The Portraits of Pemberley (Austen University Mysteries Book 2) by Elizabeth Gilliland

Author:Elizabeth Gilliland [Gilliland, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bayou Wolf Press
Published: 2023-07-04T16:00:00+00:00

chapter four

It was the bra that gave it away.

Lizzy had one ‘good’ bra–a clearance item from an upscale boutique that made her boobs look amazing. The other bras she owned were more everyday, get-the-job-done kind of support-wear, but the good bra only got trotted out on special occasions, when she needed an extra boost of confidence. Nonetheless, she’d had it for so long that one of the straps had begun to fray a little, so she’d reinforced it with some slightly off-color fabric in a small but distinct patch over the left shoulder.

Even if Lizzy hadn’t recognized her decapitated torso, or her boobs, or the top of her jeans just visible over what looked like the cut-off edge of a bathroom counter, she would have known that bra anywhere.

Because the bra was used so infrequently, it was easy enough to pinpoint when she might have worn it in her recent history. Once to Ladies’ Night at the Crown Inn at the beginning of the semester, once to her communications class where she’d done a mock television debate around the end of September.

And once to give her a confidence boost to talk to Sexy-Pants TA, nee George Wickham. She’d been wearing it the night they went out for drinks at the Merryton Bar, wearing it back to his place afterward, and wearing it still when he’d spilled wine all over her t-shirt and all but insisted she go to change in the bathroom. The background of the photo had been cropped and blurred out so any distinguishing features of the room would have been difficult to prove, but the very tip of the bathroom sink visible in the shot looked like the same one in Wickham’s place. The picture appeared to be taken of her reflection in the mirror, though that wouldn’t have been noticeable unless one looked closely; no camera was visible in the mirror, but then neither had there been one visible in the room. Lizzy thought back now on how Wickham had offered for her to take a shower, and shuddered, wondering how many girls that had worked on before her.

Tea was procured for her, a blanket for her shoulders, then a chocolate-chip cookie, and finally a vice-like but oddly comforting hug from Marianne. Nora joined, less forcefully, on the other side, and Lucy seemed to realize that she shouldn’t be the only roommate not participating, so she gave Lizzy’s shoulder an awkward pat from behind.

Once all this had settled, Tilney gave Lizzy a sympathetic smile, as Brandon paced the room just behind him, one hand covering his mouth. “Do you want to talk about it, or should we give you some space?”

“I’m okay. More angry than anything. I’ll be listening to Alanis Morissette after this, if anyone wants to join me.” Lizzy tried for a laugh, but it didn’t sound natural. “I want to see some hell and justice paid, for sure.”

Caty leaned forward now, visibly switching into detective mode. “Do you have any idea where this could have been taken?”

“Actually, yes, I do.

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