A Master's in Murder by Katie Moon

Author:Katie Moon [Moon, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2019-07-09T22:00:00+00:00

21

A drumming sound echoed down the bright white hallway as Brielle bounced her toes back and forth on the shining tile. Fixing her eyes on her hands, she attempted to keep them still by clinging to each arm of her chair. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Jared pacing back and forth between her and Mr. Artimer. Randall had left only minutes ago to get some air, stating that he couldn’t take the stress of waiting and needed a break. Her impatience was just about to boil over as well. It had been a full hour since they had received the call from Kevin Trent. Theo Walters, she corrected mentally. It was hard to believe only days ago, she had stood face to face with such a depraved man hiding behind a mask.

Brielle’s eyes lingered on Mr. Artimer, who was seated a few seats down. Mr. Artimer sat leaning forward with his elbows resting on each knee with his hands folded in front of him, staring glassy-eyed at the floor. He had not said a single word since Brielle’s outburst at his wife hours before. His head hung on his lifeless neck like a dying fish being pulled from the water, the last hopes for life fading from his eyes. She had not observed any tears on his face, but he had taken two trips to the restroom, and upon return both times, his eyes were pink and slightly swollen. Now, he sat waiting, his thumb gently stroking the gold band on his ring finger.

Brielle felt a rush of pity. Theo Walters had not been the only one to wear a mask. Mrs. Artimer’s deceit with her husband’s own brother in the shadows of their marriage was a wound Brielle did not know if they could heal. To be betrayed by the one who knew your deepest vulnerabilities, your truest self… that is a calamity of the heart that no one should bear. In that moment, Brielle felt that her misfortune was less than that of Mr. Artimer’s. Her love had been stolen from her unwillingly. His had turned her back and walked away.

She closed her eyes, letting the image fill her mind that begged to claim her attention during every waking moment. Her heartbeat quickened as she pictured his chiseled jaw, the light scruff that sometimes dusted his chin, his deep, olive eyes. His handsome face smiled at her, and she felt a thrill shoot through her heart as he brushed a gentle curl off his forehead. Oh, Eric, she thought, besotted. What were you involved in? Why didn’t you tell me? Brielle bit her lip, fighting back her own tears. Was that the essence of humanity? Were all people walking around, masquerading as innocent bystanders, while their elaborate masks hid a soul of greed and conceit? She could not bear to believe that. But then why had Eric been killed?

Before she could consider the question any further, she heard a door scrape open, followed by the drum of multiple pairs of feet marching down the hallway.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.