Page 46 of Dark Shadows
“Sorry to wake you.” His voice was morning-rough. “Thought you might need this.”
They hadn't talked about the treehouse kiss. Hadn't needed to. Something had shifted between them, comfortable and terrifying all at once.
“Thanks.” Heat crept up her cheeks as his eyes strayed downward again. The air between them felt charged, electric with possibilities.
“I should get dressed,” she said but didn't move.
“Right.” Mason's lips curved into a slow smile. “You should definitely get dressed.” The way he said it made it sound as though it was the last thing he wanted.
She took a sip of coffee to hide her own smile and slowly closed the door, letting the moment linger. Through the door, she heard his quiet laugh.
She showered quickly, hoping the hot water would wash away the memory of Pete's hostility. Twenty minutes later, she knocked on Mason's door, empty coffee cup in hand.
Jacob pulled the door open with a bright smile on his face. “Come on in.”
Mason's room had transformed into a makeshift investigation center. Files and newspapers covered every surface. Jacob dropped to the paper-littered floor and sat cross-legged. Mason leaned against the desk with a fresh coffee pot beside him.
“Refill?” Mason asked, already reaching for her cup. His fingers brushed against hers as he filled her cup, sending warmth through her that had nothing to do with caffeine.
“So,” Jacob said, thankfully focused on his papers rather than their interaction, “remember that symbol from Beverly's chair and the tattoo?”
Savanah nodded, settling into the room's only chair.
“I found this.” Jacob held up a yellowed newspaper clipping. “From 1843. About the first marked grave in town.”
“Emmaline Grey,” Savanah said.
“How did you... Never mind. Of course, Mason told you.” Jacob spread out more papers. “But here is what interests me. Emmaline was not just any founding family member. The town doctor married her, and everyone loved her. Until...”
“Until what?” Mason asked.
“Until someone accused her of having an affair. The whole town turned against her. A week later, she died, and threemonths later, the doctor remarried.” Jacob shuffled through papers.
“Sounds like the doctor might have gotten away with murder,” Savanah said.
“Official records list suicide as the cause, but rumors circulated,” Jacob said.
“What kind of rumors?” Savanah asked.
“That presents the problem. Most articles from that time are missing or damaged. But the symbol on her grave became a mark of shame. People used it throughout the centuries on the graves of others who sinned against the town.”
“Any idea where the symbol originated?”
“Nothing I could find. Just that the symbol carved into Beverly’s chair symbolizes shame.” Jacob held up another document. “According to cemetery records, these markings have increased recently. The caretaker has documented the vandalism.”
Savanah's coffee turned bitter in her mouth. “Great. Let’s divide and conquer. While you guys do your work, I’ll go find Emmaline’s grave. Maybe I’ll learn more.”
Mason's response came immediately. “No way am I letting you go there alone, not when we know the killer knows about those symbols and uses them. For all we know, he could be expecting you to figure it out. You’d be a sitting duck out in the open like that.”
“Then come with me.” She turned to face him. “Please. I need to see it.”
His expression softened. After a long moment, he nodded. “Fine. But we do this my way.”
He pulled a small canister of pepper spray from the desk drawer. “You’ll keep this on you and stay in my line of sight.”
“Of course, but what could really go wrong at the cemetery besides some familiar ghosts giving me the cold shoulder again?”
“I’d like to see the symbols too. Maybe the families are connected somehow,” Jacob said, shoving to stand.
