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A vibration in her pocket broke Cassie from her daze, and when she saw Jason’s name light up her phone, a smile broke across her face. Her skin cooled, the knot loosened, and the sound of screaming men, women, and children faded away to a dull roar that she tucked into the deepest recesses of her mind.
“Hey.” Cassie’s voice was breathless with surprise, and she winced. Even from a thousand miles away, he had that effect on her. “Miss me already?”
“Can you blame me?” There was a chuckle in Jason’s voice that made her heart skip a beat. Even if he was playing into her joke, it was nice to hear. “How was your flight? Did you make some more friends?”
Cassie’s laugh echoed around the hall. A few heads turned, and she winced in response. Stepping back from the painting, she nestled into a corner where she wouldn’t disturb anyone else. “Yeah, I met a wizard who could travel through time. Nice guy. Poor fashion sense.”
Jason laughed, but the humor didn’t linger.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Jane Livingston asked Magdalena if you’re still interested in your job.”
Cassie froze. “What? Why?”
“You’ve been missing a lot of work.”
“They’ve approved all my time off.”
“I know.” Jason sighed, and the air from his mouth made the phone crackle in her ear. “That’s probably why Jane hasn’t said anything to you. But if she’s asking Mags whether you’re still interested, then they’re probably wondering if all this time off is becoming a pattern.” There was a deadening silence on the phone before Jason blew out another breath of air. “I’m sorry, I feel like I’m being the bad guy here.”
“You’re not. I know you’re not.” She tapped her foot on the ground until someone looked at her pointedly and she stopped. Putting her back to them, she lowered her voice. “Has Jane said anything to you yet?”
“No, but I’m not sure if she’s aware of our… relationship.”
Cassie’s heart fluttered at the word. The last time she’d seen Jason, they’d shared a kiss outside her hotel room. They hadn’t talked about
labels or exclusivity, and Cassie was afraid if she broached the topic, she’d jinx the whole thing. “I’m choosing not to worry about it for now,” she declared. “They approved my time off, so there’s nothing they can say about it. When I get home, I’ll work overtime to make sure I wrap up all my projects. And then some.”
“Do you know when you’re coming back yet?”
“No idea. I’m supposed to meet Adelaide in a few minutes. Once I talk with her, I’ll have a better idea of what’s going on.” She wasn’t used to sharing her fears with people, so she had to force out the next words. “I’m worried about her.”
“How come?”
“She’s not acting like herself.” Cassie sagged into the wall. All she wanted to do was crawl back into bed. “She won’t leave Chicago without answers.”
“I know she’s important to you,” Jason started, “and not just because she was also important to David.” He hesitated, like he was measuring each word to make sure it held exactly the right weight. “But don’t let her drag you into something you’re not ready for, okay? It’s hard enough losing someone, but it’s a whole different ballgame when you have to investigate their death, too. Trust me, I know.”
Jason hadn’t shared his story with Cassie yet, but this wasn’t the first time he’d mentioned he knew how she was feeling. Even without all the details, the idea comforted her—momentarily, at least. Then she’d remember how David had written her a letter specifically telling her not to look into his murder, and she’d feel guilt swell up inside her again. “Thank you.” A comforting silence filled the phone. It was nice just to exist together. “You probably have to go soon.”
“Keep me updated, okay?” There was a strain to his voice. “And be careful.”
“I will,” she said, though it wasn’t really a promise she could make. “I’ll text you once we know anything new.”
After Cassie hung up, she took a moment to breathe. Somewhere over the course of the conversation, her anxiety had ratcheted up, threatening to constrict her throat and lungs against her will. The heat of the museum didn’t help matters, so with great abandon, she wound her way back toward the entrance and into Chicago’s winter air, relishing in how it pierced her skin and shocked her body into forgetting about the burden she carried.
Turning left, Cassie strolled down the street toward a tiered fountain at the end of the road. Hooking left again, she meandered along a path lined with bare trees. The city had seen its first snow a month ago, and the frozen ground made sure it couldn’t melt away. The end of December was approaching, and unlike Savannah, Chicago rarely went without a white Christmas.
As Cassie neared a crossroads, a figure rounded the corner and stopped in the middle of the path. Even from a distance, Cassie recognized Harris’ telltale silhouette, complete with a slicked-back ponytail and a pair of aviators. A long wool coat covered most of her outfit, but Cassie could tell Harris had given up her pantsuit for a pair of jeans. The Timberlands on her feet were in stark contrast to the glossy sheen of the pavement.
Cassie looked past Harris and out across the expanse of Lincoln Park. She felt the spirits more than she saw them, and she wondered how she could navigate a city so full of tragedy without being pulled under the waves. At one time, she would’ve been happy to lean on Harris for support, but these days, Cassie couldn’t trust that the detective wouldn’t risk her drowning just to get a few answers.
But it was too late to turn back now, and when Harris raised her hand in greeting, Cassie returned the gesture, plastering a smile on her face and praying to God that the Windy City wouldn’t blow them off course.
Concealed in Shadow: Chapter 3
Cassie waited until she was within earshot of Harris. “Hey, how are you doing?”
