Influenced

Chapter 11 -- Dinner With Matilda

"You know, it's rare to have someone cook for me in my own house," Jenner said as Matilda scooped piles of rice and steamed vegetables onto his plate.

"You mean Duchess never cooks for you?" She ladled her homemade sweet and sour sauce over top of everything, smothering his food with the sticky red liquid.

"Never."

"That's terrible!" Matilda smiled and Jenner felt like he'd never grow accustomed to the friendly demeanour she was slowly revealing to him now.

"This is delicious." Jenner forced down a mouthful with a smile. "It's got...an interesting after taste..."

"Thanks, I guess my cooking is pretty simple, I don't like many seasonings, but this sweet and sour is my all time favourite!"

"I like simple."

The two ate silently for a moment, Matilda barely containing a goofy grin as she stared down at her food. "Where has Duchess been anyway? I haven't sen her in days."

"Oh, she's been staying with friends. I guess she was weirded out after...that night..."

"Understandably."

"It's strange that you're still around to be fair. You have no reason to stay here after...well after everything that's happened."

"Of course I do! I couldn't just leave you alone knowing what I know now."

"Matty, I appreciate the sentiment, but there's really no reason for you to stay on my behalf. You don't even know me and Gloria's behind bars! I'll be fine."

Matilda shook her head and reached out to offer Jenner seconds, which he graciously declined. "Jen, I don't need to know you to know you're a good guy. I want to make sure everything is going okay, just let my maternal instincts thrive okay?"

Jenner laughed as his phone rang and he recognized the number of the police station. "Fuck, they just can't leave me alone lately."

"Well, you're kind of an integral witness aren't you?"

Jenner rolled his eyes and stood up to answer the phone in his room as Matilda cleared the dirty dishes. "Hello?"

"Mr. Costas, this is Sergeant Williams."

"Yeah, hi, what's up?"

"I have some news for you I'm afraid."

"News? What kind of news?"

"Well, are you sitting down?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"I was just informed this morning that our suspect, Ms. Gloria Statham, has passed away."

Jenner envisioned a coffee mug slamming against the floor of a cafe and his stomach twisted into knots. "What? How? What happened?"

"It would appear as though Ms. Statham was a part of an argument late yesterday evening with her cell mate who...well...without getting into the details apparently the scene was very brutal."

"Oh God..."

"That's not all the bad news I have for you either, I'm afraid."

Jenner almost didn't want to know but with a hand on his face he said, "Oh?"

"Well we've uncovered some new information in the case of Jasmine Lamont's murder. Apparently she was in contact with Ms. Kate Middleton, your roommate correct?"

Jenner felt his stomach sink but stayed silent.

"It would appear as though Ms. Lamont and Ms. Middleton were discussing the possibility of renting a room in your apartment the day before her murder."

Duchess' voice rang out in Jenner's memory. "Don't bother, I'm Duchess, this is Jasmine."

"Mr. Costas are you still there?"

"Uh...yeah I'm here..."

"Um...Matilda, actually." Jenner remembered Matilda saying that day.

"We've also been able to uncover two more sets of partial prints from Ms. Lamont's body, though we haven't locked down an ID for the new suspects yet."

"No, I'm pretty sure you said Jasmine on the phone." Duchess' voice played in Jenner's thoughts.

"So...you suspect Duchess? I can tell you she didn't do anything. She thought...I mean...I know she didn't do anything, she never leaves the house."

"Am I able to speak to her now?"

"Uh...no..."

"Why not?"

"Well she...she's...not home."

"Hmmm..." Williams went quiet and Jenner could hear a pen scratching paper in the background.

"Jenner?" Matilda called down the hall, "Is everything okay?"

"Look, I'll get her to call you as soon as I hear from her okay?"

"Well I'm going to have to ask you to come down to the station for finger printing."

"What? Why? You think I have something to do with this?"

"Mr. Costas, you have to understand our suspicions, given the situation. We need your prints so we can run them against the the ones we've got and prove you're innocent."

"Jenn?" Matilda knocked on the door but he ignored her.

"I'll be there in thirty minutes okay?"

"Good, we'll see you then Mr. Costas."

Jenner hung up his phone as Matilda opened his door a crack. "Everything okay?"

"I didn't say you could come in here." Jenner said as he prepared himself to leave.

"I just...I'm worried is all."

"Everything's fine Matilda!"

"Oh...where are you going?"

Jenner turned on Matilda and shoved her out of his room. "Who the fuck are you?"

"What?" Matilda reached out to balance herself against the wall.

"You weren't supposed to be looking at that room were you? Duchess was right! Jasmine was supposed to be coming that day!" Jenner stood much taller than Matilda as she fidgeted and looked away.

"Jenner, I can explain."

"I fucking doubt it, get out of my way!"

"Jenner don't go! Please!" Matilda grabbed for Jenner's arm but he pulled himself free.

"You fucking bitch! I knew something was weird about you! You were working for her weren't you? Gloria sent you here didn't she?"

"It's not what you think Jenner, really."

"Oh? Then what is it?"

"I...it's hard to explain."

"Well I've got news for you Matilda, that vampire bitch is dead!"

"What?"

"That's right, Gloria's fucking dead! So who is it now huh? Who's the new host? Is it you? Are you a fucking vampire?" Jenner forced his way past Matilda and started down the stairs but she screamed and rushed him from behind.

"You can't leave!" Her voice was like a hiss as she reached out and pushed Jenner's shoulders, sending him tumbling down the stairs. He felt his shoulder pop out of its socket as he landed at the bottom of the stairs, barely maintaining consciousness as pain filled his head.

"You...bitch..."

"I told you Jenner, you can't leave! He's on his way, he'll be here soon."

Jenner could hear Matilda grunting as she dragged him up the stairs, mumbling about how heavy he was as darkness filled his vision and all thought slipped from his mind.