Page 54 of In Her Fears
Eric rose from his chair.“I’ve waited seven years to hear from you, Elias.I would have come running any time you called.”
They moved to the door, the walk through the dark house untroubled now by the tension that had marked Eric’s arrival.At the threshold, Eric turned back, his hand on the doorknob.
“Be careful,” he said simply.“And Elias?Thank you.For forgiving me.”
Then he was gone, the door closing behind him with a soft click.
Alone once more, Elias considered the time of day.Even though hours had long since lost their meaning for him, he knew that moonrise would happen very shortly.The September Harvest Moon, full and golden, would soon climb above the treeline.
The realization struck him as particularly fitting.Seven years ago, on that fateful night, the moon had also been full.Its light had silvered the clearing, even as their idyllic evening had shattered into recriminations and tears.
Ever since, he had been obsessed with the full moon.It appeared in every painting, every vision, watching over scenes of death like a cold, impartial witness.
Perhaps tonight, under its gaze, he could finally find some measure of peace.For himself.For Lina.For the nameless victims whose deaths were somehow connected to his tortured mind.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Jenna stared down at the burger Jake had insisted she order, her stomach churning at the thought of eating.Such a long time without proper sleep had left her in a strange twilight state—simultaneously hyperaware of every sensory input and dangerously disconnected from her own thoughts.
“You need to eat something,” Jake said, pushing the tray closer to her.“Your body needs fuel.”
Jenna picked up a limp French fry, examining it as if it were evidence from a crime scene.“What I need is to catch this killer before someone else dies.”
“And you won’t do that if you collapse from exhaustion,” Jake countered, taking a bite of his own burger.
His reasonable tone grated on Jenna’s frayed nerves.The caring felt like pressure, the concern like doubt in her capabilities.She forced herself to take a bite of the burger, the taste barely registering as she swallowed with effort.
“I still think we’re underestimating Jay Langham,” she said.“He was the one who picked up Elias’s paintings, so he knew what they looked like.He knew the locations.He deliberately stirred up that mob today.”
Jake sighed, setting down his food.“Jay’s a kid with a chip on his shoulder who made stupid mistakes.His alibi for last night checks out—the bartender at the Centaur’s Den confirmed he was there until closing.”
“He knew Alexis from the café,” Jenna countered, her voice sharper than she intended.“Maybe he was obsessed with her.”
“That’s a stretch,” Jake said calmly.“Ashworth is far more suspect.He provided all the location photos.He knows these remote places intimately.And that church ruin in Gildner—doesn’t it strike you as odd that he was photographing it today of all days?”
“Maybe,” Jenna conceded reluctantly.
“I just hope Spelling’s officers are keeping a close eye on him,” Jake said, reaching for his soda.“If he is planning something for tonight, they’ll catch him before he can act.”
Jenna’s phone vibrated against the table, the screen lighting up with Eric Edwards’ name.She answered immediately, putting it on speaker.
“Eric?What happened with Elias?”she asked without preamble.
Eric’s voice came through, sounding tired.“Not much, I’m afraid.We talked, but...he’s not well, Sheriff.Seven years without proper sleep has taken its toll on his mind.”
“Did he say anything about the paintings?About how he knew details of the murders before they happened?”Jake leaned closer to the phone.
“He rambled a lot,” Eric replied, hesitation evident in his voice.“Something about visions coming to him in the twilight between waking and sleep.But honestly, I don’t think even he understands what’s happening.He’s just too deranged to make sense, even to himself.”
Jenna pressed her fingers against her forehead, where a headache had been building steadily.“Nothing specific about the murders?Nothing that might point to who’s behind them?”
“No, I’m sorry,” Eric said.“I really thought I might be able to get through to him, but...”His voice trailed off.“I wish I could have been more help.”
“It’s alright,” Jenna said, in spite of her disappointment.“Thank you for trying.”
The call ended, and Jenna stared at the phone for a moment before sliding it back into her pocket.Another dead end.Another potential victim waiting somewhere under the full moon that was already rising.
“So that’s it?”she snapped, frustration finally boiling over.“Harrow’s crazy, Jay’s just a misguided kid, and we’re supposed to sit here eating burgers while some poor soul gets murdered tonight?”
