Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I widened my eyes. “Fuck. That’s her.”
“It is.”
I yawned again. “Do you think the cops or FBI know?”
“I have no idea. I called my little contact, Detective Armstrong. Remember last semester when he let me shadow him for a month?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m meeting him for lunch.”
“Good.” I took in her red eyes and exhausted face. “You should get some sleep before you go.”
“I can’t even close my eyes without thinking of Takisha and Renee.”
“Scarlett, you have to get some rest—”
“They didn’t get any rest—”
“How are you going to help find the murderer if all your energy is depleted?”
She let out an exasperated breath.
I pointed to her bedroom. “Go to sleep. Now, missy.”
“Alright. Alright.” She dragged herself up. “But, you have to admit, the church is a tenuous link, but it is something.”
Slowly nodding, I began gathering up my discarded carton of ice cream, candy wrappers, empty bag of chips, and other trash. “It’s a whole lot of something.”
“This might explain why these two women, so different in their lives and backgrounds, had met the same horrific fate.”
“It could.” I rushed the items into the kitchen to throw them away.
Instead of heading to bed, Scarlett followed me. “The killer targeted these women for a reason, and we are only just beginning to understand why. The pieces are starting to come together, but the picture is still dark and troubling. Somewhere this guy is watching and waiting for his next victim. Will he stick with the church? If yes, then that was the location of some trauma that he experienced—”
“Scarlett.” I dropped the stuff in the trash and scowled at her.
She blinked. “Yes?”
“Go to sleep.” I checked my watch. “Shit. I’m glad you woke me up. I have to get to Hartman’s lecture.”
“Oh.” Scarlett gave me a sad smile. “Are you going to tell her all about your adventures with Tristan?”
“No way.”
“She was the one that started the whole thing. She made you go to the art showing.”
“Still, the whole situation is embarrassing. If we even talk, I’ll just tell her that I went and that’s that.”
Scarlett frowned. “It still sucks that things didn’t work out between you and him.”
I shrugged. “I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will, but. . .just understand that it is cool to talk to me when you feel down.”
“Of course.”
“Yesterday, I got so obsessed with the murders I forgot to have a whole Fuck Tristan fest with you.”
“The murders are more important, but let’s schedule a Fuck Tristan fest for dinner.”
“I’m down. We can print out pictures of him and throw darts at them. Oh and by the way,” She gestured to the counter covered with brand new bottles of paper spray, four tasers, Swiss army knives, folded batons, and two GPS trackers. “Don’t forget your don’t-fuck-with-me kit.”
“I won’t.”
“There’s a murderer out there. If someone crazy comes up to you, spray first and then ask questions later, preferably with the police near.”
“Got it.”
“You better.” Scarlett headed away. “Also, tell, Dr. Hartman hi.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Notes and Numbers
An hour later, I settled into my seat in the massive lecture hall. The cold hardness of the chair seeped through my clothing.
Good. I’m not late. That was close.
The high-domed ceiling made the room feel like a giant cave.
Rows of wooden seats, filled with eager students, descended in neat lines toward the grand podium at the front.
The walls were adorned with plaques and portraits.
All around me, other students talked about the murders.
Leave it to Psych majors to get excited about death.
I grabbed my notebook and opened it, not feeling like pulling my laptop out.
However, my pen was poised to take tons of notes.
I knew that this was going to be a lecture unlike any other. My mentor, Dr. Hartman had a way of bringing her subjects to life and making them relevant and real. While this lecture wasn’t something I was enrolled in, she always recommended that I attend them with the hopes of sparking new pathways for research.
Okay. Wake up. Time to learn shit.
As I scribbled down the date and the title of the lecture, my eyes caught a glimpse of a cute guy hurrying in.
Hmmm.
He had tousled brown hair, full lips, and a casual, confident stride.
Nope. Look somewhere else.
To my shock, he entered my aisle, strode my way, and sat right next to me.
Fuck. Come on! All these other empty chairs available, and you put yourself right next to me?
Our eyes met for a brief second, and I felt a jolt of surprise.
His blue eyes were warm, curious.
My cheeks heated up.
Quickly, I turned away.
Part of me wanted to check him out further, but after Tristan. . .I needed a few weeks without the presence of another guy.
The pain and confusion were still too fresh, too raw.
Back to work, Nova.
I still had the issue of my mother cutting my funds. It was a looming problem that had been haunting me for days. Now it was time to figure out a proper solution and release myself from her puppet strings. I couldn’t allow her to control my life anymore.