The Assignment
The newsroom at The London Chronicle was already buzzing when Adeline stepped through the revolving doors the following morning.
Several colleagues looked up from their desks.
"The newlywed finally returns!"
Emma rushed over and embraced her.
"It's about time."
Adeline laughed.
"I was gone for one week, not one year.
"My honeymoon phase isn't even over yet I'm too surprised I got called yesterday"
"Tell that to Richard."
"He has been asking when you'd be back."
Almost on cue, the editor's office door opened.
Richard Sinclair adjusted his glasses and looked across the newsroom.
"Mrs. Davies."
His tone was calm.
"My office, please."
The chatter immediately resumed as Adeline followed him inside.
Richard closed the door before walking to the large noticeboard covered with newspaper clippings and crime-scene photographs.
Pinned in the centre were two headlines.
FIRST BODY FOUND IN NORTH YORKSHIRE
SECOND VICTIM DISCOVERED DAYS LATER
Richard folded his arms.
"You've been following the story?"
"A little."
"I watched the press conference yesterday."
"The one led by Detective Inspector Blackwood Hawthorne?"
Richard nodded.
"Exactly."
He handed her a slim case file.
"I want you to join our investigative team."
Adeline looked up.
"You mean... cover the Yorkshire murders?"
"I do."
"We're sending two reporters."
"I want you to be one of them."
Her heart quickened.
This was the kind of assignment every investigative journalist hoped for.
"When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"I'll brief you this afternoon."
Adeline smiled.
"I won't let you down."
"I know you won't."
By the time Adeline arrived home that evening, excitement had replaced the exhaustion of the day.
She found Dwayne in the library reading through several business reports.
"I've got news."
He looked up and smiled.
"You sound happy."
"I am."
She crossed the room and handed him the assignment letter.
"They're sending me to North Yorkshire."
His smile disappeared.
"What?"
"My editor wants me on the Yorkshire investigation."
"No."
The response came so quickly that even Dwayne seemed startled by it.
Adeline blinked.
"What do you mean, no?"
"You can't go."
"Why not?"
"It's dangerous."
She gave a small laugh.
"Dwayne, every major investigation carries some risk."
"This is different."
"How?"
He searched desperately for an answer.
Because the killer knows me.
Because the dead knew me.
Because your uncle died because I stayed silent.
None of those words could leave his mouth.
"I just..."
"I don't have a good feeling about it."
Adeline stepped closer.
"You've never tried to stop me from doing my job."
"I know."
"So why now?"
Dwayne lowered his eyes.
"I can't explain it."
She studied him for several moments before placing a gentle hand against his cheek.
"I'll be careful."
"I promise."
She kissed him softly.
"I'll only be gone a few days."
Instead of reassuring him...
Her promise only deepened his fear.
Jarvis had witnessed the entire exchange from the hallway.
He waited until Adeline had gone upstairs before entering the library.
The room was silent.
Dwayne remained standing beside the fireplace, his assignment letter still clutched tightly in one hand.
Jarvis closed the door.
"You scared her."
"I know."
"That's not like you."
Dwayne didn't answer.
Jarvis sighed.
"I've respected your silence for years."
Still no reply.
"I've never asked what happened at Blackthorn."
Dwayne slowly lifted his head.
"Because you asked me not to."
The brothers stared at one another.
"But whatever happened back then..."
Jarvis continued quietly,
"...it's happening again, isn't it?"
The words hung heavily between them.
For a long moment, Dwayne said nothing.
Then he walked to the window overlooking the gardens.
"When we were children..."
"You always believed I could fix everything."
Jarvis smiled faintly.
"I still do."
Dwayne shook his head.
"No."
"You believed in someone who doesn't exist anymore."
Jarvis frowned.
"What happened to you at Blackthorn?"
Dwayne closed his eyes.
"I made the biggest mistake of my life."
Jarvis waited.
"But I wasn't the only one."
Silence filled the room once more.
"You don't have to tell me everything," Jarvis said gently.
"But if Adeline is walking into danger..."
"...I deserve to know enough to help protect her."
Dwayne turned slowly.
For the first time in ten years...
He looked like a man ready to confess.
Then his phone vibrated.
Unknown Number.
His face immediately lost all colour.
He opened the message.
Only four words appeared on the screen.
"You're too late again."
Attached beneath the message was a photograph.
Someone had taken it only moments earlier.
It showed the entrance of The London Chronicle.
Employees were leaving for the evening.
Standing among them...
Completely unaware...
Was Adeline.
Dwayne's heart stopped.
The killer wasn't waiting for the past anymore.
He was watching the present.
And now...
He was watching Adeline.