Page 114 of Black
“Because he wore his Costco work uniform with a name tag on it that said Kyle, and the big bloody mess on the side of his head told me he shot himself.”
“I didn’t know that,” Daniel muttered.
“Come with me,” Violet walked resolutely toward the bathroom and pointed. When we both stood beside her she said, “See that tile with the lighter lines around it?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s where the bullet hit after going through his head. They replaced that tile.”
Daniel wrinkled his nose. “Are you sure he’s gone?”
“Of course. I even cleared out the old grumpy man who was here too.”
“Good thing you’re not superstitious, right?” I told Daniel, who looked slightly pale.
Violet rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me a big tough guy like you is afraid of spirits.”
“No, of course not.” He plumped down on his couch and looked around the room as if to make sure there really weren’t any intruders in his new home.
I figured it was time to change the subject so I told Violet of my art exhibition.
“That’s so cool, Black,” she said. “Can I come to the opening?”
“Of course. It’s tomorrow night at seven.”
“We’ll be there.” She looked at Daniel. “Right?”
He nodded. “Absolutely.”
I tilted my head. “Violet, do you still have your car?”
“Yes, I still have Arion.”
I chuckled, not commenting on the fact that Violet had named her car. “I promised I would drop my paintings off at the gallery today. Do you think you can give me a lift?”
“Sure.” She pulled out her cell phone, and somehow the contrast of the newest IPhone with her old-fashioned looks amused me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Violet in anything but long dresses, preferably dark green and flowery. Today she was wearing brown ankle-high leather boots with a two-inch heel, a simple long green velvet skirt, and a white blouse with lace around her neck. With the way her long brown hair was arranged in a bun on top of her head and a few tendrils falling down, she could have stepped right through a time warp from the eighteen hundreds.
“Sure, I can give you a ride, but we need to go soon, because I have a reading at six-thirty and I’m never late for my clients.”
I bit my inner lip, conflicted that we would have to go so soon, since it felt as if I’d only just arrived and I wanted to spend time with Daniel.
“How about you, do you need help with anything?” I asked him with eyes glancing around the apartment. From what I could tell he was pretty much settled in. I only spotted a few boxes, but then of course, he doesn’t have a lot of furniture to begin with.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m fine, and I’ll see you again tomorrow. How are you and Mr. G doing?”
“Fine,” I lied and diverted my eyes to the door. “I’ll tell you some other time,” I said and was already at the door. Daniel is an excellent interrogator, and if he sensed I was upset about something he would try to make me talk, which I wasn’t ready to do just yet.
“Hey, wait up.” Daniel stepped closer and kissed me on my cheek. “Thanks for checking in on me.”
“No problem, and remember to be nice to your neighbors.”
He agreed and gave Violet a hug and a kiss on the cheek too. “Thanks for clearing my place,” he told her.
“No worries – that’s what friends are for, right?”
“Right,” Daniel agreed with a smile.
“Do you want me to swing by tomorrow on my way to Black’s exhibition? I don’t mind giving you a ride.”
