Death of a Hundred Kisses

Waiting for the Rain

The interrogation room was quite fascinating from the other side. Perspectives generally have too much faces, I read that in a journal for fools. But some of the facts are somehow true.

It was awkward to be on the other side, the bad side. I never bothered about being good or bad, it was all about my instinct. It was the start of the day, or the end of the night, I never would mind to take any rough decision what I desired. But to be honest, I was feeling a little disappointed.

Who was the killer? Why did he have to drag me here? Did I know him? Was it a he? Or a she?

The stinks of the room didn’t let me concentrate. Being on the bad side had its own abandonment. It came with frustration, exhaustion, impatience. So, it wasn’t a great start.

I could hear the whispers across the mirror. It was director and the FBI agents. And why not? It was a hot cake for media. A bureau agent involved in homicide? That was a three pointer on their court.

Two men entered the room. One face was familiar to me, it was agent Garrick. He had his heavy vibe all around the room. The other one, however, seemed to be calm. In fact, he reminded me of myself, not caring about anything but just to be home, alone.

They sat before me, the other guy said, ‘Are you feeling comfortable here, Mr. Ephron?’

I threw a simple nod. They were asking if I am comfortable being treated as a criminal in my own office, why not?

He was pleased, ‘Okay then. Let's introduce ourselves. I am agent Fender, from FBI. You've met Garrick already. Sorry for his earlier inconvenience. We have no interest in keeping you here.’

I was fed up of this bullshit, ‘Yes, I know. There are possibilities for me being directly or indirectly involved in this case.’

He laughed, ‘Well, I wouldn’t put it that way. But without sugarcoating, that’s correct.’

I was ready for anything.

He started, ‘So, tell us your full name, and about yourself.’

I started describing myself, ‘My name is Lazarus Emanuel Ephron. I am currently head of the homicidal department in Illinois Bureau of Criminal Investigation. I started here five years ago; I was made the head before the last thanksgiving. You can see about my cases and records from the department archive.’

Garrick smiled at me, ‘Oh yeah, we would, surely.’

Fender raised his hand to hush him. He surely was pissed, but quite terrified of Fender.’

Fender looked at me, ‘Lazarus. Quite a biblical name. Do you know what it means?’

I knew, ‘Yes, it means that the creator has helped.’

He stared at me for a while, ‘So, in records, your parents died in an airplane crash.’

So, they already dug up everything, ‘Yes. When I was five. They planned a trip to Rio De Janeiro.’

He asked, ‘Ever wondered why they never took you?’

This was quite personal. I knew this was to fuel me to break down. But a man can't be broken down when there isn’t anything to break, ‘Well, I knew. I had some blood problems regarding flight journeys since childhood. Our family doctor restrained me from having any journey including air pressure fluctuation.’

He was impressed, ‘Okay. So, you were here then, in Illinois, right?’

I kept my cool, ‘Not exactly. I was born in Sacramento, California. That was my hometown.’

He grabbed my words, ‘Then how did you end up here?’

I wasn't reckless, ‘After that incident, I was sent to an orphanage. And after half a week, I was adopted by a family, the Renovese.’

I could bet that he knew, I never hid about them. But he pretended to be amused, ‘Renovese? Ain't they the crime family, operating in Danville?’

I nodded, ‘Yes. I was adopted by Bernalio Renovese, the nephew of Don Renovese.’

Garrick sighed, ‘Interesting.’

My ass! I was already prepared to punch this piece of crap in the balls.

Fender continued, ‘So, how was the family?’

I sighed, ‘Not bad. Father Bernalio and mother Florence adored me so much. They never treated me like adopted.’

He sighed also, ‘Yes, family sentiments are the best. Please continue.’

I couldn’t tell whether it was a sarcastic pinch, or a real comment on family. This guy was hard to read, ‘I completed my high school Danville, and was ready to go to college.’

He sidelined my story, ‘So did you know about their operations?’

I stated, ‘Not exactly. I could guess that something was going on, specially from my time in school. Even the teachers were too much respectful to me. I started to know about the crimes after my high school.’

He wouldn’t let me breathe, ‘What kind of stories did you hear?’

Well, I had nothing to hide, ‘I was close to George, my half brother. He wasn’t interested in studies, so grandpa Renovese gave him work.’

He asked, ‘What kind of work did he do for Don Renovese?’

I stared at him, disgustedly. Why was every detail in my life being dug up all of a sudden?

He caught my vibe, ‘I am sorry, agent Ephron, but we really need every detail. Nothing personal, really.’

Ah, sarcasm! ‘He said that he worked as a casino dealer. That was the first suspicion for me.’

He asked, ‘Why? What is suspicious about that?’

I sighed, ‘He really wasn’t great at cards. He once lost to me twenty-one times consecutively in blackjack. So, I knew, there was something else.’

He sighed with me, ‘Okay, continue.’

I asked, ‘Then I followed him and found out about the crimes and cover ups. And after a year, I told the police about the casino.’

He was quite confused, ‘Wait, why are you skipping? I said I want details.’

I knew that was coming, ‘Then I say I want lawyer.’

He laughed, ‘You really are a lawman, we'll hopefully meet again.’

I hoped not, I literally hoped not. The other side of the interrogation was a horrible experience.

I returned to my desk. It was unusual for me to be on the accused side, but it wasn’t same old, so I wasn’t pissed.

John came to me, ‘Sir, you okay?’

I nodded, ‘So, any report from the forensics?’

He nodded too, ‘Yes, the kiss marks were made by his own blood, but with different lips. Maybe it was the killer.’

I assumed the blood part, but it was bold to leave his own lip marks, there must be some DNA.

He continued, ‘We got a DNA. But no match yet.’

I wasn’t shocked. Maybe the killer wasn’t in the system. But eventually there would be suspect, who would be anyone but me.

John said, ‘But there is something unusual. The time of death.’

I frowned, ‘What about it?’

He replied, ‘Based on the tissue activity and decaying, the forensic says that he was killed nearly a year ago. His body was preserved in a cold storage.’

That was interesting. Having any body saved up for a year is quite expensive, and needed a huge supply of ice. Either any cold storage factory was involved or the killer had a lot of money. Which could it be?

Suddenly I heard, ‘Ephron, in the office.’

I turned around, to see director Vandal calling me. What was it again? Did that ice-cold Fender put a complaint against me, like misbehavior in interrogation? Who knew?

I went to his office; he was walking nervously.

He looked at me, ‘Gosh, Ephron. Do you have anything to do with this?’

I wasn’t nervous, ‘The case? No, sir.’

He scratched his head, ‘I hope it’s true. So why would anybody ask you on a date over a dead body?’

I got the sarcasm, ‘To be honest, sir, I have no idea. I can’t recall anybody in my life who would be involved in this.’

He was quite pissed, ‘You better recall, I don’t want any media to throw mud on us for longer.’

I forwarded a humble nod, ‘Can I go, sir?’

He stopped me, ‘No, wait. There’s one more thing.’

I could sense bad news in it.

We both heard a knock on the door, a female voice came to life, ‘Agent Micah, sir. Can I come in?’

He nodded, ‘So, Ephron. As for the service protocol, any officer who is suspect for an investigation should be in suspension until the investigation is over. So, you are suspended, effective immediately. I will try my best so that you get paid suspension.’

I was ready for bad news, but this was a disaster. Every cell in my body was rebellious enough to protest against it, but I knew it was a foolishness. I nodded, ‘Okay, sir.’

He sighed, ‘So, agent Micah will replace you temporarily. I want you to hand over the investigation to her.’

I looked at her for the first time. She was quite pretty. The name Micah didn’t ring any bell, except that it means that there is nobody like the creator. Fit, strong externally, I couldn’t tell about the wit. The looks give wrong impression about wit, always.

We shook hands, ‘Hello, I am agent Ephron.’

She was quite excited, ‘Hi, I heard about you. The blood pool case. It was a sensational work.’

An admirer? So, I had a dumb admirer and a homicidal lover now? This day was not done surprising.’

I ignored her praising, ‘Follow me, I will hand over the files to you immediately.’

We came out from the director’s office. She asked, ‘So, how did you solve that one?’

‘I am a psychic, you asshole.’ I said in my mind.