “You didn’t come here on a whim.”
“You’re right.”
“Should we grab a chair?”
Cassie nodded and followed George into an alcove where they could talk i
n private. The library had set up a temporary display full of female authors and artists to coincide with the lecture. Cassie was delighted to see young girls each picking out several books to read.
“So, Ms. Quinn, what can I do for you today?”
