Books of the Dead (14 page)

Nora walked up to the scooter and took a good look. The color had worn out in some areas and it looked used and roughed. Nora could smell a strong scent of gas from the body when she sniffed it hard. There was no helmet in sight, and Nora decided she wouldn’t need it for the distance that she was traveling.

Mr. Joseph’s house on the outside looked demure and less maintained and Nora knew why, as he was the one under care and there was hardly anyone to look after the house. However, from the looks of it, the house seemed big for two people to reside in. Nora looked around a little before walking to the house. The sides of the house were not cleaned of the leaves that laid round. There was a small rabbit cage on one side of the porch beside a big easy chair, which was broken on one side. The rabbit was nibbling on a short carrot piece and as she walked towards it, the small creature looked towards her face with bright red eyes like it meant to say something. She sat down to have a good look at the creature and marvel at it. Nora was fond of animals and the furry creature kept her engaged for a few minutes when a scratch and pull attracted her gaze towards a figure standing behind the door. Nora knew who she was and her face showed lines of irritation, but Nora promised herself not to be intimidated by her, so she stood up and introduced herself formally. “Hello, I am Dora and I have an appointment with Mr. Joseph, so will you please let me in?”

Jennifer, as Mr. Kippler told Nora, didn’t look too pleased to find Nora on the porch, nor did she say anything when Nora introduced herself. She just looked at Nora intently and getting past her was like a mammoth task for Nora. However, keeping quiet wouldn’t solve the problem, so Nora was the one to speak up first.

“Ma’am, I know that I might be bothering you at the wrong time, but I need to do this interview and it won’t take up a lot of time, I promise.” Nora tried to persuade her. Jennifer still didn’t say anything. Nora thought that Mr. Kippler’s phone call was enough to let her inside the house, but now knew that it would take much more than just a phone call.

After few moments of silence Jennifer said angrily, “Mr. Kippler called, I know, but why did you let him call me?”

“I don’t understand what you are asking me, ma’am. You were not talking with me properly and I needed to talk to Mr. Joseph, so there was nothing else that I could do other than contact Mr. Kippler.”

“How do you know him? I haven’t seen you around town.” Jennifer questioned Nora without letting her in, and Nora was doubtful about who was playing what role. She was there to ask questions, but instead she was the one answering them.

Nora was not prepared to be asked that question, and she fumbled before answering something believable, but the best she could do was to remind herself not to be intimidated by Jennifer.

“I just know him, but what does that matter? Listen, ma’am, I only want some time and that is it.” Nora tried to control her anger and repeatedly reminded herself to remain cool.

After much deliberation, Jennifer motioned Nora to come inside. “Sit down there.” She directed her towards a rough wooden chair near the window. The room was half-lit and the curtains were drawn, which made the room unusually dark. There was old furniture around, a round coffee table which looked like no one used it anymore, an old cupboard stood neglected in the corner with show pieces and decors and wooden toys inside. Nora noticed a rack with photo frames which held the memories of unknown faces. The wallpaper around the room was faded, but it looked like they were rich once. There was a small side table with a golden black vase and a withered tiger lily, which was almost unrecognizable and looked like it was uncared for before the flower gave away to its fate.

There was a rather odd looking clock on the right wall, but it was not working and few stray cobwebs hung around its corner. Nora was not sure in what condition she would find Mr. Joseph.

“Do you need anything?” Jennifer asked.

“Yes, I would like to see Mr. Joseph now.” Nora checked her watch.

“I’ll get you some tea while you wait here.” Jennifer left to get Mr. Joseph and some tea for Nora, and she sat there wondering if this was the nicer side that Mr. Kippler was talking about.

Several minutes passed, yet there was no sign of Mr. Joseph. Nora kept looking on either side of the room, a little out of curiosity and some to watch her time, but Jennifer was gone for a long time. Tea doesn’t require so much time to make. Nora wondered what took so long. Her question was answered when Jennifer appeared with a warm cup of green tea and a piece of blueberry cake on a fine china plate.

The aroma of the green tea spread around the entire room in seconds, and although Nora was not too fond of tea and favored mostly coffee, she was tempted to taste what was offered to her. The complimentary blueberry cake on the side looked even more delicious and Nora reevaluated her opinion about Jennifer. She took a sip of the tea and bit into a piece of the cake and her mouth was filled with a taste so sweet that it made Nora think about the last time she had tasted anything that good.

All along, Jennifer waited for Nora to complete her snack, when Nora realized that she didn’t even thank Jennifer for the tea and cake, because she was so engrossed in it. It was justified for Nora, it had been many days since she tasted some good food. She was surviving on nutrition bars for the previous two nights and was lusting after some actual food. The cake and the tea just loosened her up. Nora felt more relaxed and less tense. She isn’t all that bad, Nora silently thought ... a little rough on the outside, but was decent enough to offer her the food.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Nora said to Jennifer, who gave a quirky smile in return, but didn’t say anything else and waited. But poor Nora, she couldn’t eat another bite under Jennifer’s careful gaze.

“Do you need some more of the cake?” Nora was questioned by Jennifer although there was a large chunk still unfinished on her plate. Nora was embarrassed because a moment ago she was chomping down on the cake, but now it lay unfinished on her plate.

“No, I am fine, thank you very much; perhaps it is time to meet Mr. Joseph now,” Nora said.

“You seem to be in a hurry. Are you leaving town today?” Jennifer asked.

Nora was surprised by the question, and whenever she wanted to believe what Mr. Kippler said about Jennifer, her actions proved otherwise. True, she brought her the soothing tea and delicious slice of cake, but Nora could sense that Jennifer was delaying the meeting with Mr. Joseph in some odd way and unknown reason. Nora was afraid to ask the reason and repented having the tea and the cake. Her suspicious mind began playing with her. What if it was poisoned? she thought and sat without touching the cake.

“Are you not going to finish them?” Jennifer asked.

Nora pretended to check her watch and said, “I think it would be the right time to call Mr. Joseph.”

“You really seem to be in a hurry, and here I thought you would interview me, too. Well, you see, I have in this town for a long time too, so I know about a lot of things that others might not be aware of.” Jennifer said with a strong air of confidence.

But Nora couldn’t say that it was not about the town and she was there to inquire about the Keaton siblings, but something attracted Nora’s attention, something that Jennifer said. Nora never told Jennifer what she wanted to ask Mr. Joseph nor the fact that she wanted to know something that the rest of the town folk was not aware of. Then how did Jennifer say that she knew something. What if she knows about the Keaton siblings, too? Was it right to ask her? Nora asked herself repeatedly, but how would she know what was the right thing to do at that moment. Interviewing Jennifer looked alluring, but it was Mr. Joseph who would know more about the Keaton. Nora weighed the situation and settled with questioning Mr. Joseph.

“I will question you after I finish questioning Mr. Joseph. Is that all right with you?” Nora asked.

“Do I have any other option? I will have to settle with that, all right then, wait here while I prepare him for the meeting, but remember he is old and does not hear very well, also he tends to forget things and even gets nervous at times over very trivial stuff, so please don’t excite him too much,” Jennifer requested and although it reflected her concern, yet Nora had a feeling that Jennifer was being unusually careful.

“Oh, I almost forgot something; Mr. Joseph does not like light, hence the covered windows, but don’t ask him why he hates the sight of light. The memory is not pleasant for him, so if you want some light, then I can switch them for you.” Jennifer left Nora after arousing her suspicion to a great level.

Nora sat there and couldn’t help but think that Jennifer knew something, but then she remembered what happened at the library when she unnecessarily offended the librarian, Miss. Lily. This time, she wanted to avoid it at all cost. “Let me just wait until Mr. Joseph comes and then I’ll decide for myself.” She relied on her skills as a student of criminology and although neither Mr. Joseph nor Jennifer were a criminal yet, she would know if they lied or attempted to hide something, then she would clearly know. She took her notebook out, the one which held the photograph of the Keaton and braced herself to face Mr. Joseph. Nora quickly jotted down few questions that she wanted to ask, but questions that would not make Jennifer suspect her true intentions.

There were sounds of rolling wheels and Nora saw Jennifer pushing a flimsy wheelchair towards where she was sitting. Nora stood up to greet Mr. Joseph. She was glad that Mr. Joseph agreed to meet her.

“Hello, Mr. Joseph, I am Dora and I wanted to ask you some questions about this town and the people here. I am really sorry to be taking up your time, but thank for agreeing to meet me. I promise not to keep you long,” Nora said in haste and was extra polite in case they changed their mind.

Mr. Joseph gestured her to sit down, and Nora did and waited for him to compose and settle himself down. There were lines of anxiousness imbedded in his forehead and the veins in his hands were protruding. He looked like he recently recovered from some sickness, for dark circles underlined his tired eyes and he licked his chapped lips constantly. There was an odd black mark on his wrist, which might have been caused from a fall or he might have bumped into something, Nora thought. The marks were showing although he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt. Mr. Joseph caught Nora looking at his hand and he pulled his sleeves to cover them, but said nothing about what caused them.

His balding gray hair was ruffled and he looked tired like he hadn’t slept for days, and Nora felt guilty again. She noticed that he was dressed far too casually and there was no sense of tidiness about him.

“Mr. Joseph was resting when you came, so I had to dress him up in a hurry,” Jennifer said in a calm tone.

Nora wished that Jennifer took more care in keeping Mr. Joseph tidy rather than making the blueberry cake. She in fact was angry at herself for appreciating Jennifer and the food she offered a minute ago. Mr. Joseph looked uncared for just like the withering flower in the vase and his house. Nora pitied the old librarian. She wondered why no one said a thing and what was the secret that Mr. Kippler was talking about? The question tormented Nora, but she couldn’t do anything. She didn’t know what relationship Mr. Joseph and Jennifer shared or what role in the household she held. She was a woman in her early forties, casual and unkempt. Her nails were broken and shoes were dirty. It was agreed that she made nice blueberry cake, but it overshadowed the things Nora saw now. Jennifer overpowered Mr. Joseph and stood there holding the side of his chair never leaving his side for a moment. Nora was visibly uneasy and knew that it would be impossible for her to ask any question to Mr. Joseph, but she couldn’t just come and not ask anything. Nora needed a way to make Jennifer leave even if it was just for several minutes, but what she was thinking was practically impossible.

Nora pretended to cough suddenly blaming the closed sitting area and with no ventilation. “Could I get some water? I won’t be able to continue without it.” She coughed a little more. Jennifer obliged and left the two to get some water for Nora. It was the perfect opportunity for Nora. Earlier she had noticed that the kitchen was on the other side of the house, and it took some time for Jennifer to go and then come back from the kitchen. Nora didn’t waste anymore time. She asked what she was suppose to, “Are you hurt in any way, Mr. Joseph?” He didn’t say anything. Instead, there was thin lone tear that rolled down from his eye.

“Yes, in my heart and my head” he spoke very gently; his tone was soft and humble and had no strength in them.

“I didn’t mean that, I want to know whether…” Nora didn’t know how to ask the question, “… you fell down or bumped against something?” and anticipated an answer and she was not ready to hear, “I fell and Jennifer took care of me.”

It was compulsion and Nora had no doubt about that. “Old age,” she sighed and there was nothing she could do to save this man from the situation. Jennifer didn’t treat him well, but at least she didn’t leave him and took care of him. “Who is Jennifer?” Nora asked very quietly.

“She is everything to me, everything. She takes care of me and I am thankful to her for not leaving me,” he said solemnly. Nora couldn’t make out what he meant by “everything.”

Nora couldn’t get any information on Jennifer from Mr. Joseph. She is probably his nurse, who is mean, and Nora settled with that thought. Jennifer was still not in sight and Nora needed to know things, so she kept in mind what Jennifer warned her about, she couldn’t let Mr. Joseph become anxious, so Nora started asking about him, about how he came to this town, and how he went on to become the librarian.

Mr. Joseph answered slowly, but steadily. Nora on the other hand looked over his shoulder every now and then to see if Jennifer was coming that way, but she was no where in sight.

Mr. Joseph, how long did you work as a librarian?” Nora asked.

“Over 30 years, if I can remember clearly,” he paused and said.

“And do you remember anything significant happening during that time?” Nora asked carefully.