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Thrall by Avon Gale, Roan Parrish (41)

CHAPTER 48

Google Hangouts

3:56 PM

Mina Murray

We just got here

I know I’ve seen this place before, walking around near the cemetery, but…

It looks so menacing now. Gothic architecture throwing long shadows on the sunny pavement. It’s giving me the creeps.

Lucy Westenra

I know right.

Ugh sorry this traffic is a nightmare.

* * *

Shadowcast Twitter

Shadowcast @shadowcast

this countdown clock is x__x! we don’t know how long it’ll take to solve this clue. or how long for the next one. OR if the clock resets to a new time limit for the next one or it’s continuous *scream* this is not good for my blood pressure #allium

Shadowcast @shadowcast

At the Sacred Heart chapel in the Garden District, and my phone read our location as soon as we walked through the doors #allium #bigbrother

Shadowcast @shadowcast

The stakes have never been higher. Clue: WHO IS THE KILLER? Get it right = catch the killer. Get it wrong = GAME OVER :O #allium

* * *

Google Hangouts

4:15 PM

Mina Murray

Luce, how far out are you?

Wow this place is huge inside…

Lucy Westenra

5-10 mins maybe??

Mina Murray

Ok. A new clue popped up that just says WHO IS THE KILLER, and a box to answer that says if we get it wrong we’re DONE—no second chances!

And given the way the app has interacted with Arthur's phone, he thinks it'll just…like auto-delete if we get the wrong answer. Self-destruct city.

Lucy Westenra

Fuck, if it self-destructs we’re back to square one in finding Harker!

Mina Murray

I know.

Lucy Westenra

But we think it’s either Webster the surgeon who Jay protested against or Jay’s stepfather, right?

Mina Murray

Well I kind of want it to be Jay’s ex, Amanda, because if the victim was a woman they’d think it was her lover.

Lucy Westenra

Ohhh true—it’s always the spouse.

Mina Murray

Arthur's like "we have a 1 in 4 chance" and is too mad at the app creator to use critical reasoning. VH is like patting his shoulder very gently.

Lucy Westenra

Hmmmmm

Mina Murray

But there has to be something that tips the scales. Like, I want it to be Amanda but we haven’t seen any motive for it being her really, unless they broke up?

Lucy Westenra

Wellll the uber driver was a woman? Hmmm if you’re going motive alone then it’s gotta be the stepfather right? not to be a dick, but who takes out a life insurance policy on a bartender unless you’re gonna bump them off???

Mina Murray

Yeah that seems true…

WHOA

WAIT

Lucy Westenra

WHAT

God you're giving me a heart attack that is not nice

Mina Murray

Um, ok this might be nothing but

LOLOL

He's a HEART SURGEON

Lucy Westenra

AH

Mina Murray

SACRED HEART

Lucy Westenra

HE IS

Mina Murray

I mean, it's one thing that makes him more…connected than the other suspects? Maybe?

Or is that ridiculous?

Lucy Westenra

No, no, also didn’t he do that blood drive??!! I think it was on that hospital website?

Mina Murray

Oh shit, I don’t remember?

And if we’re going the motive route, maybe he was a snob who thought that his daughter should be dating someone fancier than a bartender.

Lucy Westenra

Well also she WAS married.

Mina Murray

Oh right, even *better* motive!

Arthur says we're ridiculous.

VH says it makes sense to him.

Lucy Westenra

Arthur can suck my dick because we're right and I know it.

Mina Murray

I will pass that along.

Lucy Westenra

VH says we're right that's three out of four.

Mina Murray

Oh, VH ftw!

VH says that since we got sent to this clue with a "language-related prompt" then it makes sense that the prompt here would also be "langauge-related" (tl;dr: "heart")

Lucy Westenra

OMG that man is smart I would kiss him but maybe instead let you kiss him since you have a crush and he's not my type ;)

Mina Murray

NOT THE TIME LUCY

Ahem

Ok

Arthur is like a tiny baby.

"WHATEVER I DON'T CARE ANYMORE, THEY'RE ALREADY TRACKING US JUST ENTER IT"

Lucy Westenra

Enter it, i can't wait!

Mina Murray

Are you almost here?

Lucy Westenra

Like don't wait for me, just enter it i have to know!

Mina Murray

Okokokok i am FREAKING OUT

Arthur refuses to do it.

Lucy Westenra

Do it Mina.

Help me find Harker!

I trust you <3

Mina Murray

Gaaaaaah

Ok.

Ok thank you.

Ok I love you.

Lucy Westenra

I love you too!

NOW DO THE THING

Mina Murray

Oh. My. God.

[sends photo of Arthur’s phone]

ALLIUM

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED THE THREAT…

WEBSTER YATES KILLED JAY INGRAM

TO END HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS DAUGHTER AMANDA … FOREVER.

Lucy Westenra

adkaf id nweiaqewekda sndand een

Mina Murray

<3s forever!

Arthur is sweating like NOTHING i have ever seen.

Lucy Westenra

ammy finfgewtrsa shakign

Mina Murray

DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE

Lucy Westenra

I’m in traffic.

Mina Murray

Ok ok ok you HAVE to get here because

It's the LAST clue

Not even a clue, look:

[sends photo of Arthur’s phone]

ALLIUM

YOU FOUND THE KILLER.

NOW COME CATCH HIM TO WIN THE GAME…

Lucy Westenra

HOW

Mina Murray

And a pin dropped on a map

Lucy Westenra

I'll be there in two minutes and we can take my car

Mina Murray

Ok we'll wait for you outside!