Chapter 46.
As she closed the door to her car, Rebecca gave a huge exhale of relief. The story was in the hands of the gods now and she could breathe for a few days on her own. Checking her appearance in the mirror, she gave herself a stern look. She knew that despite how wonderful the plan that she had spun to Simon was, she knew in her gut that she had absolutely no intentions of going through with it. She could leave town, and ignore the unholy truths that she’d uncovered and avoid whatever nefarious plan they had in store for her, but she had that itch. The itch that tells her when there’s a story. The one that she knew she’d follow into death’s embrace if it meant she got to know what was underneath. And she needed to know why she had been invited. She needed to know what went on behind the doors of Diabolique. She still had a few days to change her mind, write lists, weigh it all up. Find some way of justifying her reasoning to herself. Or find a distraction.
She thought about texting the detective. Asking him to run away with her. But she quickly dismissed the notion as silly and instead, set out to go and buy some groceries and maybe pay a visit to the pet shop to pick up a little treat for Cyprus. She drove to the boutique pet shop on the corner of Blair Street. They sold designer collars for pampered pets, and there was a blue collar with crystal studs that she had been eyeing up for weeks. It would look stunning around Cyprus’ neck. But she knew that this was more of a thing for her, a thing that she imagined if she was someone’s pet cat, she wouldn’t mind wearing. Cyprus on the other hand would probably choke himself to death trying to get the damned thing off. She contemplated a new food bowl or one of those timed feeders that would dispense the exact amount of food at the exact time, but decided that she liked having to be there to feed him. She liked their intense and often profound discussions; he was often the best conversation of her day. She settled on a new toy and some gourmet chewy treats instead. She reckoned that he’d approve of her restraint.
She stopped off at her favourite coffee shop for a top up on her caffeine levels and a quick flirt with her favourite barista. She liked it when she made a veiled innuendo that caused varying shades of raspberry through plum to spread all the way to the open v at the top of his shirt. It was the perfect confidence boost that always added a spring in her step. She found the act of window shopping perfectly soothing as a pastime. She found it easier to like clothes in theory and on the models on display but despised the act of committing to a purchase. She kept her look pretty simple and functional. Outside of work, where she made the deliberate choice to wear skirts and heels. She gave full employment to the tools of femininity when it came to her presentation as a professional journalist. She hated the idea of having to become a man to be taken seriously. Sometimes, it felt like the only one she was labouring the point to, was herself. Nobody else gave a damn.
Rebecca decided that as she wasn’t sure yet if she was going to the Halloween Ball, it seemed like a huge waste to have such a divine dress and not give it the respect by wearing it. She also thought it would be rude to deprive it of having shoes, just in case. And there had been a pair that she had admired on many occasions, always cursing that she never went anywhere remotely fancy enough to justify owning them. They were a simple pump style, a delicate satin heel and a fine silk tulle frosted with tiny silver sequins for the main body of the shoe. They were perfect, extravagant, but perfect. And she figured that should these be the last pair of shoes she was ever going to wear; they were worth the money. If, on the other hand, she managed to live through Halloween, then they’d be a glorious reminder of her own stupidity.
She wandered about the shops for a couple of hours and picked up a few other items to pamper herself with. But as she walked around the shopping precinct she had the distinct feeling that someone was watching her. She could sense their presence somewhere behind her, but convinced herself that it was merely her imagination running wild. She shook the sensation off and took her bags back to her car. It was time to go home, the love of her life was there and she couldn’t wait to show him the presents she had bought.