“I need to speak with our main contact in the Blackthorne Harbor Police Department. It's regarding an open investigation.”
“One moment, please.”
There was a brief pause, some clicking sounds, and then another voice came on the line. Older and male, with the gruff tone of someone who'd spent decades in law enforcement. “What do you need, Mr. Valcourt?”
“Detective Morrison," Julian said. “I need information on a case from early October. Vandalism and threats at Blackthorne University, reported by Violet Calloway.”
“Calloway,” Morrison repeated. There was the sound of typing. “Ah, yeah, I remember that one now. Blood everywhere, threatening message on the wall.”
“What happened with the case?”
“Stalled out,” Morrison said. “There were no prints anywhere, apart from Miss Calloway’s own prints. We took samples of the blood, but unfortunately, they went missing.”
Julian's expression sharpened. “Why?”
There was an uncomfortable silence for a minute. “I assumed you already knew the answer to that question, Mr. Valcourt,” Morrison finally said, his voice carefully neutral.
“No, but I can make an educated guess,” Julian replied. “Dean Weiss assumed the Club was behind the incident, and she asked you to make the whole thing go away.”
“That’s correct. Was she wrong?”
“Yeah, she sure as fuck was. We didn’t do it.” Julian's jaw clenched. “Anyway, when you say the samples went missing…are they actually missing? Or can you still get hold of them for me?”
“They were incinerated.”
“Fuck.”
“Sorry I couldn’t be of more assistance, Mr. Valcourt. We were trying to protect the Club.”
“I know. Thanks anyway, Morrison,” Julian muttered.
“Anytime. Give the Council my regards.”
The line went dead.
I sat frozen, my mind racing. “So what now?”
Julian was quiet for a moment, his jaw working as he stared at his phone. Then he looked up at me, his expression determined. “I'm going to your dorm.”
“Why?”
“The cleanup crew might have missed something if it was small enough,” he said, already standing. “Like blood soaked into carpet fibers, or traces on the bed frame underneath the mattress. If I can get a sample, we can have it tested privately and find out what sort of animal it came from. That could possibly help us narrow it down to a specific butcher, andthatcould help us track down the killer.”
“I'm coming with you,” I said, rising from my chair.
“No.” His tone left no room for argument. “You're staying here.”
“Julian—”
“Violet.” He moved closer, his hands coming up to frame my face. “The safest place for you right now is here. At the estate. Behind locked doors with security everywhere.”
"But we think the killer could be a Club member," I said. “Which means they have access to this place.”
“Which is why I'm putting a guard on your door,” he said firmly. “No one comes in or out except me. And Roman, if I'm not back by dinnertime. I'll have him bring you food.”
“So what am I supposed to do in the meantime?” I asked, eyes narrowing.
“Just stay here and wait. I know it’s hard, because this is your investigation, but…” He trailed off, and his voice roughened. “I need to know you're safe.”
