It strikes me as an unanswerable question, but Simon responds without hesitation. “Rage, mostly. Perrete angered him, but she’s not the true target. He can’t get to the woman he needs revenge on—either because he’s afraid of her or she’s unreachable.”
I want to know how Simon understands all this, but a more important question pushes its way to my lips. “If murdering Perrete won’t satisfy his need for revenge, what does that mean?”
Simon shakes his head. “It means this is only the beginning.”
We return to the architect’s home, this time in silence. Every step of the way, Simon’s words jar my bones to the marrow.
This is only the beginning.
Weaving into my thoughts is the connection I made between what I heard and saw and moonlight. The farther we get from the alley, the more outlandish it seems.
When we arrive at the magister’s house, Simon bows his head. “Thank you for your help today, Miss—Cat. Again, I’m sorry for causing your distress.”
“Wait.” I grab his arm before he can leave. “Did you really mean that about the killer? Will there be more of this?”
Simon nods, and there’s something old and weary beyond a mere nineteen years in his eyes. “Yes. And it will be worse.”
That’s difficult for me to imagine, but somehow not, I’m sure, for him. “When?”
“Tonight, next week, next month.” Simon shrugs tiredly. “Maybe next year. Maybe in another town. Maybe”—he bites his lower lip—“maybe this wasn’t even the first time he’s done this.”
“How do you find someone like that? Catch him in the act?”
Simon exhales heavily. “Only if we’re lucky or if I can predict his next move. Unfortunately, that’s difficult to do with only one victim.” He rubs his forehead. “And I hardly know where anything is in this city.”
“The architect has maps of Collis,” I offer. “I could bring them to you tomorrow. And I’d be more than willing to continue helping your investigation.”
He smiles ruefully. “Are you sure you have the stomach for this?”
It’s not just a desire to protect Magister Thomas that drives me. I struggle to put it into words. “I feel like… like I was the one meant to find Perrete. Because I was the only one whocouldhear her.”
Simon sighs. “Very well. I’d appreciate the maps you offered. You can bring them the morning after tomorrow.”
I look up. There’s a spark of the earlier amiableness in the curve of his mouth. Does the prospect of my company account for it? “Why not tomorrow?”
His expression immediately darkens. “Juliane will be too tired. She isn’t feeling well.”
Of course he doesn’t want to do too much work without her. She’s written almost all his notes. Plus tomorrow is Sun Day. “I hope she recovers swiftly.”
Simon opens his mouth to respond, then seems to think better of it. His head dips in a polite bow. “I look forward to seeing you again.”
I watch him walk away. Despite the horror of the whole situation, I’m looking forward to it as well.
“You’re going to cause trouble with your meddling.” Mistress la Fontaine slams my supper plate in front of me.
“I’m not meddling,” I say. “The venatre asked for my help today.”
“And then you offered to continue.” The housekeeper ladles gravy over the slices of meat on our dishes, starting with Remi, who’s been glowering at me since he came home.
Magister Thomas is silent, but he hasn’t immediately taken a side, so I direct my appeal at him—he’s the real authority in this house anyway. “I just showed him where I was and what I saw that night.”
“You took him to Pleasure Road,” Remi grumbles. “What did you offer the venatre there?”
I glare at him. He must have seen us walking around the square, but I can’t imagine he truly thinks I was taking Simon there for other reasons. “That’s where the murder was.”
“Which means that’s whereyouwere that night.”
“I was at the Sanctum,” I grind out. “I had to inspect in the middle of the night because I was doingyourwork all day while you were taking your sweet time returning from Lutecia.”