Page 22 of When You're Lost

Finn ground his teeth, forcing himself to be calm.“Eleanor,” he said, trying not to shout, “I appreciate the concern, but you’re not trained for this.We have no idea if the killer was still here.Next time, do what I ask.You almost got yourself hurt, or me knocking you out in the dark.Understood?”

She nodded reluctantly, eyes lingering on Townsend’s face.“Yes, understood.”Then she looked away, hiding the flash of upset at his admonishment.

He softened, putting a hand gently on her arm.“Thank you for worrying.But please, let me handle the risk.Let’s call this in.”

She gave a short nod.“Right.”Pulling her phone out, she dialed the emergency line.Within seconds, she was speaking in a low tone, giving the address, informing them of a discovered homicide.

While she did that, Finn surveyed the body more thoroughly.Townsend's shirt had a gaping tear on the left side, sticky with blood.Possibly a single deep stab wound.The braided grass in his hair reeked of something musty like it had been pulled from the yard."All these details," he said to himself.“The killer invests time in these weird little touches.”

Eleanor finished the call, stepping back to join him.“Police will be here in minutes.But look at that grass.”She crouched carefully, avoiding the blood pool.“Dead grass, braided like… well, it reminds me of snakes writhing from his head.Like some sort of Medusa imagery.Possibly referencing an old painting or sculpture.”

Finn stood straighter, pondering.“Medusa… Any idea of which painting it could be referencing?”

“I do,” Eleanor said, frowning thoughtfully.“Caravaggio did a Medusa, but this is more in line with Rubens’s interpretation from the 1600s—he depicted Medusa’s hair as serpents, but look here, some of the grass has been coiled around on the floor next to the body.Rubens's Medusa has snakes coiled on the floor exactly like that.”

Finn stared at her, impressed despite the grim context.“So it’s another painting reference.That’s three now:The Cornfield,The Blue Boy, and now a Medusa-inspired piece.Any more, and he'll be able to start his own gallery..."

“Finn, please...”

“Apologies.But remember what I said, sometimes levity in the worst places is the only way through.”

She rose to her feet, her expression tightening.“We do have a strong lead: all three victims had connections to or run-ins with Harrison Blackthorn.Victoria worked with him, Edmund had an argument, and now Townsend apparently argued with him, too.I'm no police officer, but I’d say that’s enough reason to bring him in for questioning.Are you allowed to arrest people?”

Finn ran a hand over his face, a weary sigh escaping him."Yes, but I have to be careful with it.I'm technically a consultant detective, and usually, I have Amelia with me, who is an Inspector.But...We can't wait for more bodies to surface.If Harrison's behind this, or if he knows who is, we need to corner him.And if he isn't… well, we at least need to see what the link is."

Eleanor folded her arms, gaze flicking again at the motionless body.Finn took out his phone and dialed.It was quickly answered.

“Rob...I've found another victim,” Finn said.

There was silence for a moment.“Christ,” Rob answered.“Are you safe?”

“I think so,” Finn replied.“We'll need some units here and a forensics team.I wouldn't mind Wednesday on this, if you can get her.”

“Agreed,” Rob answered.“Send me the address.”

The call ended and Finn took one last glance at the poor man on the floor, before walking towards the exit to Eleanor.Finn knew they had to wait for the police, but as soon as they arrived, he'd be gunning for Harrison Blackthorn.

CHAPTER TEN

Finn parked on the dimly lit side street adjacent to Blackthorn Gallery, cutting the Corvette's engine as he scanned the line of cars stretching along the curb.Soft music and hushed chatter drifted from the building's main entrance, where a discreet red carpet and a small gathering of well-dressed guests signaled a private opening event.Evening sky stretched overhead, starless with a low haze of cloud, and the old storefront glowed beneath brass lanterns.Clearly, the gallery was in the midst of its exhibition launch—a perfect time, Finn thought, for them to show up uninvited.

Next to him, Eleanor checked her phone, her expression tense.“Looks like Harrison went ahead with the exhibition tonight,” she confirmed.“From the looks of it, he’s put a lot of money into this event.”

"That's precisely why we're here," Finn replied, taking a measured breath."We can't let him slip away.If Harrison's hands are clean, we'll find out soon enough.But if he's behind these murders or connected to the real killer, then tonight's the best time to confront him."

Eleanor nodded, her blonde hair catching the glow from a nearby streetlight.“We should be ready for anything.He might try to bluff his way out, or worse.Take my lead, and if anything gets rough, take a step back and call for backup.Okay?”

“As you wish.”

They stepped out of the car and followed the short walkway to the gallery’s double doors.A uniformed attendant gave them a polite but questioning look.Finn flashed his Home Office ID.The attendant’s eyes widened briefly, then he stepped aside, letting them in without a fuss.

Inside, the gallery foyer radiated a warm, inviting glow.Polished floors and neutral-toned walls set off clusters of tasteful artwork.Well-dressed patrons milled about, sipping champagne.Music from a small quartet in the corner drifted softly across the space.Yet beneath the refined sheen, Finn detected an underlying tension—whether from their own sense of urgency or the knowledge that three grisly murders loomed in the background.

Harrison Blackthorn was easy to spot, standing near a large painting of a pastoral scene, deep in conversation with two elegantly dressed guests.He wore a tailored navy suit, hair perfectly styled.A forced smile graced his features, though his eyes flicked nervously around, as if anticipating trouble.

“There he is,” Finn murmured to Eleanor, nodding toward Harrison.“Let’s see if he tries running.”

Eleanor offered a tight smile.“If he’s not guilty, he’ll have nothing to hide.Right?”

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