“I didn’t know how. We were not exactly on talking terms.” She sounded like a child even to her own ears who was complaining about not getting attention.
Ken smiled for the first time that evening.
“Harry asked you to take fingerprints?”
“Yes.”
“You two are friends, I guess?” He asked casually.
“Ex-boyfriend.” She said looking at the glass door. Ken rubbed his forehead with his index finger, with closed eyes, keeping his elbows closed to his limbs. When he finally looked at her, she just hoped that he was not thinking bad about her.
“You need to understand.” He spoke in his normal gentle way this time. “Just because they are police, it doesn’t mean they are on the right track. Even worse, sometimes, they intentionally frame the wrong guy to close the case in a short time to get promotion. If they could ask for my fingerprints in professional capacity, they would have asked me straight, but they didn’t have any proof so they used you.” He leaned forward. “I am telling you because they will do it again. The case is busted. They have nothing against me now so they will try again.”
“That shopping bag…” She injected.
“You are in the middle of a dangerous situation. There are people involved in this for whom law is not exactly sine qua non. Stop traveling alone. Come with your aunt in the morning, and I will ask Sam to drop you at night, or perhaps I would drop you.” He looked at her questioningly.
“Sam would be fine.” She said abruptly without thinking.
An hour later, walking back to Stone Manor with Sam chattering by her side, Alicia cursed herself for missing the opportunity, again. On one hand, she complained about not being on talking terms; on other hand, when he asked to drop her, she backed out. She wanted to spend time with him, but something always stopped her from doing so. Sam was quite happy for not getting questioned by Ken, but he refuted the allegation.
“I am happy because Ken came out and I got my job back. Can you imagine him as a killer? He is the nicest guy I know.” Alicia agreed with him.
“Those Policemen must be tripping balls.” He hooted.
She knew Harry had always been super-ambitious. He could do anything to be successful, but framing an innocent guy, he was not that evil in her opinion, or perhaps he had become. Four years was a long period of time anyways.
After reaching the Stone Manor, she introduced Sam to her family. Steve and Lucy looked at him with raised eyebrows while Flora instantly hooked up with him and started to stuff him with her evening scones. Sam’s cute face was difficult for any normal person to resist. He ate happily in their small kitchen answering to Flora’s question.
It was the first time, a friend of her had paid a house visit and it felt nice. Cady had never had a reason to visit her house because they met in college regularly. Rebecca had come once, but the expression of Steve was enough to tell her that she was not welcome. She felt bad for not replying to her message. She opened her mobile phone and quickly typed a message.
“Sorry for replying late. I was hoping to meet you at Harry’s. How about a lunch together?”
CHAPTER TEN
Double Date
Alicia never heard back from Rebecca.
She attributed it to her being angry because Alicia had not replied earlier. The rest of the week was quite boring. The only thing different was Ken coming up early at the store. Almost every day, she found him in the bookstore before her, but he never started a conversation except about the work.
On Sunday evening, she was laying lazily on her bed looking out of the big windows. The sun was going down throwing his last shine onto the residents of Georgestown. Whether she liked it or not, she was spending most of her time thinking about her boss. Since the day, she worked with police, no one ever talked about her safety. All of them were fine with her working for a killer, but that supposed-killer turned out to be more caring and considerate. He thought about her safety; he cared.
Alicia knew that it was his common human decency. It was not like he was getting interested in her. But then why did he give me the key? She was thinking about the key since the day of his arrest and he didn’t ask for it after coming back. They key was still safe in her handbag.
She was thinking about calling Sam about his lunch plan the next day, there was a new Italian restaurant opened near their bookstore which she was dying to try, when Flora climbed in.
“You are going somewhere?” Alicia looked at her dress.
“We are going on a dinner.”
“Oh no. I am not in the mood.” She pulled bed cover on her head.
“I will not take a no.” Flora checked her image in the mirror.
“But you should have told me yesterday.”
“Kripke has just given the green light.”
“You are going on dinner with Kripke.” Alicia was excited. “Is it a date?”
“Only if you come with me.” Flora sighed. “It’s not safe going alone on dates. Kripke has booked table for four.”
Alicia laughed looking at her aunt without understanding at first but then, realization dawned upon her. “So it is a double date and without even asking me. Awesome.” She said sarcastically.
“For your information, double date was Kripke’s idea, not mine.” Flora said curtly and stepped down.
Kripke’s idea? Perhaps he wants to talk to me. But then another voice echoed in her head. They used you … and they will do it again.
She changed her dress despite of the growing uneasiness in her heart about this whole arrangement. If Kripke was using her, then at least she could get more information about the case, and if Ken was using her … She could only wonder how could Ken use her. He barely talked to her in spite of working under the same roof eight hours a day.
She stuck her feet in high heels and came out of the attic to find Flora impatiently looking at her door wearing an expression of an election candidate. Alicia giggled looking at her face.
“Let me set your hair.” Flora looked at her in disapproval.
“No.” She stopped her. “I am doing what you want, now let me do it the way I want it.” She was sensitive about her hair.
“Then put some hair gel on it.” Flora always disliked the texture of her hair.
Flora bought her a hair straightener for the first time which she generously used in college. She didn’t remember a single day when she went to college without straightening her hair, even on exam days, but now … it simply didn’t matter. The whole notion that you need to have good looks to get love was hogwash. Her one experience was enough to teach her the lesson that respect and care were more important than straight hair and curled eye lashes.
She ran her fingers in through her hair and smiled walking out of the door. It was her private little rebellion.
Flora’s fiat was racing towards Le Forno, one of the three big restaurants in Georgestown, and her mind was racing with the overflow of thoughts. She wondered what Kripke had up to his sleeves. It was one thing to call her to the police station, it was another to arrange a double date, and worse, with a guy who was dating his own daughter. Perhaps he didn’t find Harry suitable for his daughter and wanted to get rid of him, she found her explanation satisfying. Harry was also from a resourceful family, but not as rich as Kripke. He had to have better suitors in his old and experienced eyes for his daughter. Amazing, first there was one person pushing Harry on me, now there are two. No wonder, they like each other.
Entering the restaurant, she cursed herself for not thinking about it previously. Kipling was talking to few men of his age near the reception. His grey hairs were unique and easily identifiable from distance. Harry was standing behind him like an efficient secretary, happy to provide company, but also careful to not cross the line. Kripke spotted them immediately and came to receive them.
“What a lovely pair of ladies.” He said brushing Alicia on cheek after greeting Flora.
“Harry! My darling.” Flora’s fixation was becoming repulsive
for her day by day. She immediately distanced herself from the two of them perceptibly.
“Where is our table?” Alicia asked.
“It is on the first floor.” Kripke took her hand and walked her to the stairs. Flora and Harry were behind them chatting about latest social events.
“Why so angry with Harry?” Kripke whispered her climbing the stairs.
“Do you have any ex?” She whispered back.
“No, not since many years.” He sighed.
“Then you won’t understand.”
Kripke chuckled.
Le Forno had a loft style interiors mixed with jazz playing in the background. She wondered how would it feel to be here in daytime with sunlight passing in from the large windows. Their table was in the corner surrounded with green plants in sizable pots. She carefully waited for Flora to take a seat and then immediately set beside her, not giving anyone a chance for couple sittings together. She caught Kripke smiling at her swiftness. The men took their seats in front of them.
“I am terribly thirsty.” She asked for water to avoid the nasty look Flora was giving her. She spotted a woman in the opposite corner who looked like Melanie from the side view. She wondered why she was still in town.
“How is work?” She heard Flora asking.
“It was great until last week, but now we have no suspect.” She could hear disappointment in Harry’s voice.
“We had all the evidences, but the killer is one step ahead of us all the time.” Kripke said. “He already knew that we were coming for him so he had arranged the lawyer in advance.”
“She was right on time.” Alicia smiled adoringly looking at her, but didn’t get a reply from anyone. She looked at Harry and Kripke and realized that something was wrong.
“What?” She asked in oblivion.
“Look, we are not accusing you, but if you told Ken that we had asked for his fingerprints then it is fine. You can tell us.” Kripke was smiling as usual, but Harry was looking at her critically.
“I didn’t tell him anything.” She said in anger. “In fact he told me that he knew it was me who provide his fingerprints to the police. Now tell me how did he know that? He could have fired me. I would have lost my job for helping you.”
None of them said anything as the waiter brought their order and they all got busy in eating. Kripke had ordered salmon and prawn lasagne for Alicia.
“Your aunt said you like sea food.” He said adoringly signaling waiter to put it in front of her.
They didn’t talk about the case for the next few minutes, but Alicia kept thinking about what Kripke said. He already knew we were coming. She ate absentmindedly without paying much attention to the small talk of her group. She was finishing her last serving when she choked over a piece of salmon.
The man who just entered the dining area was slightly familiar yet surprisingly stranger. He was in a dinner jacket with his long black hair pulled back on his scalp. She blinked several times thinking that he would vanish, but he didn’t. He joined Melanie on her table. Alicia became so absorbed in looking at them that she didn’t hear Kripke asking about desserts.
They looked perfect together; the elegant and independent woman with a kind and well-mannered, a little somber, gentleman. Together they ate and talked without looking around. They didn’t even need to. For a moment, Alicia felt she was in an alternate world where Ken was a normal man who could go on a date with a woman and enjoy life like everyone else, but then she remembered the infinite maze of bookshelves, the books in the display case, the people searching his house, the fingerprints and the murders.
“How did he get away?” She asked slowly. Harry was pouring champagne in the glasses.
“We lost the evidence.” Unhappiness was written on Kripke’s face. “When his lawyers asked for proof, we were unable to find it. It was stolen from the police station.”
“If he has enough resources to take out a proof from police station then doesn’t it mean that there is someone in your department working for him who also leaked about fingerprints?” It was Alicia’s turn to accuse.
“No. I don’t think so.” Kripke said. “It is one thing to take out an object from police station. You can bribe someone.” He avoided using the word police officer. “You can hire a robber, that would be a simple and elegant solution, but taking out information is difficult. The person acting in your favor should know what information is relevant and you cannot just outsource it.”
“Robinson threatened to sue us for harassment if we look at her client again. Imagine!” Harry’s tone was bitter.
“Fine. Proof is one thing, but what about motive? Why exactly is he killing people?” Alicia still didn’t understand the reason why they were so sure about Ken being the killer.
Kripke cleared his throat.
“Ahem, ahem. Allow me to introduce you to the cult spreading its tentacles right under your nose.”
“Cult? There is a religious cult?” Flora asked. Her interest was aroused listening about a cult.
“Well, it is a cult, but not religious. I was in Poland when I first heard about it. They call themselves the Legacy. The full name is Legacy of Letters, but Legacy is mostly in use by these knuckleheads.”
Legacy of Letters. Legatum Literarum.
Words flashed in Alicia’s mind and she gasped at Kripke with open eyes.
“The word is that Jews had a magical scripture which they used to rise on the political map of the world. Nazis got the buzz of it and started their books burning campaign. Hitler had become fascinated with the idea that if he burnt all the books in Europe, it would have brought the down fall of Jews, but little did he know that the scripture was already smuggled out of Europe, as soon as the war broke out. Jews migrated across the world and the scripture made its way to England for safekeeping.” Kripke stopped to lit his pipe. Every person on the table was listening to him holding his breath. “They are still protecting that scripture from getting into wrong hands, because whoever possess it, holds an immense source of power.”
“Are you saying that … you believe in magic?” That was the only part of the tale which Alicia found hard to believe.
“Really? After living with me, you still don’t believe in magic.” Flora took it as an insult to her clairvoyance.
“Well, getting fat is not magic.” That was her revenge from Flora for talking to harry behind her back.
Kripke howled with laughter. Harry quickly took a sip from his champagne to hide his smile; while, Flora gave Alicia a murderous look.
“It is a metaphor.” Kripke quickly intervened. “The word magic can stand for many things. It can be a scientific discovery, it can be a set of rule to abide, or it can be just a declaration of unity. But, one thing is certain, if Jews were protecting it, it must hold some value.”
“But what it had to do with Ken, or with Legacy?”
“The Legacy is responsible to protect the scripture and there are people who know about its existence and they want it for their own benefit.” Kripke said.
“So the people he killed …” She left the sentence unfinished.
“Were after the scripture,” Kripke completed it, “and is there any other way to save yourself except killing them, especially in this case, where they cannot even contact police.”
Alicia looked over the tables. Looking at Ken, she still struggled to accept Ken’s theory, but she could not the existence of the Legacy. She had seen those words with her own eyes. If, somehow, she even admitted that Kripke was right, then how was it possible for Melanie to support Ken? Melanie was not a teenage girl; she was as sharp as a Samurai sword. She could smell crime across the equator, but here she was sitting happily with a killer protecting an ancient scripture. Her head hurt with his theory.
“What about dessert?” She really wanted to eat something sweet to think straight.
Kripke and Flora looked each other meaningfully.
“You order the dessert; we need to run an errand.” Flora said with a smile, and A
licia instantly felt alarmed.
“Wait a second.” Kripke searched the menu. “You like chocolate. Right?”
Alicia looked at Flora in confusion. Meanwhile, Kripke ordered two chocolate meringues, and asked for bill. She had started with her dessert when Kripke paid the bill and got up. Flora also followed the suit.
“Finish your meringue, and Harry will leave you home.” Flora said wearing her coat. Alicia looked at her in disbelief. If that was her revenge for the fat comment, then it was spot on.
“If you leave your dessert, I will mind.” Kripke warned her with a smile and left with Flora, holding his arm. She watched them leaving the dining area in horror.
She left me alone with Harry.
Harry leaned back on her chair and lit a cigarette, much to her disgust. Kripke didn’t know that Alicia had problem with smoking. She also didn’t stop him out of respect, but Harry was fully aware of the fact that she was allergic to smoke. Many times they’d fought over it in past, but still he was doing it just to irritate her. She thought about leaving, but she didn’t bring her wallet. She had no idea that Flora would leave her stranded with her worst enemy.
“You can leave, if you want to.” Harry shrugged his shoulders.
Alicia contemplated about throwing the meringue on his face, but then decided against it as it was mouth-watering delicious.
“Can we join you?” A familiar gentle voice touched her ear. She raised her head to find Kenneth holding his drink with an amused face. Melanie was also with him.
“My pleasure.” She was happy to see two of her favorite people at her table.
“Would you please?”
Ken claimed Harry’s chair for himself and Melanie set beside him. Alicia and Harry had no choice except sitting together. Alicia slightly dragged her chair away from him hoping nobody would notice it, but she saw Ken’s lips twitched for a second as he set right in front of her.
“Let me do the introduction.” Ken put his glass on table. “This is Alicia Stone, my assistant at the bookstore, and this is Melanie Robinson, whom you must be familiar with at law college. Alicia is a big fan of you, by the way.” He told Melanie who smiled at Alicia. It was more of a formal smile. Alicia smiled back in bewilderment. How did he know that I am a fan of her?
The Killing Scripture (Alicia Stone Series Book 1) Page 9