Hidden Motive - A Hamilton Kane Mystery

Chapter 22

               One might ask how someone like me, one of the lead detectives at Salisbury Precinct, with years of experience under her belt, ended up at a convenience store when my intention was to report to the precinct around the corner. Well, the simple answer was I was unfairly tricked by someone who is more than just a person masquerading as Death. But someone who seems to be otherworldly as it is. The deeper answer is that these past few weeks have been gnawing at my physical and emotional limits that the slightest trigger sends me into a frenzy that I lose focus off my initial goal. I should have known better and picked up on the red flags that this was a set-up. But like I said. He had unfair advantage.

"Ah we meet again, Princess. How very convenient indeed," Death smiled despite that that very act seemed unnatural on his face.

"That's Detective to you. What do you want? Listen, I don't have the person responsible yet so talking to you now is going to waste both our time," I tried to steel myself and not choke on my words, feeling my skin crawl just being in close proximity with him.

"I am aware of that, Princess. I'm in a generous mood at the moment and I think you need a little nudge in the right direction," his smile widened, unnerving my supposedly steely self that a slight shiver vibrated throughout my body as he stepped into my personal space. Then right before my eyes, his skin started shifting and within seconds, Harold was standing before me.

"Sweet Jesus!" I tried not to scream at such a disturbing transformation looking around the store wondering if anyone else saw what I did.

"I am Death. Carrying this moniker should come with some perks, don't you think?" he grinned with Harold's face, eerily circling around me like a predator.

"Wait. If you can do that then who's to say you haven't been going around pretending to be someone else?" I questioned him, suddenly feeling emboldened.

He burst out laughing. Even the sound of it felt at odds with reality. Like it's being encased in a dimension of its own, echoes and all.

"Oh, Princess. You asked the most endearing of questions. I am Death. Such an act is beneath my position. This perk merely allows me to move among humans more seamlessly. And to answer the question your eyes are asking, the Harold you followed into this store was me. Not the actual Harold. He is...Preoccupied at the moment," he whispered the last bit at the nape of my neck making my whole body break out in goosebumps and an unintentional whimper escaped my lips.

Damn it this guy! If he keeps this up, I'll never be able to focus on what he's saying.

"Ok. News flash. If you're here to help. Then tone down the creepiness or you're gonna lose even the smallest amount of focus I can muster under these...pressuring circumstances," I snapped, finally allowing my irritation rise to the surface and sit in its usual throne.

"My, my...Like father, like daughter. Very well," Death laughed then took two steps back and somehow I felt like he swallowed the whole eeriness and otherworldly vibe into himself and was suddenly just standing before me like an ordinary human. Well, aside from the fact that he still wore Harold's face and all.

"Thank you. Now. You said you were going to help. What kind of help did you have in mind?" I asked as I straightened up my spine and took on a sturdier position.

"The trip down memory lane kind of help. The kind of knowledge that will help you understand his motivations," he smiled Harold's smile.

Ok that looks and feels wrong in every possible way. Breathe and focus, Hamilton. Breathe and focus.

"Ok. Say I am open to accepting this help of yours. There has to be a catch. What's in it for you? Why even help me?" I eyed him suspiciously and crossed my arms.

Again, he smiled Harold's smile but this time, I saw in it the youthful catch Harold was in his heydays, the allure of that smile and all that it promised behind closed doors. "A kiss."

I snapped from the daydream-like moment like a burst of a bubble when he replied that one word. "Say what?!"

I saw amusement dancing in his eyes as he revelled at my surprised reaction. "A kiss, Princess. Just one...chaste...kiss."

"What?! Wait. No! The last time you did that, I came off with this ticking time bomb of a death sentence. So, no thanks," I replied, vehemently.

"My, my, aren't we so touchy about that. How about I give you a treat to sweeten the deal? Say, the exact date and time of your...deadline?" he offered in a pacifying tone along with a mock-pout.

"An extra 24 hours ON TOP of that little bit of information since I am only human and am still feeling very slighted by you taking advantage of my lack of understanding of the terms of engagement of our initial deal," I demanded. He frowned and paced around, considering my counter-offer.

After what felt like a good long minute, he finally sighed and stopped pacing. "Very well. I agree to your terms. All information will be yours as soon as we seal the deal," he replied as he closed the distance between us.

Instinctively, my body stiffened at his proximity and he sighed again. "May I?" he indicated the last inch of gap between us.

"You said a chaste kiss. There shouldn't be anything else touching between us," I grounded my words to let him know that I meant it.

"As the lady wishes," he proceeded to bend down halfway and pouted his lips with his eyes closed.

ACK! Damn it! I forgot he's wearing Harold's face! Now it feels like I'm going to kiss my grandfather figure on the lips! Damn it! Awkward! Ok, ok...Breathe. Just a chaste kiss. Just a chaste kiss.

But as soon as I closed the gap and our lips grazed each other, I was sucked into a mind-blowing, psychedelic collage of memories and information that felt like being thrown into a pit filled with fireworks. Then...As suddenly as it begun, all was abruptly thrown into darkness and then there was nothing.