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Best wishes in the next life,
The Gifted Genius
Arianna’s breath came in fast pants. Her gaze darted around, but she couldn’t see anyone. Was this somebody’s idea of a horrific prank? The Gifted Genius had murdered six women in the past six months. Nobody in December yet. Each woman had been stabbed to death, always in the garden of a beautiful, well-known location with top security as if to showcase the killer’s prowess and brilliance.
In each case, the murderer had left a note on the victims’ chest. A note exactly like the one in her hands.
The server who’d handed her the note, creepily kissed her hand, and said he’d see her soon? No!
Something between a gurgle and a scream ripped from Arianna’s lips. She dropped the note, pivoted, and sprinted away from the bench. Her heels slid out from under her, and she flew forward with a shriek. She hit the icy path on her knees and hands, the fabric of her dress ripping.
Crying out in pain and horror, for the first time in her life she couldn’t care less about ruining an expensive gown. She had to get out of here before that evil man came.
Even as she thought it, she heard quick pants of air that were not her own.
“No!” She flipped onto her rear and scrabbled backward, smacking into the bench with her back. Why had she left her clutch under a chair in the ballroom? Her phone would be a lifesaver right now. Literally.
“Good evening.” A man stepped into the path in front of her—the path she needed to get back to the castle and safety.
The server.
“Help!” Arianna screamed, staring up into the man’s cold, dark eyes.
He was breathing fast as if excited. He switched a long knife from his right hand to his left and back to his right. Back and forth. Back and forth.
Arianna’s eyes were riveted to that horrific-looking blade.
He advanced slowly toward her, his lips curving into a smile.
“Help!” she screamed. There were cameras in the garden. Even in the wintertime, the guards would monitor them. “Please help!”
“Cameras are rerouted,” he said. A step closer. “The guards finished their rotations through the gardens and won’t be back until the top of the hour. The clamor from your successful party fills the halls of the castle and the entrances and exits. Thank you for coming so promptly.”
Another step closer.
Arianna catalogued every horrible detail—the knife moving from hand to hand quicker and quicker. His chest rising and falling rapidly. His revolting smile.
The castle walls and windows were designed to keep noise out. And the cameras were rerouted? The massive castle would block her cries for help from making it around to the courtyard in the front, and the guards stationed below the castle in Greenville were too far away to hear her.
She didn’t even know how someone would accomplish rerouting cameras, but she imagined a man didn’t murder six women in the gardens of museums, famous cathedrals, and a castle, and escape without a trace—not without some planning and wickedly smart brainpower.
Please help me, she begged heaven above.
She was going to die. She hadn’t even had a premonition. No warning. No prep. Her poor dad. They’d lost Mum eight years ago, when Arianna had only been seventeen.
And her murderer was only a few feet away.
“Any last requests?” He lifted an eyebrow and looked her over. “No? Don’t you want to beg for your life? Tell me why I should spare you? A precious baby at home? A mum who will never stop crying? A boyfriend who will never find love again?”
Arianna knew he was only baiting her. This man would never spare her.
Things had been going so well.
She closed her eyes.Please send someone, if possible. If not … I’ll see you soon, I guess.
Her stomach heaved and her body chilled with cold sweat.
A weapon.
