8 CHAPTER EIGHT: VERA

St. Peter's Catholic Church, Kebby Creek

July 13, Sunday, 11:39

It was a damp Sunday morning and Caesar had asked where the local catholic parish was. Alex had given him directions and since it was nearby he decided to stroll there. The mass was interesting and he found the officiating priest amusing.

The last blessing was given and the crowd trooped out of the church premises. Suddenly Caesar saw her again. The strange woman at the murder scene who had spoken to him in riddles.

She was dressed entirely on black and the attire made her look even more ungodly than the last time he saw her. He homed in on her like a tomahawk missile locked on target.

" Hi again" he said cheerfully.

She jolted violently and gave him a startled look.

"Do I know you?" she asked, staring at him suspiciously. Once again he shivered deliciously under her stare.

"Yes. At that shocking murder scene yesterday."

"What murder scene? I was never at any murder scene." She continued to walk. Caesar smiled insufferably. She was going to be difficult. No problem. He liked difficult girls.

"Could you help explain what you told me that day?"

"What I told you? Sorry I've never seen you before in my life."

"You asked me whether I wanted to know who was responsible for the killings. I said yes, then you told me that God had sent his angel after them.

" I don't know what you're talking about."

"Are you saying you didn't tell me anything?"

"I'm saying I have no idea who you are and this is a cheap method of starting a conversation with a girl."

Caesar sighed. Okay if she wanted to play the game that way then no problem.

"Yes you're right. How did you know? I just want to talk to you."

" Why?"

"Because you look strange. "

"Strange? How do I look strange?"

Caesar grinned privately to himself. He had played his trump card. Hint at a girl that there was something odd about her and she would not let you go till you told her what.

"Did I say anything?" asked Caesar innocently," Maybe I was trying to make conversation."

" Tell me how I look strange."

" That might cost you."

" What will it cost me?"

" A plate of Sunday rice, cooked by you in your place."

" In other words you want to know my home."

"How did you deduce that? You must be very bright this morning. I'm hungry. I want home cooked rice. Only then will I tell you how you look strange."

" Okay. You win "

" First of all tell me your name."

" My name is Vera."

"Nice name. You can call me Caesar."

Vera's Residence

12:01

Caesar was a bit surprised to find that she lived in a very comfortable two room flat in a respectable part of the town.

"Why don't you make yourself comfortable` while I get you something to eat?"

"Sure."

Caesar chose an easy chair and reclined into it. He spied a paperback on a side stool nearby. He picked it up.

The title was "Passion in the summer" and the cover showed a hunk of a man in a steamy embrace with a sultry lady. Both were on a beach with the barest of bikinis on. Caesar sneered; he turned it to look at the back.

Yep. The story was the same. Miss Blah Blah hated Mr. Blah Blah because he was so arrogant and wanted to take over her business or something. Unfortunately (or fortunately) Miss Blah Blah could not resist Mr. Blah Blah and inevitably ends up in the sack with him. Can a story become more daft?

Vera came back into the room and saw him sneering at the book.

"You don't like the book?" she asked as she put a stool in front of him, "that happens to be my favorite."

"Well it's just that romance novels are so full of stereotyped characters?"

"What do you mean?" she asked polishing the stool with a cloth.

"Without opening the book I can describe to the letter the couples first kiss."

She grinned deliciously as she straightened up. "Go ahead. "

Caesar put on a sour expression and started off.

"... she brought up her hands against his chest to push him away but instead her hands climbed to the back of his neck to stroke the curly hair that fell almost to the collar. His lips were hard and demanding and even though she resisted at first, she suddenly felt herself give in to his pressure and her lips opened submissively to allow him in. Their tongues seemed to be fighting for breath and she felt herself buckle at the knees. The soft scent of his after shave assailed her nostrils…"

Vera began to laugh. Caesar shook his head.

"See what I mean?"

"You're very funny."

"I'm not funny. That makes me sound like a court jester."

"Sorry. So what do you read, Caesar? I know boys don't touch books."

" I do read. I like crime thrillers a lot."

"Really? Why so?"

" I don't know. I guess all those evil intentions harboring the human mind waiting to explode really gets me going. And the fact that the actual culprit might be the one you would never have thought could commit such a dastardly deed."

She gazed at him strangely.

"You should avoid such books or one day it will manifest for you in real life."

"I've always ran into those kind of people in real life. They may not be murderers or felons but what they are capable of doing you can never match to their faces. A face is like the surface of a pool. It will never tell you how deep it is. But I have a way of gauging that depth."

"Really?" she asked with interest, "How?"

"The eyes. If I am to quote a saying: ' the truth is in their eyes and their eyes don't lie'. So I believe that no matter how someone can hide true emotions in their facial expression, the eyes will always show the truth about that person."

"So what do my eyes tell you?"

"Remember I said there was something strange about you? There it is, your eyes." Immediately she sat next to him and faced him squarely.

"Well, what about them?"

" A lot of people are afraid of you, aren't they?"

"Yes. How did you know that?"

"Many find it hard to look you straight in the eye."

"Why?"

"Because your eyes are strange."

"What is strange about my eyes?"

" It conflicts with your personality"

" Conflicts with my personality? Please explain."

"You seem a reticent person. Introvert even but yet your eyes don't say that."

"So what do my eyes say? "

"Do you like cats?"

Vera stared at him in disbelief.

"What has that got to do with my eyes."

"Just say yes or no."

"Yes."

"Many people hate them bit I feel it's out fear because many don't understand it especially in our country. I remember my auntie could hold any creature in her hands even the slimiest insects but she couldn't touch a cat. Only I could in my entire household. They are very smart creatures, very proud and they are born killers. It would go out in the bush and slaughter a pigeon and come back to the house acting like it can't hurt a fly. Only it's eyes can tell you what it's capable of doing and I know many can't stand their eyes."

"So I have Cat's Eyes?"

"Exactly."

" I really don't know whether to take it as a compliment or not."

"From me it is. Cat's intrigue me that's why I like them. You intrigue me and that's why I like you."

She smiled and at last her eyes smiled with her.

"You know something, Caesar? I think you are the strangest man I've ever met."

"That makes our feelings mutual then."

"May be. But I think it's time I brought you your rice. It's time to complete my end of the bargain."

The meal was excellent and Caesar told her so. She smiled her thanks. After clearing the stool she brought a photo album for him to browse through.

She sat next to him as he opened the album. She explained the people in each picture as he scanned them one by one. Most of them were high school pictures and photos of her in her youth. He picked out one, which had a set of girls standing together in a line, all wearing dormitory uniforms.

"Which school is this anyway?"

"Blessed Mother Girls High School, Kebby Creek. It's for orphans."

"You're an orphan?"

"I never even knew my parents. We… I was found in an abandoned building."

"I see" he said awkwardly.

As he casually scanned each of the faces he suddenly stopped in disbelief.

There was a pretty fair complexioned girl among them who unquestionably was the best looking in the photo.

" You know this girl? " he asked, pointing at the face.

" Yes she was one of my school friends. Every one in that picture was my close friend."

He wondered why she referred to them in past tense but he didn't bother asking why.

" What's her name?" he asked.

" Isabelle. She still lives in this town. I think she's engaged to some oil worker."

Caesar again got that spooky feeling.

" You know her?" she asked.

" Not really. Just see her around."

" Hmm. I see."

Caesar's mobile phone began to burr in his pocket. He yanked it out and switched it on.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Clark?"

"Speaking."

"It's me Ani. The bartender."

"What's up?"

"I think I have what you want. Meet me at the bar in thirty minutes time. Bring the money with you." The line cut.

Caesar thoughtfully returned the phone to his pocket. Vera was gazing at him enquiringly.

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"That's Ani, a bartender working in Sandy's bar. He has something for me."

"Ani Assem? I know him. I've met him only a few times, though. Helps me do some errands."

"Speaking of errands what do you do exactly?"

"I'm a hair dresser. I have my own salon not far from here."

"Good for you."

"And what do you do, Caesar?"

"I chase girls with Cat's Eyes."