Psycho Thrill--Girl in the Well by Vincent Voss Read Free Book Online Page A

to meet with me,” Johanna greets him.
    Volker is sitting under an umbrella in the shadows. A hot September day, though autumn is announcing its presence with the first few cold nights. “Gladly. But tell me, why couldn’t you have just sent the questions by email?”
    She laughs. “I think you would’ve thought I was crazy. It’s better this way.”
    Volker nods. Glances at the menu and looks at her. “And? More Ancient Hebrew curses?”
    “Yes, that sort of thing, but I’m not so well versed in the Bible, so … I’d like to ask you a few questions.” She sips her coffee and takes a deep breath.
    “So, first question: In Christian mythology, is there something or someone who is associated with flies? Second question: Can this someone be connected to the Christian holidays? If so, how? Third question: Can the room temperature noticeably and measurably drop if this someone shows up? And finally: Can you keep quiet about all of this?” Johanna exhales, relieved to have gotten it all out. Volker leans back in his chair, and Johanna searches his face for a reaction.
    “First, to answer your last question. Yes, I can keep quiet about all of this. But under one condition, Johanna. If there’s danger, you get out of there.” She had been expecting that and nods accordingly. Volker orders a soda, she gets another coffee.
    “Regarding your first question. The only thing I can think of to do with flies is the Hebrew word zebub . Baal Zebub is the name of an idol that could drive away the plague. Later Beelzebub, that is, the devil himself, was derived from it. Of course I’m interested in the context, Johanna.”
    She shakes her head.
    “Not yet, Volker. I still have to meet with an informant, so that I can clarify the details.”
    He doesn’t like that answer. His gaze follows a few passersby hurrying to catch a tram.
    “Oh well. Second question. And this is only half-knowledge, Johanna. The devil himself and … well, his worshippers, mock the Christian holidays. Usually, they celebrate their holidays the day before. Holy Thursday before Good Friday is probably the most well known of these. It is also called Unholy Thursday, the day on which the followers of Satan hold all their services.” Johanna had suspected this and had even heard of it before, in a seminar on the occult.
    “Unfortunately,” he shrugs, “I can’t say anything about your third question.”
    “Well, thank you. You’ve been a big help already.” She takes out her notebook and scribbles something.
    “When will you know more?” Volker asks.
    “I’m meeting with someone on Monday.” She pauses. “Do you have time Monday evening? Then I can tell you more.”
    Sunday, September 6, evening, somewhere in Hamburg
    Her cell phone rings. Henning.
    “Henning?”
    “Jo, come to the institute. I have to show you something!” She has been walking aimlessly through the streets for the past hour. Paula is sleeping at her boyfriend’s place again. She doesn’t want to admit it, but she is afraid of the night.
    “All right. I’m on my way.”
    When she leaves the Hallerstrasse subway station, it’s already dark. She walks faster than usual; she is nearly running on the unlit path to the side entrance of the Museum of Ethnology.
    “Johanna?” she hears Henning calling down from the witch archive as she opens the door to the stairs.
    “Yes, it’s me.” It smells like coffee and reeks of cigarette smoke. Henning is sitting at his computer near an open window. He looks pale and she probably does too. She sits.
    “You’re working overtime?” she says, and smiles.
    “Hmpf,” he snorts.
    “Ready?”
    “I don’t know.”
    He points to the screen. With a mouse click, he opens a file that fills the entire screen. Black and white. At first, she can’t make out anything. It looks like a sonogram of a pregnant woman, only grainier. Then the puzzle pieces come together. The shaft of the well, bricks, and increasingly heavy darkness. And a