Intimate Relations, Rebecca Forster [best ereader for manga .txt] 📗

knowing he was going to disappoint Finn. Before he could, Vida Keyes appeared.

"Is there anything I can get you?" she asked. When her husband said no, she disappeared again.

"Your wife is very gracious," Finn said.

"She is. She is also beautiful, educated, and wise," Ali said. "Ours was an arranged marriage, detective. Old fashioned, I know, but I count myself a lucky man."

"With good reason," Finn said.

"Thank you." Ali sat back in his chair. He crossed one foot on his knee, rested his elbows on the arms of the chair and laced his fingers together in front of him. "The beauty of an arranged marriage is twofold. First, those arranging the union have both parties best interests at heart. Vida's family and mine wanted us to be happy. Our families knew us best, and so we were married. Both of us are very respectful of family and tradition.

"And the second beauty of such an arrangement is the thrill of discovery. I learn something new about my wife every day. Hopefully, she is delighted with what she learns about me too."

"I've a feeling this is leading somewhere, Mr. Keyes," Finn said.

"It is." He uncrossed his legs, he dropped his hands. "I do not wish to interfere with a murder investigation. I am sorry about what happened to Cami, but I also have a responsibility to my members and the women who come to Asylum gatherings. Like my family arranging the perfect marriage, I have the best interests of my clients at heart. I want them to be safe, happy, and anonymous. Therefore, I cannot give you these names. I will if I am compelled by law, but at this moment I am not.

"You see, detective, Asylum is not my only business. I have many thriving concerns. Asylum is one that is a bit more unusual, but I take it no less seriously than my other businesses. Asylum is meant to give people the thrill of discovery, to bring fantasy into lives that are so successful they also become predictable. Please forgive me, but if you wish to depose me, call my lawyers."

"Then I suppose there is nothing more to be said, sir."

Finn rose. Ali Keyes did the same.

"I am sorry, detective. I do wish you the best of luck. I am not sorry that Cami will no longer be a problem. I am only sorry the way in which the problem was taken care of," Ali said. "I will call my lawyers and ask if I might divulge the name of the company that acted on behalf of the man who arranged the party. That is the best I can do."

"I appreciate it," Finn said.

The men walked slowly out of the penthouse and toward the elevator. Before they got there, Finn paused.

"Why were you not at The Brewery if it was an important event."

"Because I am not important enough, I suppose. I was not invited," Ali said. "Also, Asylum is not something I find interesting. I'm delighted others do, but I would rather be home with my family."

"And is that where you were when Cami was killed?"

"Yes. My wife and children can vouch for that. We have a live-in maid. Feel free to ask her anything you like She will be truthful. There is also a doorman twenty-four hours. The night man is Richard. He will be happy to assist. There are also cameras throughout the building."

"I had to ask."

"Of course. I would do the same." Ali was about to push the button to call the elevator when he took a moment. "If I might ask, detective, how did Cami die? Haven't you a weapon to get fingerprints or some such thing? Something that points to the person who did this? There were only four of our members there that night."

"She was bludgeoned. Her face," Finn said. "And, no, we have no leads but we've only just begun our investigation."

"That's a bit of poetic justice," Ali said. "Cami did love her face—both of them."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Nothing, really. Only that like many people she had a public face and a private one."

"Are you speaking from personal experience?" Finn asked.

"Detective, please."

With that, Ali Keyes laughed and pressed the elevator button. The doors had not yet closed when he turned around and went back to his perfect home, his perfect family, and his perfectly clear conscience. Finn doubted he would give one more minute's thought to Cami or her death. This was not malicious. It was simply business.

14

"...So, I say to him. No, your honor, Lapinski with an 'i'. And the judge says, 'oh, well and good'. I mean that judge was going to hold me in contempt for mouthing off the last time I was in front of him, but when he brings it up I tell him it wasn't me. I say 'it was another Lapinsky with a 'y', and, with all due respect, your honor, you can't hold me in contempt for something another Lapinski did'. That was that. No contempt."

"So all's well that ends well, Thomas," Finn said.

"Except it wasn't another Lapinski," Thomas laughed. "It was this case. It was a quick pleading, but it was me and I did get a little unruly. But, Finn, if it's that easy to confuse that judge then he shouldn't be on the bench. I'm telling you, we are not looking at the best and the brightest these days when it comes to the guys who wear the robes. Besides, he couldn't rule on anything except the matter at hand even if it was the same case. He was in a snit about old news."

"And how was this matter at hand resolved then?" Finn asked.

Lapinski raised his shoulders. He inclined his head, and his expression left no doubt that he had triumphed mightily.  Thomas Lapinski, though, could not resist adding editorial.

"It wasn't even a contest," he said. "I did a little bit of black magic, and a lot of digging. Guess what? The air-bag manufacturer didn't send out the