1927: Redemption

A deal?

“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”

2016-DECEMBER-LONDON

It had been quite the coldest winter for time out of Adeline's mind, so cold that the fish have found it challenging to shelter in even the deepest of water wells. It was the sort of cold winter that could freeze the blood of those who didn’t take sufficient care to be warm in the heart and the core.

And in this cold winter, do you know that feeling you get after you have been doused in ice-cold water and for just a few seconds, it feels like you have been frozen in a glacier or something like that?

That was the feeling Adeline got as she stared up into the dark eyes of the creepy guy who had just announced she was his target and his name was Ace.

What an irony? Huh!

And, of course, being a seventeen-year-old girl, her first reaction was to instantly scream her head off, but something kept her from doing just that. It was as if the chance to find out who killed her grandfather, walked up to her. And, Adeline was exactly going to do what a girl with the stupid idea would do.

Yes!

She will find out, what exactly happened that night?

With the help of... Of course, the obvious criminal standing before her.

It was as if all she could do was lean back and stare up at the guy with a completely horrified mix with curiosity on her face, frozen to the spot.

“Uh....right, that was a nice note I guess...” she stuttered, her teeth starting to chatter in the cold night air.

The guy who called himself Ace burst out laughing, like what she had just said was the funniest thing he had ever heard....well, that was partially true, like who declares a threatening note as a nice note. “I knew it would be fun, getting you to believe me, Adeline Martinez. You are rather an unusual girl. Most people would have gone by now, running for their precious lives.”

“Life is not precious anymore,” said Adeline, absentmindedly. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she held back, “I thought I could get through the rough patch and just pick myself up after like I usually do, but your note made me realize it's just going to get worse.”

Ace chucked his cigarette on the sidewalk and ground it out with the toe of a leather boot, still chuckling under his breath, he was kind of hooked by her absent-minded talk, he knew she didn't want to look weak, but she could not hold her scattered thoughts too. “Why do you think that?” He added a question to learn more, have an insight into her brain.

Adeline’s mind became clouded again, she looked up into his eyes, saying, “A week ago, I saw my grandfather dying, no he was murdered. Then they came after me, and I knew some of the other days, the killers will indeed chase me....and see here you are my killer...” She raised her hand in front, pointing at Ace.

A smirk formed on Ace’s lips, “My-my I didn't think, you thought so highly of me. Well, to clear I'm not the killer, but where would be fun if I fail to make an impression.” He gave her a cheeky smile which she ignored and tried to sit on the public chair in the garden.

Before she could go, he said, “Let’s chat over a cup of tea, shall we, Adeline Martinez? We have a lot to discuss.”

Adeline was about to refuse that she was not going anywhere with the creep, Ace had a tight, bony grip on her shoulder and was leading her into the flow of traffic in the middle of the street.

“Are you crazy?!” She shrieked, going into full-out panic mode.

“Oh, be quiet,” Ace sighed, acting as if the weight of the world was resting on his shoulders.

Even so, she breathed a little easier once they were on the sidewalk again, mixing into the jumble of people crowding around like always. She kept her arms closed tightly over the chest as they walked, glaring up at Ace with her eyes narrowed, she had no idea where they were going, but she had a feeling very put out, and clearly Ace knew that, as well.

Walking past a block by block before Ace stopped abruptly outside a small, rundown yet still sort of restaurant- 'Coup de foudre', that was decorated in an unusual antique style.

“This place looks nice, doesn't it?” Ace asked cheerily with a whistle.

Adeline could not even respond before he reached out, yanked the door open, and ushered her none too gently inside. An old man with glasses perched on the end of his nose lead them to a small square table after the corner that just so happened to be beneath a row of brightly lit paper lanterns.

Wow! Thought Adeline.

Dropping down into her seat, she crossed her arms tightly over her chest again, still glaring away at Ace. The old man kept shooting sneaky glances in their direction while he tried to hand them the menus.

Nobody could exactly blame him for that one.

Ace looked significantly creepier in brighter light. His black hair held a shiny sheen and his face was... Well, not that pale... But he did look creepy.

“Just two cups of tea, please,” Ace said, waving away the old man and the menus.

He nodded vigorously before disappearing. Adeline wished she could do the same thing, but needed answers too.

“So, how is this place?” Ace asked pleasantly, folding his hands together on the table in front of him.

Ignoring his question, she asked, “What do you want Ace?”

Leaning forward, he replied, “You, Martinez, I want you...”

Listening to his threatening dark voice, Adeline held her breath back as he was centimetres away from her face. Looking dead in her eyes for ten seconds, he took his previous position, continuing, “I want you to answer my questions and believe me.”

He asked again, “Tell me, do you like this place?”

Taking in the surroundings, Adeline concluded that the place was pretty old as each and everything was unique and antique in their way. The rough textures of the old days, the smoothness of the fine woods, and the vibrancy of the later glazes. Adeline admired the craft of the maker, tried to fathom how long it took to home the skills to make such a fine artefact. Even the mirrors were of antique designs, the carvings in the frame and everything.

“Beautiful,” she said in between adoring the view.

“Just as I thought,” replied Ace.

Adeline was about to reply, but her words were well short as Ace started drumming his fingers on the table in a rather boring mood. “Now, what do you want?” she stammered, trying to cover her unease with bravado.

“I’m going to offer you a deal, Adeline Martinez,” Ace sighed, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Concerning what?” Adeline hinted, arching an eyebrow at him.

“Your grandfather, James Martinez.”

What could be Ace’s deal?

Will Adeline ever get to know the truth?

And most importantly, who is this Ace?