Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, I thought, getting so frustrated I was ready to scream. Did his eyelid just flicker? I thought, not daring to hope. WAKE UP!
Ryu’s eyes flickered again; he was definitely switching on. Suddenly, he was fully awake, staring at me with a fair amount of surprise registering on his face.
“Good morning, Jane,” he mumbled. “What the hell are you doing?”
I had so much to tell him that it got jumbled on the way out, and all that emerged from my mouth was an inarticulate “aaaaargh” sound.
“Oh, really? That’s great. Is there coffee?” Ryu pushed me gently away so he could sit up. He made a funny face and his hand went to his crotch. “Ow, must have slept funny.” He eyed me suspiciously. “Why is my pillow wet?”
“Ryu,” I said, swiftly changing the subject. “Jimmu was at the bookstore the day you came, and was at the Sty the first night we were there. He was with all these academics so I didn’t recognize him at first but I know it was him.”
Ryu was looking at me like I was speaking in tongues. “Jane, what are you talking about?”
“I know you’re going to say it’s impossible but it’s not. He was totally going to kill me this morning but something was in the bushes and he like hypnotized me, so I couldn’t move, and he had a sword…” I was definitely babbling at this point, so I tried to rein it in. “But I got away, and then I saw Morrigan, and she mentioned ‘teams of scientists,’ and I knew I’d seen Jimmu and then I realized where.” I took a deep breath. “At Read It and Weep.”
“Why would Jimmu be with a bunch of academics?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.
“Well, he must not have actually been with them, but just used them as cover, or something. I don’t know. I didn’t ask him, obviously.”
Ryu was unconvinced. He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll be back in a minute, honey, and then we’ll talk about it.”
He went to the bathroom and I took the opportunity to organize my thoughts. I needed to tell him exactly what had happened, from the beginning and in a way that actually made sense. I knew I was not crazy—I could see that greasy academic sitting there staring at me, and I knew that without his piercings, and with his hair combed back, and with those big glasses on, Jimmu was that academic.
Ryu emerged, now dressed in pajama bottoms. He gestured for me to follow him into the sitting room, and then he called down for coffee and food to be brought up while I settled myself into our little sofa.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but you’ve got to hear me out,” I started, before he had even put down the phone. I kept talking while he sat down next to me. “The day you first came to Rockabill, that morning a bunch of academics came in on a bus to see the Old Sow. One of them totally gave me the willies because he was staring at me. Then we saw him again, that night at the Sty. After the thing with Stuart, when you went out to check that the parking lot was clear, I was waiting by the door and I saw him hidden in the far corner. He was watching me again.”
Ryu was listening, as I’d asked him to, but he didn’t look convinced.
I forged ahead, anyway. “When we got here and I met Jimmu, I could swear I recognized him, but I just figured I was crazy because obviously I would remember someone who looked like him, right? But then this morning, I went out to the pool. Jimmu surprised me, with a sword. I think he must have been practicing, because I don’t think he was expecting me. But he scared the shit out of me, and he was coming toward me when something distracted him. Anyway, his Mohawk had fallen and he looked even more familiar.” Ryu was staring intently at me—he could tell that I believed what I was saying, if nothing else.
“I ran away into the Compound where I bumped into Morrigan. We were talking, and she mentioned the fertility problem thing, and she was talking about teams of scientists. Later, thinking about what she had said, I realized that if you took out Jimmu’s piercings and dressed him in conservative clothes with some big geeky glasses, he’d be the guy from the store.”
Ryu sat quietly for a moment, and I could tell the wheels were spinning.
“Ryu,” I continued, “I think Jimmu’s the one behind the murders. Why else would he be in Rockabill? And it would explain why he’s exhibited such animosity toward me. I was next on his list.”
Ryu shook his head, as if to clear it of what I’d just said. “Jane, if what you’re saying is true, then everything just got seriously complicated. Jimmu does nothing without Jarl’s consent, and Jarl does nothing without the knowledge of Orin and Morrigan.”
He watched me, waiting for his words to sink in. “So if Jimmu were the murderer, I can’t see how he acted on his own,” he concluded. “Which would mean that the Alfar are directly responsible for these killings.”
“Fine,” I said, my mind racing. “Maybe he’s not the murderer. Maybe he was following Jakes for some other reason, maybe to check up on him for the Alfar. But he was definitely in Rockabill. I know it was Jimmu I saw that day. Despite his disguise.”
“I just can’t believe it, Jane.” Ryu shook his head. “I’m sorry, I know that you believe what you’re saying, but I can’t believe it was Jimmu. I don’t want to believe you—it would mean too many incredibly bad things if what you’re saying is true.”
I stared at him, never more frustrated with anyone in my life. What part of “I know it was Jimmu” don’t you comprehend? I wanted to scream. But deep down I understood his fear—because I could see that what I’d said implied that something was rotten to the core of Alfar society.
At that moment there was a light tap on the door, and Elspeth came in with coffee and breakfast for two. We sat in silence as she arranged the trays. How can I get you to believe me? I thought, staring at Ryu.
And then I remembered my Edith Wharton. The servants know everything in those books.
“Elspeth,” I said, my voice tense. “Can I ask you something?”
She nodded, smiling benevolently. “It’s about Jimmu,” I started, then paused. I didn’t know where to begin. “I saw him this morning,” I continued, trying to stall till I could figure out how to ask her what we needed to know. “He’d been working out. Those piercings are really something.”
“Yes, they are.” Elspeth’s smile was gone, and she shuddered. “Every time he does it, he makes me help. It’s awful.”
Ryu’s eyes narrowed and he inhaled sharply. “What do you mean, every time?” he asked, his voice low.
“Oh, Jimmu is always leaving the Compound. When he does, he takes his piercings out, and then he has to re-pierce himself since he heals so quickly.” She looked at me, and I tried to keep my expression from betraying my excitement. “He makes me help him do the piercings.” She shuddered. “All of them.”
I got what she was insinuating and gave her a sympathetic grimace. “And the Mohawk?” I asked. “Is that new?”
“Yes.” She was surprised. “It is, actually. He’s only had it for a few days. Since he got back from his latest adventure. He doubled the piercings and gave himself a Mohawk. You’d think he was in disguise.” She laughed, as if to imply how ridiculous that notion was. Ryu and I exchanged looks.
“He left them in this time, though.”
“What?” Ryu and I asked, simultaneously.
“Jimmu left the Compound about a half hour ago. He’s not coming back until tomorrow, apparently. But thankfully he didn’t take out his piercings this time.”
“Do you know where Jimmu went?” Ryu asked nonchalantly.
“Oh, no, of course not. We never know where he goes. Only Jarl can keep tabs on Jimmu.” Elspeth smiled again. “Well, enjoy breakfast. Shall I come round tonight to help you get ready, Jane?”
“Thanks, Elspeth, I’d appreciate it,” I said, getting up to usher her out the door. Ryu and I definitely needed to talk, pronto.
When we’d exchanged good-byes and she’d left, I shut the door behind her after taking a quick look around the hallway to make sure nobody was lurking about to hear our conversation. I was getting paranoid.
Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you, I reminded myself as I shut and locked the door.
“Well?” I asked Ryu, returning to my place on the sofa.
He leaned back and closed his eyes. When he opened them again he looked rueful. “Okay, maybe Jimmu could have been in Rockabill. But why?”
“I don’t know, Ryu. Iris said that Jakes recognized someone who made him afraid. Maybe Jakes realized that Jimmu must have been the murderer all along.”
“Or maybe Jimmu was following Jakes,” Ryu interjected, “but it’s because he knew Jakes had gone rogue and was killing the halflings. Which would also explain why Jakes was scared.”
I frowned. “I can’t believe that Iris could sense, or taste, or whatever, that Jakes was scared but not also be able to sense that he was a serial killer. But you would know better than me about that.”