“What is this?” Juliette demanded. “What the hell is this?”
The messenger blinked at her, stunned. “Miss Kathleen just said to give it to you—”
Juliette shoved the note back at him. The messenger did not react fast enough to take it before the slip of paper fluttered to the ground, dropping onto the gravel like a softly landed butterfly. It was crushed underfoot at once as Juliette took a step forward, as she wheezed an inhale into her throat and searched her surroundings desperately, trying to think, think, think.…
“No,” she whispered hoarsely. “No, he couldn’t have.”
The bells along the streets began to ring, seven times for the hour.
And in the distance, a chorus of screaming tore through the city.