秋分 [4] / [6]
<You deserted me again, didn't you?>
<Please. Let me testify about the rape, please. I'm done with preparation. I will tell you everything. This will be the last time, I swear. I will wait for you.>
He should not have seen it. It was hard to concentrate on Cynthia. Cynthia could see it too. Their eyes met in the air, and it was written all over his face. He wanted Cynthia, of course, but, simultaneously he wanted to solve the case and be released from Violet. He couldn't be sure if Violet was behaving capriciously again. He saw Cynthia's face. Cynthia would never change. She would always be next to him. His excitement waned almost at once. He got to his feet.
"I will be back really soon honey, I can't even tell you how sorry I am. Just forgive me. I promise I will make Violet testify to everything tonight."
Cynthia didn't answer. She covered her body with her gown, which was still a little wet. At the moment he opened the door to leave, she asked abruptly.
"How many times have you slept with her?"
He stopped for a moment. He turned back, looking at her,
"What?"
Her eyes seemed to blaze with fury. She said nothing, and went off to a small powder room near the back of the house. She wasn’t gone long, and had something in her hands when she returned. She almost threw them in front of Alexander. He slowly picked them up. He doubted his eyes.
Pink-colored lace panties, which he took off of Violet that night, a few blonde hairs, which were stuck in sellotape, and a small piece of paper. He opened it. 'You were amazing Alex. I won't forget this night with you. Ever.' She even sealed it with a kiss.
He felt his heart drop, bottoming out with a thud. He was lost for words. Everything around him seemed to just stop. He tried to say something, but shut his mouth quickly. She found these things, and hid them until now. He could imagine her bottling all this up by herself, alone this whole time.
These items were planted so as to make her think various kinds of things occurred between Alexander and Violet while she had not been here. She must have decided not to tell him and left it hidden until an unknown time. From her point of view, she couldn't be sure how many times they slept together while she'd been gone.
He was angry, sad, confused, and just didn't know what to make of all this. He had to leave to meet Violet, but, at the same time, how could he leave Cynthia like this? He felt sick to his stomach, and like his heart was being torn apart.