Reports, autopsies and expertise, that's how my working day went. Now it's 8:30, by 9:00 p.m. I should be in hell, oh, I mean the restaurant. And I have to figure out what to say to Ashley, probably something along the lines of, 'I'm meeting my classmates from university tonight.' Yeah, that's exactly what I'm gonna tell her. Right now I'm at home with Ashley, I just need to change and I can go out.
-Is someone picking you up or are you going to drive your car? -said my sister.
-I'll be picked up.
After changing my clothes, I said goodbye to my sister and left the house. It was probably not even a minute before his car pulled up to the driveway.
-Good evening. -said he, getting out of the car and opening the front passenger door for me. Damn gentleman.
-I doubt it. - I said and opened the car door and got in the back seat.
-Okay. -he slammed the front door and walked round the car and got behind the wheel.
-And you're in a black dress, like you did for the funeral.
-I think tonight is a funeral, a funeral for my quiet life. -He just grinned at my words.
-I hope you're not offended with me about Linswand?
-No, I'm not offended, I just hate you even more than before damn you... -I didn't finish because my phone rang.
-Who is it?
-It's Alice.
-You're not gonna tell her that...
-That I'm going with a wanted mafia boss to a restaurant? I don't know. -I said and picked up the phone.
-Hello...Yes at a meeting of my classmates...I think it's in the safe...Wait a minute please, I'll call you back. -I dropped the call and looked at him.
-And you tell me, why are you smiling?
-Nothing. -said he was trying to hold back his nasty smile, he was laughing at me, by the way.
-Are you out of your mind? Do you have a shred of conscience left? How can you let yourself...
I didn't say what I wanted to say because we got pulled over by a patrolman. That's just great.
-Good evening, you're speeding, please show me your licence.
-Here it is. - he said and I saw him handing the patrolman his licence with a banknote in it.
When he opened his licence, the patrolman closed it immediately and said that we could pass. I should have taken a picture of this guy, then he would have been kicked out of the police and more.
-Damned bribe taker.
-I am what I am.
-So we didn't finish talking, where are they?
-Who are they? -He asked, although he knew exactly what I was talking about.
-Your brain and rings. Alice called me and said they're not where they're supposed to be.
-What's that got to do with me? -How many times can you play the idiot, and how could I forget? He's not playing the idiot, he's the idiot.
-This has everything to do with you. Last time the rings were stolen with your help. I'm guessing this time, too.
-Okay. -he stopped the car abruptly.
-Okay what?
Without saying a word, he opened the glove compartment and took out two grippers with rings.
-Linswand wanted the rings, but since today is the date, I thought I'd give them back to you. -He handed me two grippers, and I took them.
-You're not returning these rings to me, you're returning them to the police.
-Or so it is. In this case, you're the police.
-I'm sorry you won't give me back the peace of mind you took away.
He didn't say anything, we spent the next ten minutes driving to the restaurant in complete silence. To think that today was exactly five years since I'd lost forever the peace, the security and the hope that things would change.
-We're arrived. -said he and got out of the car.
He wanted to open the door for me, but I could do it faster than him.
-Why are you obsessing about these doors, or do you think I don't have hands?
-I'm just a gentleman.
-I'd tell you what a gentleman you are, but I'll save that speech for another time when you get on my nerves again.
-That's too bad.I'd listen.
We went into the restaurant and sat down at the same table as five years ago. Every year for five years now, I've lived that day over and over again, only the endings are different. Every year for five years now, on this day, I've spent the evening with the man I hate most in the world. The man who has become my curse, my worst nightmare and my own killer. He kills me over and over again by appearing in my life, talking to me, and even looking at me. One step closer and I feel a noose around my neck, one look from him and it's like a blade pierces my heart, one touch from him and I suffocate underwater, one word from him and I feel a gun to my temple. Finishing every sentence, he pulls the trigger, being a few centimetres away from me he knocks the stool out from under me, looking at me without blinking he lets me feel myself choking on my own blood taking my hand he drowns me waiting when my body sinks to the bottom. He is my death, the most painful and slow death.
-Please bring a red wine and two beef steaks, and a side dish of some kind. -he ordered the food.
-Your order will be here shortly. -said the waiter and left.
-It's the same every time. Does this restaurant have other dishes?
-Yes they do, I don't understand the complaint. You like red wine and beef. What's not to like? -He said calmly.
-I don't like you.
-I don't understand why. -said he with a chuckle.
I wish I'd brought a pouch of poison with me. I could have used it right now.
-If I start explaining why, I'll make everyone in the restaurant run away from my shouting. Why should I have to explain why? You know why.
-Come on, darling, I can't even imagine. -he was already laughing at me openly.
-You're so disgusting.
-And you're so beautiful.
-Your wine, your steaks and your side dishes. -said the waiter as he came over and moved the food from the tray to the table.
-Thank you.
And while the waiter was around, I wanted to check something.
-Darling, can you go and get my bag from the car, please? -I asked him.
-Of course, sunshine. -He said before he got up from the table and walked towards the exit of the restaurant.
-I'll pour the wine myself. -I said to the waiter as he left the restaurant.
The waiter was a little surprised, but he just handed me the bottle he had opened. And then he left. I poured the wine first into my glass and then into his. He came back a minute later.
-Take this. -said he, holding out my bag.
-Thank you. -said I and cut a small piece off my steak, then stabbed it on my fork and ate it.
-You're welcome.
-What about a drink? -I said with a smile and looked at him.
Would he risk it or not? Will he drink or not?
-You're bluffing. -he knew what I meant.
-Maybe. Maybe it's a bluff, a double bluff, a triple bluff.
-You're gonna poison me in front of the whole restaurant?
-Oh, there's been a lot of that going on in front of the whole restaurant, hasn't there?
-Alright, Rosie. Cheers? - he took the glass in his hand.
-Sure.
-A toast to the beginning of the evening. -he said.
-A toast to the beginning of the evening.
We clinked glasses, and he did it. He drank the wine. Of course I wasn't going to poison him, getting a sentence because of that creep is such a bad prospect. But he doesn't know that, so...
-Why haven't I met my forefathers yet?
-What if the poison was just slow-acting?
-What if there was no poison?
-What if there was?
-Are we gonna be talking with questions much longer?
-No. -Said I took a sip of wine.
And then my phone rang.
-What is it, Alice again?
-No, it's Dante. -I looked at the screen and smiled.
-And who is it? -He said with some concern in his voice.
- That's none of your business. -said I and picked up the phone. -Hello...Tomorrow probably...And where?...I see, well well...Bye...-saying "bye" I hung up the phone.
-What is it?
-It's a big government secret.
-Okay.
-I have a question.
-Ask it.
-How did you get the password to the safe?
-Well, it wasn't hard, I've known you a long time, so it wasn't hard to guess. And by the way, I'm flattered you put my name on the password.
-I just thought, usually you put something important to the person on the password.
When he heard me say that, he put his glass on the table and looked at me meaningfully.
-And that's why you can often guess the password by knowing a lot about the person. That's why I put your name on the password, it doesn't mean anything important to me. -I finished my thought.
When I finished, he just grinned. Was he hoping I'd say something different? After everything that had happened, could he hope for something different?
-One thing you didn't count on is that I know you better than anyone.
-Ashley knows me better than anyone.
-Really? And that she can even tell when you're lying and when you're telling the truth? -said he hinted at.
-Do you know when I'm lying and when I'm not?
-I know everything about you, Rosie, and I know this too.
-Okay, say something about me, if you're so all-knowing. Any three things about me, I bet one of them is definitely not true.
-Let's make a bet, if I win, you'll take what I've offered you.
-You think I look like a real fool ?
-Okay, then if I win, you...
When he thought about what he'd get if he won the bet, I raised my eyebrow questioningly.
-So? -said I and sipped some wine.
-If I win, you'll go out with me tomorrow.
-Oh, that's terrible, I'll do it. But if I win, you tell me everything you know about Linswand. His whereabouts now, what he's like, everything about him.
-I knew that's what you'd want. All right, here we go.
-So?
-First of all, you're afraid of horses, you'll never get on a horse in your life.
-That's true.
-Secondly, you're overly responsible and too good at what you do. You always follow through and stuff like the main characters do in good films.
-And the third thing?
-And third, you've never been in love, never loved anyone. You've never fallen in love.
As soon as he said that, I smiled and looked at him. He was wrong, it's a good thing he was wrong.
-No, you were wrong about that. I loved and I still love now.
-Can't be.
-Can.You said yourself you know when I'm lying and when I'm not.
So look at me and tell me if I'm lying.
He looked me in the eye, he looked at me without looking away or blinking. He realised I wasn't lying, he must really know me so well that he could tell when I was lying and when I was telling the truth.
-You win, Rosie. I'll tell you about Linswand. -he said with disappointment in his voice.
-I'm listening.
-About the Fabbri and Salvione murders, he can't even imagine who the killer is. Today Linswand called and asked me to get him the rings.
-You give him the rings and he gives you what in return?
-Nothing.
-What's the reason?
-To piss you a little off.
-You're a jerk.
-I know.
-Where is this fanatic now?
-Now? He's on a train somewhere far, far away.
-Where exactly is he travelling to?
-I don't know, he didn't tell me.He only asked me to give the rings to his man so that he could give them to Linswand himself.
-What else?
-Nothing else.
-That's great, that's just wonderful.
-I propose we drink to why we're here tonight.
-To the funeral of my quiet life? Yes, I think we should drink to that.
-And so, to the anniversary of our meeting Rosie. -said he and raised his glass.
-To our anniversary. -I also raised my glass.
He raised his glass to mine.
-That's the kind of thing you don't clink glasses to. -I said with a laugh and sipped some wine from my glass.
-Pessimistic.
-Idiot.
-Will you stop insulting me?
-Would you stop poisoning my life?
-You know what? Your insults are like compliments to me.
-That's too bad.
We sat in the restaurant for another hour or an hour and a half, to be honest it's like torture for me every time. But that's the deal, I come here to this restaurant every year at this time and on this night. And he doesn't... Oh, never mind. After paying for dinner, we left the restaurant.
-I'd better find a taxi now.
-Why do you need a taxi?
-You know, going in a car that you drive when you're drunk is like committing suicide.
-I'm not going to drive.
-Why not? I'll get a taxi, and you can get behind the wheel and drive straight to hell.
-You want me to have an automobile accident?
-That's my biggest dream.
-I see, but I was just gonna call a driver, that's all.
-Fine, you go with your driver, I'll take a taxi.
-Hell no, if you haven't forgotten, the deal is you come with me and you leave with me.
-Okay, fine, let's call your driver.
He called somewhere and in 15 minutes the driver in another car was already there. We got in the car and after a while we drove to my house.
-It's been a great night my love, goodbye. -he said as I got out of the car.
-Damn you.- I said and slammed the door.
I got to the entrance and opened the front door and went up to the floor I wanted. I walked into the flat, Ashley was already asleep. I took a shower and went to bed. "The day was terrible, and the evening even more terrible" was my last thought before I fell asleep.