Spirals

by Scott Bergin

  As the sun rose, and the sky slowly turned blue, Thomas thought of what lay in the day ahead. In a couple of hours, he would start to recognize the northern shoreline. A few hours later, he would be home. Thomas hoped to make it back by nightfall. Barring any unforeseen problems, he would. For the next twelve to seventeen hours, Thomas would have almost nothing to do. After he arrived in France, he would be instantly swamped. Immediately upon returning, he would begin sifting through the information Hector had left in the filing cabinet, and on the computer. Thomas knew that he would feel compelled to solve the riddle as quickly as possible. The days at sea had all but driven him mad. He wanted to kill Hector again for ruining the radio. If it hadn't been for Hector's music, the radio would still be working. Hector had forced him to wreck the radio, and for that he was furious at the dead man. Thomas could only take pleasure in imagining what happened to Hector as he sank. Thomas hoped that Hector had remained conscious. He thought of Hector being dragged toward the bottom by the harpoon in his belly. That was not good enough. He imagined Hector being attacked by sharks as he descended. That image brought a brief smile to Thomas' face. For a moment, he was able to forget about the monotony that he would be facing in the day ahead. Thomas knew that he could always think back to those he had killed to lift his spirits. He could only guess what Gabrielle had looked like when she died. Alex was probably trying to pull her profusely bleeding body from the car, when it burst into flames. Thomas wondered how Gabrielle would have looked, while dying on that remote road in Cameroon. He also wondered how Alex had looked, when he watched her die. Thomas was certain that Alex was filled with rage, enough rage to follow him wherever he went. Thomas considered himself blessed for having invoked Alex's rage. It eliminated the need for Thomas to track him down. Killing Alex would be so much easier this way. If Alex told no one where he was going, or why, no one would know where to start looking for him. Thomas would have the opportunity to kill him in whatever manner he chose.

  Chapter 50

  April 20

  12:10 p.m.

  Nice, France

  Gabrielle got out of bed immediately after waking up. She couldn't wait to get a jump on the new day, and she was quite surprised to find that it was already half over. Gabrielle quickly showered, and got dressed. When she came back out of the bathroom, Alex was still sleeping. He looked so exhausted, that she couldn't bring herself to wake him. Gabrielle realized that she was far more eager to continue hunting through Thomas' files than Alex was. She paused, thinking of why Alex was so worn out. The previous night had been wonderful. That was the other reason Gabrielle didn't want to wake Alex, she was afraid of what he might say. She couldn't bear having him say that it was a mistake, or that he regretted it. Gabrielle doubted that he would, but she decided not to risk it. She was determined to make this relationship work. Gabrielle concluded that the best thing she could do was leave. That would give Alex the opportunity to think things through, before they saw one another again. She was certain that Alex would have no regrets about what had occurred the night before, if he were given time to think everything over. Gabrielle was about to walk out the door, when she realized what a terrible mistake she would be making. She quickly grabbed a pad of paper and pencil from beside the telephone, and scrawled a note.

  Dear Alex,

  Last night was magical. I didn't want

  to disturb you this afternoon, you looked

  so peaceful. I'll see you at Thomas'

  when you get up. There is no hurry.

  I love you.

  Yours always and forever,

  Gabrielle

  Gabrielle set the pad, and pencil, back where she'd gotten them from. After a quick glance at the note, she walked into the bathroom. She looked around for the right place to leave the note. The ideal place was to stick it to the mirror, but there was nothing in the bathroom that could be used to attach it. Gabrielle picked up the dried white bar of soap from beside the sink. She drew three arrows on the mirror. One down the right-hand side. The second went from left to right across the bottom. The last went from the upper left corner, ending at the bottom right. Where the three arrows met, she set the note on the bar of soap. As Gabrielle walked back across the room, she saw that the arrows were clearly visible from the bed. After making sure that Alex was still sleeping, she quietly slipped out the door.

  Upon reaching the lobby, Gabrielle realized that she had left the car keys in her room. She had also left the only room key up there as well. Gabrielle knew that one of them would have to find other means of getting to Thomas', now she knew that she would be the one. She asked a man at the front desk to call a taxi for her, after making sure that she had brought enough money with her. Within a couple of minutes, Gabrielle was on her way back to Thomas' townhouse.

  By one in the afternoon, Gabrielle reached the townhouse. She paid the driver, and walked up to the front door. Gabrielle didn't want to raise the driver's suspicions by walking around to the back. Since there were still no cars parked in the yard, Gabrielle let herself in. Gabrielle quickly closed the door. She stared out the peep hole, and watched the taxi driver leave. Though she knew that they had left the door unlocked, Gabrielle wondered if someone was in the house with her. She carefully began checking each room. From where she stood, Gabrielle could see into the living room on her left, and the bedroom on her right. Both were empty. A couple of quiet steps later, she could see into the empty kitchen. Walking through the sliding glass door, Gabrielle could see that the work room was also empty. The bathroom door was shut, and Gabrielle started to worry. She slowly made her way back into the kitchen, and removed a large knife from its holder. Gabrielle walked back passed the sliding glass door, and into the work room. Holding the knife firmly with in her right hand, she put her left on the doorknob. She started to regret having not woken Alex up. Gabrielle knew that she would feel much safer if she had him beside her. The doorknob squeaked slightly, as Gabrielle turned it. She held the door shut, with the knob turned and the latch released. Gabrielle took a deep breath, and squeezed the knife tighter. She swung the door open wide. Gabrielle screamed, and dropped the knife. A moment later, she realized that she had just seen her reflection in the mirror above the bathroom sink. The lack of lighting in the bathroom made her reflection appear as a dark shadowy figure.

  "Way to go." Gabrielle mumbled.

  "Way to stay calm, and not panic." She said, picking up the knife.

  "Afraid of your own shadow." She continued.

  Gabrielle walked back to the kitchen and put the knife away. She knew that she was alone. If she kept the knife too close, Alex would end up getting stabbed when he showed up. That is, if she could hold onto the knife. Otherwise, only the bare wooden floor would continue to suffer. Gabrielle walked back down to the bedroom. She removed the clock radio from beside the bed. Music seemed like a good way to keep her imagination from running wild. She carried the radio back into the work room. All the outlets were taken up by the computer, so Gabrielle unplugged them. She saw it as no great loss, since she didn't feel like guessing at the password. The radio came to life with the press of a couple buttons, and Italian music poured out. Though Gabrielle didn't know enough Italian to understand the songs, she didn't change the station. She didn't want to leave any trace of having been there, and Gabrielle doubted if she would recall what station the radio had been on. Gabrielle also didn't even know if there would be station playing songs in English. She couldn't figure out why someone would live in France and have their radio set to play an Italian station. Then Gabrielle realized the connection. The diary of Leonardo Da Vinci was the connection. Thomas was obvious fluent in Italian, and he had used that station to find out when the diary would be in Cameroon. It was more proof that Thomas was guilty of widespread murder. Though, she knew that the evidence would not stand up in any court. It was all speculation, but it was good enough for her. Gabrielle hoped to find such strong speculations about the meaning of the page.

  She took out the
photograph of the page, and read it carefully.

  To my friend, the Salamander:

  Place this, my greatest gem where

  the four are one. I fear that I will

  not have that chance.

  Leonardo Da Vinci

  Gabrielle knew exactly what her task was. She would have to break down the page into its components, and solve each individually. The page posed two questions. First, she needed to find out who or what was being referred to as 'the Salamander'. Second, she needed to know what 'four are one'. Gabrielle tried not to focus on the word gem, sensing that it would not help in solving the puzzle. Though, the last sentence caught her attention, and told her to focus on the end of Leonardo Da Vinci's life, or any time when he was seriously ill. Gabrielle pulled open one of the filing cabinet drawers, and began the daunting task of sifting through the paperwork. As she started reading the first file, she was thankful that they were in English, not Italian or French. Gabrielle looked up at the computer, and wished she knew the password. The computer could make the task remarkably easier. As Gabrielle continued to work, she again wished Alex were beside her. Before long, Gabrielle found herself drifting back to the pleasures of the night before.

  Chapter 51

  April 20

  2:00 p.m.

  Paris, France

  Dana Mason lay on her stomach on the bed. Her bandaged back looked as if she had been hit by a grenade, instead of landing on a bottle. Robert stood in the doorway, staring at his unconscious wife. He had not been the one to bandage her up, that had been Christine. She came home only moments after Robert had rendered Dana unconscious. Robert was in the living room, watching television. Christine was shocked to find her mother bleeding on the kitchen floor. With Christine's help, Dana managed to make it into the bathroom. An hour later, Christine transported her into the bedroom. With the aid of some pills, Dana went back to sleep. Robert knew that Christine was very upset at finding Dana in such a condition, but he also knew that she would not dare confront him. Christine's only interest was helping her mother, and she knew that wouldn't be possible if she were lying on the floor next to her. Robert regretted the fact that Dana did not respect his authority, but he took relief in the fact that Christine did.

  "Okay." Robert said into the cordless phone. "Thank you very much. Good bye."

  Robert hung up the phone by pressing a button on it. He walked over and placed it on the table near the bed. Afterward, Robert sat on the bed next to Dana's head.

  "How long do you intend to sleep?" Robert asked coldly.

  Dana continued to sleep unabated. She didn't flinch when Robert repeated his question. After a couple of gentle taps on her sore shoulders, Dana started to wake up.

  "I was starting to think you might be dead." Robert lied.

  "Sorry I couldn't oblige you." Dana said, still not fully awake.

  "It wasn't a request." Robert assured her.

  "Good." Dana replied. "I wouldn't let you get rid of me that easily."

  "Don't start fighting with me." Robert warned. "I'm not in the mood."

  "Let's get one thing perfectly clear." She replied. "I argue. You fight."

  "You're starting it again." He warned.

  "Okay." Dana said, heeding the warnings. "Let's change the subject."

  "Very well." Robert agreed. "How are you feeling?"

  "That isn't really changing the subject." Dana replied.

  "Sorry." Robert said, though he wasn't really sorry about any of it.

  "It's okay." Dana lied, pretending to comfort him.

  "I have to go out of town." He said.

  "Where to this time?" Dana asked.

  "I'll be staying in the country." Robert assured her.

  "Of course you will." She replied sarcastically.

  "What is that supposed to mean?" Robert demanded.

  "What do you think it means?" Dana asked.

  "I don't know." Robert replied. "Or else I wouldn't have asked."

  "It isn't my fault if you're an idiot." She said. "I'm not."

  "What did you mean by that?" He asked again, slapping her back lightly.

  "I meant that you have no reason to leave the country, when your slut is right here." Dana said.

  "We're not going to get into that again, are we?" Robert asked.

  "You're the only one getting into her." She replied. "Or maybe you're not the only one."

  "Now that is completely uncalled for." He insisted.

  "Then tell me where you are going." Dana said. "If it is not to see her, then where?"

  "I can't tell you." Robert replied.

  "Then take me with you." She insisted.

  "I can't do that either." He replied.

  "Why all these secrets?" Dana asked. "Why can't you tell me?"

  "I'm going to southern France to kill someone." Robert admitted. "That is all I can tell you."

  Dana said nothing. Her jaw fell wide with disbelief. She guessed that Robert's career had caused him to lose his morals. It had led to the beatings, and now it was leading him to murder. Dana wondered if this would be the first time Robert killed anyone, or if the man she was staring at was already a murderer. The thought sent cold chills running up Dana's sore back.

  Immediately upon seeing Dana's reaction, Robert regretted telling her the truth. She had forced him to, since he was tired of being accused of adultery. He was guilty of many crimes, both legally and morally. Adultery was not one of them.

  "I don't believe you." Dana said. Though, she did not know if she really believed him or not.

  "You'd rather believe that I'm cheating on you." Robert replied.

  "It's not what I want to believe." She insisted. "It just is what I believe."

  "How can I make you believe me?" Robert asked.

  "You can't make me." Dana replied, offended by the comment.

  "Then how do I convince you?" He asked.

  "You can't." She replied.

  "So you'll just go on not trusting me." Robert said.

  "And you'll just go on being an asshole." Dana said. "You can't control it. It's just who you are."

  Robert slapped Dana firmly on her back. Unable to defend herself, Dana could only scream in agony. Though, she tried to hold most of it in. She didn't want to let Robert know how much she was truly hurting.

  "Don't call me that." Robert warned.

  "How about if I just call you a wife beater?" Dana asked, then tensed her body for the impact.

  Robert slammed his fist into Dana's back. As hard as she tried, Dana could not hold back the scream. It was quickly followed by tears, and a deep sensation of pain that ran throughout her back.

  "If you want me to beat you, I will." Robert said. "All I've done so far, is just put you back in your place."

  "I hope beating on women gives you a real thrill." Dana said. "It will be the nearest thing to manhood you'll ever experience, and it isn't even that close."

  Robert said nothing. He repeatedly slammed his fist into her back. Dana screamed only once. After that, she was relieved to feel her back go numb with pain. She continued to feel his blows, but they ceased to have their original effect.

  Suddenly, Robert's head pitched forward. He fell off the bed, hitting his head on the table as he fell. Dana looked up, and saw Christine standing with a rolling pin in her hand. She had hit Robert in the back of the head with it. Christine stood poised to strike again. Robert slowly got off the floor, and realized what Christine had done. He was very disturbed by the fact that Christine seemed to have lost her respect for him. As much as he hated to do it, Robert knew that he would have to teach Christine her lesson. He couldn't stand the thought of having two women in the house who had no respect for him.

  "What did you go and do that for?" Robert asked, coming to his feet.

  "I won't let you hurt her anymore." Christine insisted, waving the pin.

  "Look at little Christine." Robert said. "Standing up for her pathetic little mother."

  "I'm warning you." Christine s
aid, trying to sound threatening.

  "Oh, I believe you." Robert assured her. "At least, I believe that you'll try."

  "Get away from her." Christine demanded.

  "I'll tell you what." He said. "If you put that down now, I'll only punish you a little bit. If you make me come get it from you, then I'll have to punish you severely."