11th of May
"Yeah," Karl answers his phone. "Sure. I'll send someone," he agrees and hangs up.
"News?" Lindsay asks.
"Sarah Winslow has something she wants to share."
"What did she say?" I reach for the Complete Works that is now showing signs of wear and tear.
"She told the guard to get the FBI after receiving a letter."
"And we are dropping everything to come at her beck and call?" John demands.
"She told the guard that if we didn't come today we would read about it in the paper tomorrow."
Read about it in the paper? "That threat wasn't from Winslow, was it?" I ask.
"No," he agrees. Shit. We both grab a jacket, and I attempt to prepare in the car on the way there. It isn't easy when you don't know what to expect. Letters concerning Hamlet, concerning Don John, messages from the French, summons from Olivia... I check as many references as I can find. As it turns out I needn't have bothered. When we get there Sarah hands John a letter and goes back to her cell without a word. He skims it over as we walk out, and once safely in the car, away from prying ears, he calls Karl.
"She's written a letter to the newspapers," he starts the conversation. He hands me the folded-up letter and puts the phone on speaker so he can drive. I fold it up. Lindsay is right, curiosity isn't worth the risk of a mistrial.
"What's she saying?" Karl demands.
"She gave us a name."
"And passed it on to the Times?"
"To every newspaper," John corrects. "She starts the letter 'To the people of the world'." There's silence on the other end for a few seconds.
"What name did she give?"
"Scott Forester."
"Do you think she knows?"
"We can't be sure, but it seems like it. Why else would she give us the one name we already have?"
"Anything else?"
"I think it might be better if you read that for yourself."
They are all waiting for us when we walk in. I hand Karl the letter. He reads through it like it was a pizza menu.
"I need to go talk to the director," he says and hands Lindsay the letter for analysis.
"John this..." Lindsay starts.
"Calls for our suspension. I know," he says. Catherine moves behind Lindsay to get a look.
"Us, personally," she says. "She named us."
"I know. But until Karl has sorted this out with the director we keep going as usual," John insists. "Nicaa, I think you might need to take a look at it as well."
"John," Lindsay warns.
"I don't think a linguistic analysis will be enough to explain that letter." Catherine backs him up. "There's something off about the phrasings." Lindsay looks at both of them before handing me the letter somewhat reluctantly. I read over it carefully.
To the people of the world
You're fearing me, 'cause you know I'm a beast. Your worst nightmare. But I'm tired of you telling the story your way. You write the words to destroy like it's a weapon. If you really think I'm such a beast, seems to me that insulting me would be wildly dangerous, or let's just say it, stupid in the extreme. I'm telling you just to watch your mouth. You just got blood lust for me. Let me tell you the truth. Let me tell you the truth about Scott Forrester. A murderer and a villain. Some may call him cruel but he got beat up in high school. I know his mother never taught him right anyway.
YOU ARE READING
Concerning Death
Mystery / ThrillerAt home we are safe. At home, nothing can hurt us. But home no longer exists; it belongs to a different world. Home is now a roof and four walls. Home is a trap where you sit waiting for the killer. Home has abandoned you, betrayed you. It is where...
