Chapter Six

The Double Bluff

There was silence in the room.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be flippant about it.”

This time it was Sebastian who spoke:

“Why did you think you were here? This is normal for you is it?”

It was the same tone she’d experienced in the car, and his face didn’t change. It didn’t need to.

“I’m sorry”, she said again. “Can I... Can I get a chair? Do you think?”

“There aren’t any”, Sebastian rapidly fired back. Sandra wobbled on her feet. She looked from Sebastian, to Richard, to the huge windows, to the desk. The two men were just there, just standing and sitting there. Staring at her. Blankly.

“I don’t know what you want.”

“I’ve already told you what I want from you”, Richard replied. “I think you’ve had enough time to think about it. Sebastian, get her a chair.”

With a flicker of hidden protest Sebastian echoed away from the desk.

“It never occurred to you that this would be why you are here?” Richard asked.

“To be honest I haven’t really had time to think since…”

“Since my son died.”

“Well, yeah. I guess.”

“I understand. It must have been quite of a shock for you.”

She considered that statement for a moment.

“Yes, I suppose it was.”

“I would like you to tell me what happened the night he died. I understand that the police no longer have you listed as a suspect. Do you know why that is?”

“I didn’t even know that was the case.” Wookies notwithstanding.

“Because I convinced them you were innocent. Do you know why I did that?”

“You’re going to tell me anyway.”

“Because I don’t believe you are capable of murder. I don’t believe you have the strength to overpower or the intelligence to outwit him.”

She wanted to ask “how do you know so much about me?” but was put out by the fact that it was this particular remark that prompted her to think that, and missed the opportunity. Not noticing this particular tangent, Richard had continued.

“…Because my son had a number of associates who would have wanted him dead. Because I have a number of associates who would have wanted him dead. His brother, Sebastian, would be more likely to want him dead than yourself.” He said this as an unwavering Sebastian returned, with a fold out chair for Sandra. It creaked as he unfolded it and placed it on the floor. She eyed the chair dubiously.

“Please”, said Richard. “Sit.”

She did, and was surprised it didn’t break. It was however just the wrong height and tilted slightly to one side and she had to concentrate to remain upright. It annoyed her, because it was so deliberate. She really, really didn’t like being manipulated. It didn’t matter who it was. She looked at the two men, father and son, powerful, egotistical men. They wanted to know what happened. She couldn’t remember what happened.

This was going to take some serious bullshit. Richard began the interrogation.

“Let’s begin with when you met.”

She took a deep breath.

“Right. Met.” Maintain eye contact. Talk confidently. Don’t go into too much detail:

“First thing you have to remember is we’d all been drinking. A lot. It’d been a hell of a day at work and everything had gone horrible wrong. When I met..  Richard – Liz and I had been at it for some time.”

“Where were you?”

“We were at some pub, I can’t remember what its called, it’s got these chairs everywhere, like the main bar is all chaise lounges and couches, and then the side bar is all 50s style chairs, there’s another room with 60s egg chairs, it’s pretty ace, you know it?”

Pause.

“Yes.”

Surprised pause.

“Oh. Good. Well then, that’s where we were. Eventually. We’d been to a couple of places before hand, I can give you a list if you want.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Oh. Shame. It was a good night. One of those nights where all the good places are open and not too crowded and you never have to wait for a drink. Miracle night. Amazing. Love it.”

“So you were at Four Legs.”

“Yes, and Liz – oh is that what it’s called? I’ve been there like five times and all I can remember is the chairs. You go there often?”

“No I own it. It’s an extension of a franchise of bars I own though a variety of subsidiary companies.”

“Who came up with the chair idea? It’s brilliant?

“I have no idea Ms Walker, I’m a financier, I just like to know where my money goes. Please get back to your story.”

“Right. Story. Where was I?”

“The Four Legs.”

“The Four Legs. The Four Legs. Right. So – we’d met some guy, or he’d met us, or just ended up in the same place, I don’t remember exactly you’d have to ask Liz, but those two were really hitting it off, and I’ve been in that situation before, you know? Don’t want to be a third wheel, so she went to get shots, I told him I was going to the loo and buggered off instead. Seemed like the right thing to do. He was a bit wack anyway.”

“Can you describe him?”

“Uh, sure. Kinda. It was dark, I guess he looked like a cross between that guy from Pushing Daisies mixed with Christopher Walken. But old Walken, you know, sunken eyes, that sort of thing. But they seemed like nice eyes. Kinda pervy though. I think he was a little beardy. Dark hair. Normal skin. Well, white guy normal skin I guess. Not too pale. Smelt like cheese.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about”, Richard said.

“I do”, added Sebastian, again without moving. That guy should paint himself silver and stand on the street with his hat out. Make a killing.

“Ah. Good. So, I was leaving The Four Legs… and that’s when I met Richard”, she continued, seamlessly switching into bullshit. “He was sitting near the entrance, by himself. He was wearing these clothes that were really nice. Seemed well dressed. Well, for my taste anyway, I have very particular taste. And I thought it was weird, you know, guy by himself in a place like this. And, here’s the thing right, he wasn’t playing with his phone. How weird is that? He was sitting there, seemed alright, having a drink by himself. Didn’t look like he was waiting for anyone so I went over to say Hi.”

Sebastian interrupted.

“You saw Richard by himself, dressed nicely as you say, not playing with his phone having a drink by himself.”

“Uh, yeah. It was dark, I’d had a few drinks, right?”

“Oh no, that sounds just like him. How was he? His mood?”

“Good. Yeah. Was in a good chatty mood, I’m not really the sort of person who talks to total strangers in a bar but he had this kind of inviting face that you wanted to be friends with.”

Sebastian: “Tell us about your conversation with him.”

“Oh, it was nice. Yeah. Good chat, we had a really good chat.”

Richard: “What did you talk about?”

“All sorts of stuff, mostly the pub we were in, the chairs, liked the chairs he did, and the things that people were doing around us.”

Sebastian: “He wasn’t meeting anyone then?”

“Uh, no, no, was completely on his own.”

Richard: “Very strange.”

“Was it? I wouldn’t know. He didn’t say it was strange, was just there. Doing stuff. Or nothing, as it was, really. Just having a drink. By himself.”

Sebastian: “How long were you there before you went back to his place?”

“Go back to his place? Oh yeah. We did that didn’t we. You know about that.”

Richard: “We know everything that happened after you woke up, Ms Walker. It’s the time in between, the moments leading up to my son’s murder that I’m more interested in.”

“Of course you are. Of course. His place. Well, it may have been an hour, or so, I don’t know, you get into a good conversation and time just runs on by.”

Sebastian: “Does it.”

“Does for me. When it’s good. And he suggested we go back to his place for a night cap.”

Richard: “People still do that do they?”

“Apparently so.”

Sebastian: “What did he tell you about his place?”

“Oh yeah, that totally sold it. Said he had this great big place in the city, like near all the cool stuff, he told me about how big it was, and the kitchen, the artwork, the huge windows. The massive TV, all sorts of stuff.”

Sebastian: “That’s fascinating Ms Walker.”

“Is it? Good. Excellent. So, we go a cab there, and, well, I don’t really want to go into too much detail about what happened next.”

Sebastian: “You understand that we need to know everything.”

“Everything?”

Sebastian: “Yes, everything.”

“Ah. Shit.”

But before she could continue, Richard interrupted:

“No that’s fine. I can’t listen to this drivel any longer.”

Sandra felt a confusing surge of relief and outrage.

“Why? What’s the matter?”

For the first time he actually looked her directly in the eye. It was only now that she realised it was something he had not yet done so very, very directly. It was like your school principal, both parents and ex-boyfriend all chastising you at once simply for doing what you do.

“Because it is painfully clear to me young lady that you have no recollection of your encounter with my son. You have described someone that is completely alien to myself, and to Sebastian. My son and I had a very close relationship. He was very different to the both of us and led a very different life to us and I can assure you that the person you described is entirely a product of your rambling, adolescent fiction.”

She was confused. She looked to Sebastian. He answered for her, but without sympathy or comfort.

“That wasn’t his apartment where you found him. He would never have set foot in The Four Legs. He hated it there, he had a half a million bars he preferred before he would have ended up there, most of which were close to his house, not apartment, which is on the other side of town, a house he rarely ventured out of.”

“I.. don’t understand.”

“We know you’re lying Sandra” he replied, calmly. “We know everything you’ve told us since you friend went to get shots is invented.”

“Why did you let me continue?”

“Oh for God’s sake little girl”, Richard snapped. “Do you think, for a second, I would just ask you? Trust you to tell me the truth?”

“So you got me to lie? What the fuck is wrong with you people?”

“Because, like the police, if you’d told me the truth I wouldn’t have believed you.”

“How do you know I’m not lying about telling the truth? Maybe I did kill him. Maybe I did and I just lied about forgetting and then lied again about meeting him to throw you off the scent? Double bluff.”

Richard sighed, clearly having had enough of it all. Sebastian answered for him.

“First of all, that’s not a double bluff. I don’t have the time or patience right now to explain what a double bluff is, but that’s not it... Secondly, it was an awful lie. You’re a terrible liar Sandra. My father and I encounter a lot of liars in our line of work, it’s a large part of what we do. We understand lying. We had to see you lie before we knew if you were telling the truth.”

Sandra felt violated. And relieved. And suddenly all that coffee left her desperately needing to pee.

“I see”, was all she could say.

“Good”, said Richard sharply, and picked up his fountain pen once more. “You can go now.” He turned his head back to his paper. Sebastian left his place behind the desk, and repeated the exact same gesture from earlier, one hand guiding and the other hand showing the way. She violently shook of the hand from her shoulder, and stormed ahead of Sebastian towards the exit.