"You must be worried for your… err…house" Peplinski told Hansen as soon as he had rung the doorbell and the door opened.
"What the hell you think you know what happened here?" Hansen showed his curiosity.
"Because I did it –"
"How dare you, son of a bitch –" Hansen interrupted.
"There was someone with me –" Peplinski interrupted as well.
"Was he a cop? Or any fatso called Deighan?" Hansen left the lad's collar.
"How do you know his name?" Peplinski looked up at his face.
"An old foe of mine. He can't stand me. Neither can I stand him." Hansen said after thinking for an appropriate answer.
"Damn! What kind of foe does this…I mean…all ruined and desolated here."
"Like you've got nothing to do with this huh?" Hansen snapped.
"Holy fuck! He was a cop! Turning down a cop! Are you serious? He'd have whipped life out of me for that," Peplinski said in return, "You should be hell of grateful. I should owe you, instead for having told you about this before telling to anybody else."
Hansen couldn’t freak out at him like before this time.
"Wise of you to do this. It would be wiser if you tell me what you two did here other than ruining my furniture."
"Had no idea about you owning a cat. And how can you let the cat spoil all this? Look, if he hadn’t seen the cat and paint bucket then he would have thought all this red was blood. Even I couldn’t have got any other thought else." Peplinski said in hurry, "We just searched here all by ourselves. He told me if I saw a sack or briefcase then to inform him. He checked everywhere but was unable to find something he needed; maybe he also required what I was searching for. He never told me what he wanted. He just wanted me to keep doing what I was supposed to do."
At least, cat and Hansen's idea had done the work. Both men couldn’t take it as blood.
"Mr. Hansen, what were you digging," he resumed," Last night?"
"Mice. Got a bunch of them in here. Two days ago I had put rat poison and the following night I felt like Pied Piper of Hamlin. Did he come up with cops?" Hansen switched the topic by letting out nervous laughter.
"He had came alone." answer came straight.
This made Hansen confident about something was wrong with Deighan. It was nothing but wonder he still didn’t want other cops to get involved in Marcello's case.
"Mr. Hansen, is everything all right? Or he doubts for some sort of crime?"
Hansen spoke nothing but heard Peplinski say, "Maybe it’s the mysterious childish scream two nights ago. Maybe it grabbed his attention because it came from this area. Maybe he is eying your house…or, as it looks now, maybe he's eying mine as well."
He has no clue about any scream. He just wants Marcello. But currently you look more dangerous than Deighan.
"Told you…a bitter enemy of mine. He's a homosexual." Hansen made an awkward lie, "Maybe he wants me…" he made funny facial structure. He knew he couldn’t lie like this.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
But Peplinski looks convinced enough. He said, "Consult judiciary. Put on a damn physical harassment attempt charge on – "
"Was there anyone else in your house? I mean…your wife Elaine?"
"She's in Idaho with bunch of her friends. Cathy, I think she SUCKS! She can't even speak well. She's one heck of rude. Guess what, I hate her twice as much as I love Elaine. Some four days ago Cathy called her from her home in Tacoma and informed Elaine about a trip to Idaho. She went with her. I don’t have any clue if Cathy (it looked like he hated speaking the name) went there with her or not because Elaine told me –"
"Any plans for you today? Going somewhere?" Hansen interrupted, showing no interest in what Peplinski was barking.
"Right now I should be in Wollochet. I kept waiting for you to get up and tell you everything face to face. I looked at your bedroom for entire morning and as I saw you wake up then I rushed straight to here."
Hansen had no idea how he could see his bedroom so clear.
"Best Western Wesley Inn & Suites located near Kimball Dr Street." he snapped without imagining about the consequences.
"Is everyone thinking you are there right now?"
"Hmm….just Joey Tarot has the idea and now it's you."
"What about the homo cop?"
"He has no freaking clue. I don’t keep telling my plans to some cops who look as if he is suspicious for my involvement in such bizarre things like childish scream. I heard of vacancy in press as a minor columnist for some sort of Wollochet Play Bs. I can't imagine they are using Play Boy's magazine name in modified way just to avoid copyright matters! I made all my journals, collected previously published columns and some magazine cut – outs. I would have to stay there for a week. The bastard editor wants to see my work daily I don’t know why…I've booked room in there just for the Editor's demand."
He has booked room in such an expensive hotel?
"But Mr. Hansen, the cop has told me he will come at my home tonight. I don’t give a shit if I am arrested for no reason. I think he chose me to sneak in your house because we are neighbors and thinks we two maybe involved in something." Peplinski resumed.
"How about both of us forget what happened in this place. Just like we are brainwashed…"
"Great idea. MK Ultra…" Peplinski giggled for the controversial Russian project, "There's no chance that I will tattle - tale about it Mr. Hansen. I think I should be on my way now. I am not supposed to be here right now."
"Best Western Wesley Inn & Suites, right?" Hansen said barely remembering the name as Peplinski was staggering towards the door.
"Room no 33." Peplinski looked back to answer, "In case, you want to meet me urgent…for last night stuff."
"When will Elaine come? Any guess?"
"Next week, maybe. I am not sure." he said and left without looking back.
I don’t believe Hansen buried rats there…Neither do I believe about the cop's obsession. And he went in his SUV.