“Give it a firm push, it sometimes sticks,” shouted Beth from the kitchen. She emerged with two steaming cups of tea. “I always fear that creation will expire before tea time. So what brings you around here, seriously? Got any news?”
“No, I’m afraid I don’t. I really wanted to see how you’re doing?”
“It’s said that to be truly happy, you must not be too concerned with others. But thanks, that’s nice. I’m doing fine. Sit please.” She motioned to a large space on the couch.
“Have you heard from Matt at all?” he said, warming his fingers on the teacup.
“No, not directly.”
“Not directly?” quizzed PC Bates.
“Well, I mean I hear things from the locals. They point and scurry away as if I have the plague. I hear them talk, as if I can’t hear them. They have all kinds of creative scenarios and some I’m starting to believe. The fact is he’s left me. It’s not a crime to break someone’s heart. I know that now and I’m close to moving on.”
“Beth, did Matt do any drugs at all?”
Beth shook her head, “No. He wouldn’t even eat in an unhealthy way.”
“I need to know, because he looked a little odd, on the tape we have of him in London. He was talking, but no one was near him. He shifted in a funny way, as if he were high.”
“No, he didn’t do drugs.”
“You’d told me that before, but he looked weird. My colleagues commented several times that he looked high or possessed.” Beth rolled her eyes in disdain. PC Bates sipped the hot tea carefully. “I guess it’s not good, if you’re in the middle of it.”
“It?” quizzed Beth.
“Sorry, I was thinking of a saying my Mother used all the time. A little public scandal is good once in a while – takes the tension out of the news.” He looked sheepish, not knowing what reaction he would get.
Beth sipped her tea and stared ahead into the distance. “Beryl Pfizer,” she murmured.
“Sorry?”
“Beryl Pfizer said that, that’s where your Mum got it from.”
“Beth, you really okay?”
Beth changed her focus and locked in on PC Bates. He was genuinely concerned but she could see in his eyes, that he knew Matt was not coming back. “People are nice, here in Haworth. Sure, some will always gossip but most are nice. We’re a hardy breed us Yorkshire folk. We try to take care of our own. I try not to listen to the gossip.”
“You’re a smart lady Beth. You know, there’s not a lot we can do. I don’t think he’s coming back. I do know he’s alive and not trying too hard to cover his tracks.”
“Hope is nature’s veil for hiding truth’s nakedness.”
“Do you still have hope Beth?”
“You can see the red in my eyes, from my tears. My tears signify that I have depleted my hope. No, I have no hope left for Matt, I’m moving on.”
“Sometimes it’s harder to deprive oneself of a pain than of a pleasure. Sorry Beth, that’s a quote I heard in court once.”
Beth smiled, “F. Scott Fitzgerald. I’m going to be okay, really. In a way, I hope he doesn’t come back. It’s cleaner this way. I’m thinking of going away and taking a trip. Blow the cobwebs out of my mind.”
“London?”
“No, probably abroad.” Beth shook her head, as she said the words.
“I think that might be good for you. Beth, I’m old enough to be your Father and my Daughter is about your age. Don’t get creeped out by this, but you’re a pretty girl. Your future is full of promise and there will be plenty of time for others in your life.” PC Bates shuffled awkwardly.
“I appreciate the kind words and I’m not creeped out. I know you’re trying to prop up my fragile ego. A decent boldness ever meets with friends.” Beth raised her eyes once more.
PC Bates wrinkled his forehead. “You’ve outsmarted me again.”
“Homer.”
“Simpson?” he said with a devilish smirk. “I’d better go before I show my education level. I’m glad to see you’re on the mend.”
“You know, I do appreciate you checking in with me but I’m over him. I’m not depressed and I won’t do anything stupid. I’m gutted, because I thought he was the one. I’ll live through this and get stronger. I’ve faced worse.”
“That’s the spirit,” said PC Bates, resting his half empty teacup on a coaster. “I’d better be off, thanks for the tea love,” he said, nodding his head in the direction of the cup. Beth just smiled and watched as the village policeman let himself out. The room was quiet now and she could hear her own breathing. It raced along with the tick of the wall clock. She had been crying when PC Bates knocked on the door. After he left, that somber feeling returned and she felt very alone. She marveled at how she had gone through life alone and developed a hard self-sufficient core. Once she had fallen for Matt, she truly thought she would never have to be alone again. She was ready to share her life.
Tears started to well in her eyes and she struggled to regain her composure. “I’m a woman damn it, I need to talk this out.” Beth racked her brains and finally the answer flooded into her conscious thoughts. “Sakura! She’d know what to do.”
Beth leaned over to the side table and punched the pre-programmed key on her phone. Sakura’s number flashed upon the display. She tapped the dial button and a thought raced through her mind. “Oh no, what time is it in Toronto?” She quickly did the math and felt better; knowing it was mid afternoon, as Toronto was five hours behind.
“Hello?” said a woman’s voice, seemingly out of breath.
“Is this Sakura?”
“Yes, I just got home and ran for the phone.” She didn’t know who it was and her brain frantically tried to place the voice.
“Hi, it’s me Beth. I really need to talk; I need a friend right now.”
Sakura could hear the stress in Beth’s voice; she knew this sounded serious. “Hold on Beth, I just need to get organized and then we can chat. Hold on a second.” Sakura placed her purse on the kitchen counter, closed the door and locked it. She switched on the lights. She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and settled onto the couch, holding the cordless phone. “Now, what’s up my dear?”
Beth raced through her story, talking quickly and gasping for the breath that allowed her to continue. Her sentences streamed together, like the constant lapping of waves. She described the events with a cold emotional detachment. Beth didn’t offer her opinions she just described the facts. Sakura listened intently. She was engaged and listening intensely. As Beth continued, she described her experiences with the local police and the picture taken by the banking machine. Sakura had never met Matt but she sensed that something was wrong. The facts didn’t seem to add up. She remembered how Beth had helped her, in her time of need. Sakura was at her wits end and desperate for help, to deal with her relative Toshie. Toshie was problematic and had unique attributes that were difficult to comprehend. Beth was there when Sakura needed her the most. She had dropped everything and had assisted Toshie, relieving the family of a growing burden. Sakura desperately wanted to help to repay this debt. This would be her first opportunity to help Beth. Beth sounded fragile and disorganized. Her usually calm exterior had been stripped away. Sakura could hear the frustration and the anxiety. Beth knew something was wrong and she could not accept the facts for what they were. Something else was at play here and she hoped Sakura could use her wisdom, to help her decipher this puzzle.
“He looked like he was possessed. It was Matt; you could recognize him from his clothes and his face. He seemed strange. He talked to himself and his activities were unusual. They seemed out of character. He looked like he was on remote control, as if he were possessed. I know what its like to have someone else inside you, guiding you. Try talking about that to the police.”
“Do you think Matt fell into some trouble? Perhaps he had fallen in with the wrong crowd?” asked Sakura delicately.
“No. I’ve racked my brains trying to come up with something.�
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“Well,” said Sakura trying to lighten the mood. “Men are like fires, they go out if unattended.”
“Nice,” replied Beth. “But I think Zsa Zsa Gabor said it was husband’s are like fires.”
“Can’t get a quote past you eh Beth?”
“No. I’ve come a long way to learn something so obvious.”
Sakura waited and could not stand the silent pause, “What do you mean?”
“I think it stems back to the Shell, the portal in Brussels. At the time, I felt nothing of it but now I’m suspicious. The portal opened and the spirit warriors passed through. I felt something. I wasn’t sure what I felt but I felt something. The more I think about this, the more I become convinced.”
Sakura strained to hear the words but felt unsatisfied in her curiosity. “What did you feel?”
“I felt energy. It felt like a spirit.” Beth paused and Sakura waited her out. “Like a spirit passing through the open portal. It took me some time to figure out what I felt; but now I’m sure. This energy passed though me and into the person holding my hand. Matt was the one reaching out to help me from the floor. This spirit passed into Matt. I think Matt is possessed. Do you think it’s possible? I’ve tried to rationalize this all in my mind. I know it sounds far fetched but you, of all people, know how hard it is to describe this sort of thing. Think back to our first meeting. You tried to explain to me that you had a 140 year’s old relative. I’m certain that Matt doesn’t have control. His actions are not consistent with the Matt I know. I know what he’s like and I know he’s changed. He’s fighting with the spirit inside of him for control. He’s lost it Sakura, he’s now …”
Beth could not complete the sentence, for fear of ridicule. She knew what Sakura must have been thinking. This was a fanciful explanation of why Matt walked out on her. It was pure denial.
“He’s possessed.” Sakura completed her sentence. “Beth, I’d like to introduce you to a dear friend of mine. He’s a believer and probably the most informed person alive today, about the existence of portals. He has no practical experience like you but he might be able to help. He would love to meet you and understand your experiences. I don’t know why but I have a feeling that he might be able to help you. Are you open to this?”
“I just need some help from people who are not going to judge me or subject me to ridicule.”
Sakura tried to reassure, “David will understand, I’ll call him and arrange for you both to talk. He’s in Hong Kong but I’m sure he’ll be interested in meeting with you.”
“I just need help, before I lose my mind. Matt needs help.”
Sakura tried to calm Beth down. The two ladies talked like old friends for over an hour. “I’ll need to let you go now Beth but I have a request.”
“Sure, what can I do?”
“You mentioned that you have an image or a still photo, it was taken of Matt retrieving some cash from a machine in London.”
“Yes,” said Beth with an inquisitive tone?
“I’d like a copy of it; can you get me a copy?”
“Sure, I can scan it and email it to you. It’ll be a bit grainy. Why do you need a copy?”
“I’m going to show it to David. He loves a mystery and this image will hook him in. This guy will help you find Matt. If your hunch is right, then David will be interested in the portal and will want to find Matt quickly.”
Beth completed her chat with Sakura and thanked her for being a good friend. She had no idea who David was. She was skeptical that he could help. She felt better for sharing her troubles. It was getting late and Beth was starting to tire. She scanned the picture into her PC. She attached it to an email addressed to Sakura. Staring at the picture, she saw the haunted look on Matt’s face. She didn’t want to look but she couldn’t resist. It was as if some macabre force drew her in. The image stuck in her mind and remained there, well into her dreams.
Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, Present day.
David Lee studied the image flickering upon his computer screen. He used his mouse to select the print button. He had cropped the image, zooming in on Matt’s face and the pendant hanging around his neck. David reached for his cell phone and dialed the number simply identified as Sampan Man. David dialed his old friend and was greeted with a cheery “Hello?”
“It’s me David; I really need to talk with you. It’s a matter of great importance.”
“The harbor has a swell today and my stomachs a bit upset. Can it wait until tomorrow?” pleaded Sampan Man.
“No it can’t. I have to see you today; I’m flying out tomorrow. This will interest you and I need some straight advice. I wouldn’t call you, if I didn’t think it was important.”
David sounded stressed and his voice had an urgency not heard before. The Sampan Man was wise and intuitive. “I’m not up for a Sampan ride today. If you insist, you can visit me in my apartment. Let’s get one thing clear though. I’m allowing you to meet with me. It sounds urgent and I’d like to help. Don’t do this again, do you understand?”
“Yes,” said David, feeling like a scolded school kid.
“Get a pen and paper.” The Sampan Man waited then resumed. “Apartment 504, Number 3, Ap Lei Chau Drive, the Sham Wan Towers. Get here soon and never tell anyone where I live, am I clear?”
“Yes,” said David in a compliant manner. He didn’t understand why it was such a secret. “I’ll be leaving from downtown in about five minutes.”
“I’ll expect you and it better be important.”
He sounded grumpy and irritated but the Sampan Man knew everything about portals. David had run across him several times, taking an interest in the same artifacts that he would buy. He was always outbid and seemed to have a fairly low limit. David respected his knowledge and had spent many a boat ride learning from the Sampan Man. He wasn’t allowed to ask him who he was or where he gained his knowledge. That was made clear to him. When he got close to this boundary, the Sampan Man abruptly finished any further conversation. With David’s financial resources, he could have him followed and investigated easily. It was more fun, more honest, to leave their relationship pure, with a little mystery involved. It was not long before David found himself standing in front of the door to apartment 504. He drew a deep breath and lightly rapped the burgundy colored door, with his knuckles. He waited patiently. The door opened and the Sampan Man stood frowning, as their eyes met.
“Well, you’d better come in,” he barked.
David entered the small apartment flooded with light from two large windows. The walls were mirrored and rich colored floors, made from hard wood, reflected the light. The windows afforded a spectacular view of the lush green hills, undulating like waves. The apartment was tastefully decorated, with fine Turkish rugs, Chinese vases, Indian carvings, English porcelains and Italian silk. A few pieces of art were sparingly arranged throughout the small apartment. He glanced at the tasteful electric fireplace, as synthetic flames flickered. Above the fireplace was a framed picture, positioned in a place of honor. David wondered why such an interesting, yet simple, piece of art took the prime place in the apartment. Other pieces appeared far more impressive. The frame was black and contained four gold arrows. Each colored arrowhead touched in the center. The feathered end of the arrows nestled into a corner of the square frame. The frame held a mirror with the arrow design placed on top. Within the frame were two black elliptical designs that looked like an eye. The arrow tips all pointed to the pupil, in the center of the eye.
The Sampan Man sat with his back to the rolling hills, relaxing into his favorite armchair. He motioned for David to take the couch. David obliged, resting his weight on the edge of the couch.
The Skin of the Gods Page 23
