The Book Keeper (8 page)

‘For security purposes Mr Rubin!  If I had drawn the images onto the computer and saved the data on the hard drive, the system could have been hacked, and the work stolen. My next wall graffiti will consist of an enlarged drawing of the brain.  When that is complete, then I will need to consult medical professionals of your choice to discuss positioning of the MR Implant.  I hope I have humoured you to your liking Mr Rubin.’ I lied, but it sounded feasible. I tried to keep all sarcasm out of my voice.  It was hard to do.  His arrogance irritated me, as rubbing salt into a wound.

‘Conceded Mr Darcy, the graffiti will remain.
’

I relaxed my stance.  Victory.  I had won.

‘The next time that I will see you will be when I need to consult medical personnel and a biomedicalmechanic department.  Thank-you for your time Mr Rubin.’

I nodded my head at Mr B. Rubin slightly before I turned on my heel and left his office.  The door clicked locked behind me.  I glanced over at Mia as I headed for the elevator, nodding to her as well.

‘Mr Darcy, enjoy your day,’ she squeaked in her bubbly voice.

Black suit man sat in the chair in the lobby of my office floor. This time with a briefcase at his side. His elbows rested on the arms of the chair, his fingers entwined in front of him, and his head tilted back against the wall.  He stared at the numbers above the elevator door, without blinking.

I scanned my hand, and then entered my office. I stood back and looked at my eye ‘graffiti’ and smiled to myself. Perhaps I should develop my own ‘tag’ to sign next to my design drawings when I finish.  Then Mr B Rubin can call it graffiti!

Taking my detailed eye diagram over to the wall, I continued on the intricate details. Double checking and cross checking when I thought that I had finished.  I even looked at it with my head up-side-down. The proportion was perfect. Maybe I should have been an artist instead of a technology engineer.  If I was, I certainly wouldn’t have landed myself in this situation.

The beeping of the alarm on my cell phone alerted me to the possible meeting with Mia.  If I left now, I would definitely be waiting for her to meet me.  I would prefer it that way.  Then I could judge by her body language and demeanor how to conduct the secret meeting.

I looked over my eye graffiti once more, and then left the office, opening my door up to an empty lobby.  No man in a black suit.  Perhaps I was reading into the situation too much.

I waited less than twenty seconds for the elevator to arrive. The doors opened, and there standing before me was black suit man, staring at the numbers above the elevator doors.  He had a major social problem – no eye contact – he reeked of suspicion!

He followed me out of the elevator and through the stupid revolving doors. I hightailed it three blocks to the bar, where I was meeting Mia
.  I ordered a drink and sat down, and waited.  At fifteen minutes past the arranged meeting time, Mia still had not turned up.  Either she did not get the note, or she would or could not meet me. I downed my beer and was about to get up when Mr Black Suit Man sat beside me, and slipped a note to me under the table.  He raised his glass to me and said cheers, stood and then offered me his hand to shake before nodding his head and then leaving the bar.

I looked around and about me, feeling paranoid.  Nobody moved, or even glanced my way. Nobody seemed to be acting out of sorts. I opened the note under the table, and then placed it into the palm of my hand to read.

It was the exact piece of paper that I had given Mia this morning – for credibility I guess. There were no names, as I had done with her.

‘
Change of plan. Same place, 8:30 pm tonight’.  I flipped the paper over to the other side.  It was definitely authentic – my original note from this morning. Did Mia and Mr Black Suit Man know each other?  Great couple they would make – White Girl and Mr Black Suit Man – opposites, they attract apparently.

I returned to the office.  This time Mr Black Suit Man was sitting in one of the chairs with his iPhone, his gaze
securely glued to the screen.  I scuffled past him. Still no eye contact, no form of acknowledgement whatsoever.  Well, if that is the way he likes it!

I entered the great graffiti room again, and sat at my desk.  I needed to start on the working drawing of the brain. It had to be drawn to scale with the eye.  Mmmm – maybe I could be an anatomical artist.  I would start with live nude subjects first, that could be fun.
I could even publish my own book  ‘The Human Body – Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder’  by Cohen Darcy.  I snickered to myself and then studied the brain diagrams that I had drawn at the University Library recently.  On closer inspection of the drawings, I discovered that I had missed some details.  I would have to return to the geeky nerd floor of the library.  Oh joy of joys.  I ran my hands through my hair before I stood, gathered my gear, and then headed out the door again.

Mr black Suit Man appeared to be sleeping with his head tilted back against the wall.  I had the urge to go and feel for his pulse in his neck to see if he was dead or alive.  But I didn’t.

Instead, I pushed the button for the elevator and then banged on the metal double doors of the elevator shaft to see if that would wake him from his beauty sleep. It didn’t. Maybe he was dead after all.

I turned and walked over to him.

‘Sir, could you please tell me the time on your watch.  My watch seems to have stopped,’ I said, forcing him to interact with me.  I loved being annoying to certain types of people.

He lifted his head from the wall, looked at his watch, and then spoke with a deep alto voice.

‘ 4:52pm.’     And that was that.  Would it kill him to use some social interactivisms.  He was so stoic.  He still did not make eye contact with me.

‘Thank-you kindly Sir,’ I added to his response, smiling at him.  By the end of our in depth conversation the elevator had arrived, and I entered it to descend to the ground floor to the mysterious revolving door.

Max was waiting for me in the taxi.  At least he gave me a few more words to chomp on than Mr Black Suit Guy.

‘ Hi Max.  Would you be able to take me to the University Library again?  I have to hit the nerd book shelves. I won’t need you after that.  I am heading to a bar to meet a friend for a drink.’ 

Max looked at me in his rear vision mirror, and waited before he spoke to me.  He always seemed to do that.  Odd.

‘Certainly Mr Darcy.  But I see you as more of a geek that a nerd!’  he responded.

So he does have a sense of humour!  I chuckled to myself.

‘Have a good night Max!
I’ll catch you later,’ I said as I left the taxi, meaning every word.  He seemed like a nice bloke.

The nerdy fourth floor of the university library was crowded with super geeks.  It was difficult to find a study table.  But eventually I did, between someone who looked like Clark Kent and another guy who reminded me of Peter Parker.  I was in the metropolis of Nerdville.  And, I felt very comfortable oddly.

I headed to the brain shelves and spent a considerable amount of time studying the details of brain diagrams, finding the one that gave me the intricate details that I needed for the MR Implant.

Feeling incredibly pleased with my geek
iness, I headed back to the Metropolis of Nerdville with superman and spiderman.  As I sat down I glimpsed her wavy brown hair from the corner of my eye.  My heart leapt before it sank, remembering our last encounter in Café Ooh La Laaa! And the look that she gave me before she left.

I wished that it had not ended that way.  But I had to protect her.

I looked over at her. She rested her forehead in her hand as she concentrated on her study.  I breathed out through my lips.  I am sorry that I hurt you Georgia…..

Back to my brain book for me.  I had a huge task ahead of me, drawing the brain in detail accurately.  I decided to get a coffee to make me feel more alert.

I returned from the cafeteria with two cups.  One coffee and one tea, for Georgia.

Approaching her silently from the side, I placed her cup of tea on her desk.

‘Peace offering. Tea, white, with half a sugar,’ I said in  quiet voice.

She looked at the cup before she looked at me, her blue eyes connecting with mine.  I soaked them in, filling every cell of my being.

‘Very observative Cohen,’ she replied quietly. smiling gently at me. ‘Thank-you.’

I smiled shyly to myself, and looked away from her, unable to slow my rapid heartbeat, and settle the butterflies trying to escape from my stomach.  Then I was lost for words, tongue-tied.  Why did she do this to me?

‘I should get back to my study. Enjoy your tea Georgia,’ I said gently, not wanting to move away from her, but I knew that I must. I turned to walk away from her, wanting her to tell me to stay, but she didn’t.

To Nerdville it was then. At least I would get my work done.

Thankfully, Georgia was out of my line of view as I drew.  And as I became lost in the intricacies of drawing a detailed diagram of the brain, I soon forgot all about her, and finished what I had come here to do.

As I gathered my work together, and closed the large brainiac book, I smelt her sweet perfume before I felt the light touch of her hand on my shoulder.  My body tingled under her touch. What sort of spell was she castling on me?  And what was the antidote should I desperately need it?

‘There is a book jammed on the shelf that I need Cohen.  I can’t free it.  Would you have a go at it for me please?’ she asked, her voice clear, singing to my soul.  How could I not fulfil her request.

I looked up at her and nodded.  She smiled at me and mouthed thank-you.

‘Lead the way,’ I said, bowing at her, my face serious. She giggled quietly, and then turned.  I followed her to the shelves of books in question. I would follow her anywhere.

She stopped and pointed to the jammed book
.  “Higher Intelligences” As she moved her hand away, I reached up to pull it out.  It was indeed jammed. I moved my eyes along the shelf further and found a smaller book that would be easier to remove, and  wriggled it out of the shelf.  Then I returned to “Higher Intelligences” and removed it with ease.  I handed to her.

‘For Madame
,’ I said with a French accent, bowing my head.

“’Merci,’ she replied, smiling.  Her hand brushed mine lightly as she took the book from me.  I inhaled a breath of air sharply, in response to the warm tingly feeling that her touch gave me.  Our eyes locked.  It seemed for like an eternity, but I knew that it wasn’t. I dragged my eyes from hers.  I don’t do girls.  They are way too complicated!

‘So, is your tracker here with you tonight?’ Georgia asked.

I smiled coyly at her.

‘No,’ I answered, relieved that she had spoken to break my emotional soul connection with her.

‘Good.  I need to talk to you about the book.  Is here a good place?’ she asked, raising her eyebrows at me.

I looked at my watch.  It was 7:30pm. I drew in a deep breath and shook my head.

‘No.  I have to meet someone at 8
:30pm.  So I have to leave here about now,’ I replied, disappointed that I would have to leave her.

‘A girl?’ she asked, looking into my eyes, melting me into hers.

‘Yes,’ I answered quietly.  She looked into my eyes for a moment longer, before she looked to the book in her hand, her face unreadable.

She looked back up into my eyes, and then smiled slightly.

‘Well, enjoy.  Hopefully I can catch up with you later about the book.  Can I email you to arrange a time?’ she asked, her voice cracking a little.

‘No!’ I answered sharply. ‘Give me your phone details and I will contact you.  My name will be different, but you will know that it is me by the content of the email.’

‘Hmmm.  Mr Mysterious.  You need to explain this peculiarity to me sometime.  Follow me and I will write down what you need,’ she said, eyeing me with suspicion.

I’m sorry Georgia.  My life is becoming so complicated….

As she handed me the little piece of yellow paper with her phone number on it, I looked deeply into her eyes.  If she knew what I was working on, she would stay well clear of me.  I was about to become humanities most liked and most hated human being.  She would despise me if she knew. I had to cut ties with her as soon as I could.  I would talk to her about the bloody book, and then end communications with her.  In the nicest possible way of course. I pocketed the yellow piece of paper, my heart saddened.

‘Soon,’ I whispered to her, and then collected my stuff and left the university library
  to head to the bar to meet Mia!

This should be interesting to say the least.

‘Mr Darcy, very punctual,’  she squeaked from behind me. I turned around, but did not see White Girl.  Instead, an attractive red-headed woman stood behind me, smiling, her green eyes sparkling.  I frowned at her, and then looked to my left and right for Mia.

‘Tardiness is not accepted,’ she squeaked again, continuing to smile. I stared at her and narrowed my eyes.  This was not Mia, but her voice was so convincing as Mia.

‘Cohen, relax.  It is me, Mia,’ she said in a lower tone of voice.
‘Minus the white hair wig, minus the brown contact lenses, and thankfully, minus the irritating squeaky voice!’