Page 59 of Blood and Moonlight

CHAPTER 24

Both Magister Thomas and Remi are glad the inquiry is over. Construction at the Sanctum progresses with the reinforcement of platforms inside to support lifting loads of stone for building the inner ceiling arches beneath the wooden roof. I explain there are a few matters the venatre wants to tie up, but I have no idea how I’ll make excuses after today.

I arrive to find Simon pulling the last of his drawings off the wall. “Are you concerned your uncle will discover you’re still working?” I ask.

Simon stacks the sketches together. “I’m leaving for Mesanus within the hour,” he says, pausing to study one. “I want to consult with one of the physicians there.”

“How long do you expect to be gone?”

“Ten days.”

Ten days?It’s been eight days since Ysabel, and there were only four between her and Perrete. “What if there’s a murder while you’re gone?” I ask.

He shakes his head and continues sorting the pages. “I don’t think there will be one for a while. I’m almost certain Ysabel was so soon after Perrete to correct mistakes he felt he’d made.”

I move to stand across the table from him. “You don’t think he’s eager to let everyone know how foolish they are to believe he’s been caught?”

Suddenly I have Simon’s full attention. He lowers the drawings. “I never said that.”

“But it’s logical,” I insist. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes.” Simon regards me carefully. “And I thought of it, though I said nothing. Interesting that you concluded the same.” He almost sounds pleased.

“I’ve just been paying attention to you, that’s all.” Heat spreads down my neck when I realize how forward that sounds.

“I know. You and Juliane were a great help with your observations about the grain merchant.” He smiles reassuringly. “I have complete confidence thatifthere’s trouble while I’m gone, the two of you are equal to it.”

I shake my head vigorously. “We never could’ve done it without you.”

“Only observations are necessary,” he says. “We can discuss and draw conclusions from them when I return.”

“And what makes you think the comte will let us anywhere near a body or crime scene?”

Simon arches the brow over his flawed eye. “Because Madame Emeline has promised to tell you and Juliane first if possible, and keep the body for you if not.”

I fold my arms over my chest. “I still think this is a mistake. If somethingdoeshappen, people will blame you for leaving when you were most needed.”

He chews on his lower lip for several seconds, like he’s debating inside his head. Finally, Simon gestures to the bench. “Sit, please. I want to explain how you’re right, but also wrong.”

I’m right but I’m wrong? I step over the bench and lower myself down as he does.

Simon folds his hands and takes a deep breath. “Iwasafraid the killer would strike last night, after the execution, but he didn’t. That tells me he can hold his impulses in check and is probably savoring the false sense of security that Collis now rests in.”

I purse my lips. “You’ll be gone over a week, though. What makes you believe he’ll be able to keep the monster caged for that long?”

Simon glances down at the table. “If I show you something, you must promise not to tell anyone, not even Juliane.”

My mouth goes completely dry. “I promise.”

He reaches under his tunic and pulls out a scrap of parchment. “I received this last night.”

I unfold the torn page as I take it. The handwriting is strikingly similar to the grain merchant’s note, but the parchment was smoothed after scraping, and the grammar is better.

You may knowwhatI am, but I knowwhoyou are.

“It’s from him,” Simon whispers. “The killer.”

I stare at it, disbelieving. “How do you know this is real?”