Pentimento

Chapter 10 - In need of caffeine

The next morning, it was clear who was more experienced with late nights caused by investigations. Marjorie had taken over the entire kitchen island with her research. In the middle lay a massive timetable, she was trying to fill in with Dr. Headley's whereabouts.

Rose was stationed on the couch, with a massive mug filled with espresso shots, trying to read the morning news, while dozing off every few minutes.

"I got it!" Marjorie yelled, which woke her up again. Rose came up to the island and watched Marjorie fill in the time slots two days before the heist.

"He was on a trip with his friends, in Zwolle! They were all there! The hotel confirmed it!"

"Who is they?"

"A certain Sebastian, Hilko and Peter were on the trip with him."

"Sebastian, Connie, a friend of mine, told me about him, he works at my university as well. In the art department!"

For a few seconds, Marjorie stared at her, then there grew a big smile on her face. "We got them! Rose! We did it!" She jumped up from her chair, hugged Rose and did a weird dance in the kitchen. Rose laughed hard and joined her in dancing like she hadn't for years. It was like everything holding her down had falling off of her and now she could move freely and dance however she wanted.

When they fell on to the couch, both out of breath. Marjorie explained what was going to happen next. She would compile the evidence, with a written statement by Rose and she would head to the police, who would do the rest.

"This should give them enough for a warrant."

"They'll search their places."

"They"ll be arrested."

"They"ll be arrested."

"They won"t be arrested."

"What?"

"Apparently they aren't interested in our research."

"But I was a witness, isn't that proof?"

"I spoke to the detective; they aren't a fan of eyewitness testimony. He said that 'if" new evidence came to light they might reopen the investigation and if that happens, they might use your written testimony."

Rose swept the tears on her cheeksaway. It was nothing to be sad about. They did what they could. They knew whodid it, hadn't that been the closure she wanted? With a sigh she hung up thephone. Her students, who had once been a great distraction, now blended in withthe grey chairs and endless laptops. 

The days had never been longer. Marjorie, who had not left the guest bedroom at Rose's request, said it was because it was winter.

"I used to love that though, I used to love winters," said Rose.

"Why? What does one do in the winters? Besides drinking a lot of hot chocolate," Marjorie raised the big mug in her hands.

"I used to take walks, after dark. Or before dark, whenever I had time. The world used to be so peaceful."

Marjorie huffed. How adorably naïve. Most heists happened during the night, other crimes too, nothing peaceful about it. She saw the longing look in Rose's eyes and kept her mouth shut, people were allowed to be adorably naïve sometimes, she reminded herself.

"You should go for a walk then. It's dark outside now." They both looked out the window. Rose shook her head but then got up from the couch.

Rose was pleasantly surprised by the windless night that seemed to hug her and take her under its wings. It wasn't all that quiet, but it felt calmer. Her steps decluttered the thoughts in her mind. Marjorie had booked her flight; she'd be leaving in two days. Rose would go back to teaching every day. She'd probably have to leave the university, the art department frightened her. But it wasn't just that. The thought of having to teach again made her nauseous. She'd been teaching the same things every year, without a problem. But to have to do it another time, now, seemed like a mountain too high to climb.

That night, she let her tears flow freely. She mourned James and cried for her younger self who never got the future she dreamed of, nor a past to reminisce about. The tears turned almost violent when she thought about the people that caused her misery. Who had taken everything she had. Horrible thoughts seemed to bump into each other in her head, it hurt. Not knowing what she could do to stop them, nor the pain she felt, she eventually fell asleep.