„The secrets also kill: even if they do it in silence”

„If I die one day away from my home, please Lorenne, bury me in the shade of a flowering tree because I hope this way to feel my soul redeemed and reborn from its own burning ashes," Emily told Lorenne a couple of days before her death when both of them were in front of the open window from the living room, drinking tea as if she felt that she would die soon.

„You could have at least fought for your life, silly girl,” Lorenne murmured, being inside of the carriage that tore along the empty streets of London. Then, as if a big sadness took over her, Lorenne looked through the window at the houses that seemed so insignificant to her at that moment and that also seemed „to run” in the opposite direction.

„And yet, Lorenne, don’t forget me,” Emily also told her that night, „because you are the only one who can remember me, after everything we passed together through.”

Lorenne bitterly smiled, remembering those words because even if she and Emily considered the other one a good friend, they had so many hidden secrets for each other yet, secrets that actually could have influenced their future in a good way or… destroyed them … just as happened to Emily eventually: namely her biggest secrets knelled her down and her life fled.

„I’m sorry, Emily,” Lorenne murmured, after spending a long time remembering past events and moments spent next to Miss Davis. „I’m really sorry that I must recall what I said then and … that I must forget you, eventually because … I must survive somehow.”

But… even if she was trying to focus her energy only on thinking and making the perfect plan that would have eventually lead her to success, she felt that she cut to the quick and this made her heart ache, and all this happened not because she remembered that she passed through many harsh times in her life, but because of the doubt that suddenly snuck inside her as if she had a big pain in her mind that wasn’t allowing her freely breathe and because of this she was slowly shaking just as she was doing each time she was feeling that she reached a dead end or that she had no idea how to finally issue with her problems.

„And yet: what the hell does that Victor Keen if he started to hover Christine Bircham’s house? I don’t think he does this because he hopes to find Emily. No matter how much I didn't think about this, he doesn’t seem to be an idiot who didn’t figure out yet that Emily Davis won’t ever turn back. But yet: he seems enough convinced to make it. The question is still: in what exactly?!”

Suddenly, Lorenne winced, remembering what Keen told her when they split up in front of Christine’s house: „you have my permission to go because those like me can find out what they want to know without forcing someone to tell them about what they are hiding from them.”

„It can’t be! Does Keen think I killed Albert and because of this he cuts in front of me, hoping to pull the rug from under me?! No, it’ll be too much: he doesn’t look like an idiot who’ll waste his time with useless investigations like the murder of a simple teamster as Albert was. And yet: he knows about Albert’s abilities and his role inside of the organization or at least he suspects that. Accordingly: he tries to find out more about this while investigating the people who knew Albert because I’m sure that he didn’t come to Mrs. Bircham’s house only to see me. More than that: I’m sure that Christine knows him and that she talked to the detective after my departure because I saw her while spying on us behind the curtain while I was talking to him.”

Remembering this, Lorenne started to nervously move in her chair while the questions were spinning in her head, making her feel confused, doubtful, and extremely clumsy because despite that she perfectly made it in each mission the organization allotted her and where she felt being as right as rain, this time instead, not knowing what such an unpredictable man as Victor Keen was can do, made her feel a simple newcomer.

„The „Red Ants!” Lorenne practically yelled when she remembered that Keen mentioned the name of the organization several times while they talked.

Simon however didn’t hear what she said, but … he stopped when heard her scream, quickly descended from his box-wood, and approached the door. „Did you ask for something, Mrs. Fabeau?” he asked, opening the door.

„What?!” Lorenne asked him confused, but she was amazed a lot seeing that they stopped and that Simon was in front of the open door. „What happens? Why did we stop?”

„Aaa, it’s because I heard you screaming and I thought that you need something,” the old teamster stuttered.

„Mmm, it’s because of this. And I thought that something important happened. No, there’s nothing: I just remembered something and, unwillingly, I screamed. You can turn to your place now.”

„Ok, ma’am!” Simon tried to close the door.

„Wait! Wait a minute, Simon and … tell me: did you notice anything weird while we were leaving Mrs. Christine’s property?”

„Weird?!” the old teamster murmured, taking his time to think about this. „If to be honest, yes. There was a man on the other side of the street, that seemed to spy on Mrs. Bircham’s property.”

„A man? What man?”

„Well, I didn’t see his face because when I looked at him, he hid his face with his hat. But yet … he seemed to be young and… not a simple man or an idler.”

„No? Why do you think so?”

„Aaa, how to say this: first of all - it was his suit, tailored from an expensive cloth as the clothing used by those who work for someone important and … his clock - I saw it exiting a little bit out of his pocket: not everybody can afford such a clock. It means that he received it as a gift for some important favor he did to that person or maybe he has a good salary and he affords to buy something like this.”

„Victor Keen!” Lorenne murmured.

„What?”

„Nothing. Nothing. We can go now.”

„Actually, I want to ask you, Mrs. Fabeau, where we should go because we are rounding the streets for about an hour already, but without a final destination to be honest.”

„Why?”

„Because you didn’t tell me where should we go when we left the property. You only said: „let’s go from here and as quickly as possible.” I thought that you just wanted to go away from that man. That’s why I just simply pulled the reins and we moved away because … maybe I was wrong and I thought only as a stupid man as I use to do generally, but … I didn’t know what else to do.”

Simon however wasn’t stupid at all: he was working in that post for a long time already and he knew well the social circles often frequented by his masters because he’s been first in the service of Mrs. Fabeau’s husband, and, after he’s been killed, the teamster has decided to be faithful to Lorenne. And … he didn’t come to grief deciding this because after she staged a comeback and more after starting to work for the „Red Ants,” they had never had a moment of respite and they’ve been always well paid for what they did.

Using that extra money, Simon could always help his sons while they were still little, and he also kept sending them money after being already married and having their own families because Simon’s wife died while he was still young and he considered that what he was earning was too much for him only.

„I wish I could see Eva,” Lorenne eventually murmured. „But yet… I don’t know where she is and more with this Victor Keen clinging around us, I think that it’ll be better to see the Master first.”

„The Master? Do you mean…?”

„Yes, that Master you think about. So… as you know his address, don’t waste more time and pull the reins. We don’t have time to waste in vain because … I feel that we must act till it isn’t too late yet: Keen can ruin our plans any moment.”

***

Leaving Christine Bircham’s house, Keen intended to visit Brian and tell him about Emily Davis’death right away. But … while crossing the main boulevard of London, he spotted Sophie exiting a coffee shop and he had decided that it was time to meet her, even if he avoided her for so long since he turned back to London and even if Sophie sent him a lot of notifications that she wants to see him, immediately.

Howbeit, Keen felt that it wasn’t yet the moment to see her, more because he didn’t know how to tell her that he has decided to ally with Brian and to find out what was interesting and important for him, and not to waste time investigating her case, that seemed something useless to him, for the first time since he accepted that job: the simple jealousy of a frustrated wife.

„Stop the carriage, John!” Keen told the worker that was in his service: working both as a spy and also as a teamster because even if Keen had wanted to hire someone else for that job, John asked him to give that job to him because he was often without work, only wasting his time, and extra money was something vital for him because he had a large family after his wife had given birth to many children, and a lot of hungry souls always meant a lot of costs for him.

Descending from the carriage, Keen straightened the jacket and the coat, trying to win time this way until Sophie will approach him because she was slowly walking, with her head bent and watching the ground, visibly weakened and tired, with big dark circles around her eyes because even if she tried to seem that the divorce didn’t affect her and that she can firmly stand on her own feet, the gossip of the evil mouths never left her alone and they managed eventually to bother her even in the evenings or early in the morning, eager to find out fresh news about her „war” with Brian, and this was slowly overcoming her.

„Mrs. Anderson Bell?!” Keen softly called her name, taking his hat off in front of her to greet her.

Seeing him, Sophie sketched a bitter smile. But … even if she wanted to tell something crusty to the detective, who deliberately ignored her so many times when she tried to talk to him, Sophie understood that a new scandal can break her down, without the possibility of ever standing up again.

„Detective Keen, what a surprise! Finally, I can meet you face to face!” she told him with irony, approaching him. „I knew you out of London,” she added.

Keen however didn't get his tail down, understanding very well that her anger wasn't headed toward him directly, but that it was rather an inrush of her hurt ego, after unappealable losing in front of another woman, much younger than her and who, in Sophie's opinion, wasn't better than her: only a shameless and ruthless mistress.

„And you’ve been right, Mrs. Anderson Bell. I’ve been to Brighton, until recently, but … an unexpected situation forced me to turn back to London, urgently.”

„And yet, it kept you away from my home when what I needed from you were useful news, detective,” Sophie harshly told him.

„Allow me not to agree with you, ma’am because I’m pretty sure that the news you were expecting wouldn’t have helped you at all,” Keen riposted, focusing his glance on the woman that was piercing him with her eyes and seeing in them the increasing anger, born inside her when she understood that Keen betrayed her and long ago actually.

Yet, Sophie managed to bridle her ego and, raising her head up, she looked straight into the detective’s eyes, asking him in a sure voice: „Why are you so sure about this, detective? Any news could have helped me then.”

„Because it was a lost cause right from the beginning, and we both know this well,” Keen said, but the detective’s voice resounded calmly and peacefully that time, feeling how much pain was hiding that woman’s soul that was standing in front of him: a betrayed woman by the husband she thought that’ll be always by her side, and also abandoned by those who once said that they are her friends and business partners, but who, eventually, also turned their backs to her.

„I’m the only one who could have decided if it was or not a lost cause,” Sophie sadly murmured. „But now… it can be considered a lost cause because … trusting the wrong person, I’ve only wasted my time and … my money,” she hissed eventually through the teeth.

„This was the problem,” Keen inwardly said: he had actually forgotten that Sophie had been always led by ambitions, by a vain ego, pursuing wealth, an enviable social status, and power, and that she never insisted upon strong feelings like love and respect and this encroached upon her eventually because Brian chose what he had missed while being married to Sophie: love and respect that seemed to be something that Eva could offer him a lot.

„You are silent!” Sophie reproachfully murmured. „Of course, what else you can say after your betrayal?!”

„You are wrong, Mrs. Anderson Bell. It’s not because of this I keep silent, but … because I realize that no matter what I’ll say, it won’t be something you’ll like.”

„Why do you think so? Do you really consider me a monster incapable of understanding or feeling something?” Sophie practically yelled, but she could finally control the avalanche of emotions, and, after she looked around and she’s been sure that there was nobody there who could have recognized her, she took a step toward Keen, piercing him with her beast glance. „I’m just a human being, detective. A person that can feel, just like you do!”

„I still think differently! Otherwise, you wouldn’t have accused me of betrayal.”

„Does it seem little for you?! I’ve paid you a lot of money to find my husband’s mistress, a simple job that you couldn’t manage to solve, eventually.”

„And I have again a different opinion than you have because I found Eva Stonebridge in Brighton, but …”

„But???”

„I’ve considered that it wasn’t necessary to tell you about this because shortly after I got hold of her, in Brighton, in Mrs. Lorenne Fabeau’s house, Eva disappeared again. That’s why it was necessary to investigate this right from the beginning and that’s why I didn’t tell you about this,” Keen said, even if part of this was just a lie because he never intended to tell Sophie about Eva, more after he understood that she can be part of the „Red Ants,” an organization that he was interested in.

Sophie winced: „Lorenne Fabeau? Did you say Lorenne Fabeau?”

„Yes, I said this. Otherwise, the same Mrs. Fabeau is in London now, in Christine Bircham’s house.”

Sophie staggered to her feet and she even took a step back. But she didn’t fall because Keen suddenly grabbed her arm, supporting her. „Let’s enter the coffee shop and take a seat! I think that this news affected you more than I’ve thought.”

„No, I’m fine,” Sophie murmured, pushing Keen away from her. Then, she stretched her back, as she used to stay each time, she was facing a problem because it was giving her a certain superiority in front of the rivals, or at least this was what she was thinking. „And… why are you so sure that Lorenne Fabeau is in Mrs. Bircham’s house?” Sophie murmured again, staring at the detective.

„Because Emily Davis is dead, and she came to London to ask for Mrs. Davis’post, within the organization.”

„The post? Within the organization?”

„Yes, within the „Red Ants.” I’m sure that you heard this name, at least only once in your life, whispered only because this is the name of a powerful organization that seems to control from the shadow a lot of lives.”

„Mmm, I must accept that I’ve heard … something, but … there isn’t something of my interest.”

„Why? I think you should pay maximum attention to it. More … because they seem to be involved in your father’s death, in the ex-Prime Minister’s assault.”

Sophie hardly swallowed: she thought a lot about her father’s death and she also thought that Christine and her organization had something to do with Edward’s death. But … without evidence, she dropped her bundle, even if she’d been convinced, at least at the beginning, the find her father’s murderer and punish him for what he did. Now instead… overwhelmed by the problems she had with Brian and Eva, finding the assassin became a second priority for her, more when she felt that she was lacking power every day. And… eventually, she understood that Edward Anderson Bell’s death would remain unpunished.

„I see that you aren’t surprised at all, hearing such words from me.”

„Mmm, I’m not. I must accept this.”

„Why?”

„Because I also thought about this, but … let’s say that I don’t have anymore neither the power nor the money or the circle of friends that could have helped me to solve this case.”

„And… you just simply decided to leave all this behind,” Keen told her reproachfully.

„You can say so because … I have nothing else left than to accept my defeat and … to move on. And … have a nice day, detective,” Sophie murmured, intending to pass by him and to move away from him as quickly as possible, but she wanted in fact to move away from that place that made her seem weak and insignificant.

„Mrs. Sophie,” Keen shouted behind her, forcing her to stop only a few steps away from him. And, when she finally decided to do that, she turned toward him, forcing a smile while listening to what he wanted to say: „Just live your life! This is all I can tell you because there’s nothing more important or beautiful than a quiet life and, trust me, a divorce doesn’t mean anything for such a beautiful woman like you are. I’m sure that another man can offer you more than Brian Beneath! Including love!”

Sophie said nothing else: she only sketched a sad smile. Then, she turned her back to the detective and hurried away from him, toward her carriage that was waiting for her only a few meters behind the detective’s one.

Keen instead, kept watching her and saw her hurrying to climb the carriage’s stairs and he also saw her hand, the one she used to grab the edge of the carriage for climbing in it, slowly shaking because she felt that her legs didn’t listen to her and, seeing her so unprotected and so overwhelmed by her problems, the detective felt sorrow for her and he really commiserated with her.