The Kiss Murder (29 page)
What he said was moving, but one thing was missing: emotion. He seemed totally devoid of feeling. His face remained impassive, and his dry voice was chilling. If I had read the words he was saying, I may have believed them; coming out of his mouth, they just weren’t credible.
“From now on, she is to live with me, as a member of my family. That much I owe her. Being of assistance, even in this small way, is my duty.”
I was being treated to a display of respect-affection-fear. It didn’t last long. Süreyya Eronat was as annoyed by Sabiha’s constant weeping as I was.
“That’s enough!”
He pushed Sabiha off of his shoulder, suddenly hard and authoritative. The theater was over. Scolded and slightly roughed up, Sabiha was quiet. I wondered why she was willing to sit like this at his side, then my thoughts moved on to her living in his house, forever under his control and in his grip.
“Long before I rose to my present position I was well aware that the photographs taken so long ago could one day emerge, to damage me. However, Fevzi was fiercely devoted to her memories. She did not want them destroyed. They were her memories, as well as mine. I respected her wishes for a time.”
We were now driving along the motorway. Through the tinted windows, it looked dark. It would be impossible to see us from outside. It was just what I’d expect of Süreyya Eronat. The windows were probably bulletproof as well.
“Later, Fevzi claimed to have destroyed the letters and photographs, but I didn’t believe her. I had her flat searched. There was no trace of them.”
Sabiha’s fear registered clearly on her chalky white face.
“At first I accepted as truth what she had told me. But then I began hearing rumors. I had to do something. I had no idea where she was hiding them. When I asked her, she denied it, repeating that she’d destroyed them.”
I congratulated her silently. Clearly, Buse—that is to say, Fevzi—had managed to string him along beautifully.
“I had been aware for some time that Fevzi was being harassed. But I didn’t interfere. Then Fevzi informed you where he had hidden the photographs.”
That’s right, she’d told me at the club. In my little office on the top floor. But how did Süreyya Eronat know about that?
“Naturally, this comes as a surprise to you,” he said. “Don’t trouble yourself trying to understand. Hasan was listening.”
So that was it. It was somewhat shocking: Hasan, my own Hasan! That’s right. Hasan had come into the room while I was talking to Buse. So that’s why Buse had seemed on edge.
“So is Hasan with you?” I asked, rather nervously.
It was hard to believe. What kind of relationship could Hasan have with the Hedef Party? He spent all his time sashaying around transvestites showing off his butt crack. And if he was involved with Hedef, what was he doing with Sofya?
I was answered with a courteous smile. That simple smile was expressive enough to earn an Oscar. The ability to convey so much with such a minimal amount of facial expression would have been the envy of any actor. The smile told me that Hasan was their informer, and a plant in Sofya’s gang. As well as at my club. That butt-baring pansy would get his comeuppance, that much I vowed to myself.
Süreyya Eronat once again read my mind.
“Don’t get the wrong idea, he has no direct links to us. Let’s just refer to him as a friend,” he suggested. “I’d like him to continue working for you. I think it would be more secure both for you and your club.”
There you go! I was being openly threatened.
“Now let’s move on to that fateful night. We also were informed only through the television news. Without hesitation, I went to visit my Sabiha Teyze. I knew she would need me.”
I wasn’t that gullible. He was after the photos and letters, of course. But I said nothing.
“In order to avoid any potential unpleasantness, I’ve kept her at my side from that point onwards.”
“You also stripped the flat of any written or printed materials,” I observed, unable to help myself.
“Exactly. We weren’t prepared to leave anything to chance.”
“How did you manage to keep things so quiet? That neighbor would notice a mosquito in the hallway, but she heard nothing.”
“You’re absolutely right,” he said, ending with a difficult-to-decipher smile. I was certain it was another Oscar-winning performance. But this time I couldn’t interpret it.
“The neighbors,” I mused out loud. “Now, what was his name, the court clerk . . .”
“That’s right,” he said. “You see, you’re very well informed. Brother Gökberk was most helpful. He took all necessary precautions in the apartment building.”
“But how?” I asked. “Everyone there is so nosy . . .”
“How true. He arranged a minor distraction. While everyone was occupied, our plans were quietly executed.”
I suddenly remembered the burned-out building on the same street as the Teksoy Apartment Building. I even recalled the acrid tang of smoke.
“A fire?” I asked.
Süreyya Eronat didn’t answer, contenting himself with a small smile. The meaning was clear. The man wasn’t required to give a stellar performance every other second.
For a short time we proceeded in silence. I hate sitting backward in moving vehicles. I get carsick. I was beginning to feel nauseated now. It wasn’t just my position in the car that did it, though. The things I’d learned, the twisted relationships, the self-serving calculations, the stab in the back from Hasan, the surprisingly militant partisanship of Chubby Cheeks’s husband, Gökberk . . . everything. I grimaced.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you,” I said. “I’m just a little carsick from sitting backwards.”
“Please make yourself comfortable. If you’d like, we’ll stop for a moment. Get a breath of fresh air. Süleyman?”
Süleyman instantly slowed down and began swerving toward the far-right lane.
“There’s really no need. I’m fine,” I said.
“As you wish.”
“I’d like to ask you something,” I said.
“Please do. I’d be happy to assist your understanding on any subject . . .”
“Why did you have Süleyman try to seduce me?”
He smiled. This time it was completely sincere.
“He was merely under instructions to escort you to me. But he may well have appreciated your charms. He was not acting on orders on that account.”
Süleyman blushed all the way up to his ears, but said nothing.
“There’s no reason to be embarrassed, Süleyman,” said Süreyya. “The charms and beauty of this young lady are obvious. If you like her, feel free to say so. We could arrange another invitation for her.”
I felt even more nauseated.
“D-don’t trouble yourself, sir . . .” stuttered Süleyman.
How blunt and discourteous! Did he mean to say that he had never been attracted to me? How right I was to have beaten him. Süreyya looked on, smiling.
“You gave him quite a pummeling, and injured his pride a bit. We weren’t expecting that.”
“I’m sorry if I hurt him,” I lied. I knew I had. “But I wish he’d told me what it was all about.”
“It wasn’t my place to tell you anything,” said Süleyman. He sounded like a wounded child. Because of the glare, when I looked over at his profile all I could see was his bobbing Adam’s apple. His eyes remained on the road, as usual. He didn’t so much as glance at me.
“I wish you’d have at least warned me with a note or a phone call. I got caught up with the blackmailers for no reason,” I said.
“You’re right, but your flat might have been under surveillance. I don’t take risks.”
Fair enough. It’s true, my house was being watched. And I still didn’t know whether or not I was being bugged.
Sabiha had stopped crying, but she’d turned her face toward the window to show she wasn’t listening. She gazed out at the passing scenery with unseeing eyes.
“But the media is bound to find out about this. You participated in a public funeral. You’ve taken a transvestite into your car. You’ve also taken under your protection—forgive me, Sabiha—the mother of another one. I mean, you’ve suddenly displayed for all to see exactly what it is you’ve been concealing all these years.”
“
Efendim,
an overly protected eye is inevitably pricked. We took all the necessary precautions. You’re right, it all may still come out. But then again, the fact that I’ve taken under my wing the elderly, blind mother of a man I’ll call my distant relative, will only reinforce my image. It only emphasizes that my party is prepared to embrace all sorts of people, the flexibility of our views. There’s nothing to worry about, in fact. Everything is proceeding under our control.”
Efendim,
an overly protected eye is inevitably pricked. We took all the necessary precautions. You’re right, it all may still come out. But then again, the fact that I’ve taken under my wing the elderly, blind mother of a man I’ll call my distant relative, will only reinforce my image. It only emphasizes that my party is prepared to embrace all sorts of people, the flexibility of our views. There’s nothing to worry about, in fact. Everything is proceeding under our control.”
“What about the people who saw me get into your car? What about when I get out?”
Naturally, I raised a single eyebrow as high as possible as I asked this. I also parted my lips slightly. It is a pose I’ve often practiced and admired in the mirror.
“Every family has certain members whose conduct is not approved of. That does not mean they are to be rejected. Especially during difficult times such as these. Our party embraces one and all. Our supporters are prepared to accept this as well.”
It’s true that he wouldn’t have made a single move without carefully factoring in the possible ramifications. While his emotions may have played a part, his every action hinged on calculation.
“Do you plan to do anything about Buse’s—I mean Fevzi’s—murderers? That gang of blackmailers . . .”
When I mentioned Fevzi’s name, Sabiha’s eyes welled once more.
“We know who they are,” he said. “As do you.”
“They’ve got their tentacles everywhere,” I observed.
Sabiha’s sobs became audible. Her handkerchief was soaked. I couldn’t stand it. I handed her the box of tissues that rested between me and Süleyman.
“Here you are. Use these,” I said.
She nodded her thanks as she fumbled for a tissue.
“We have known all about them for some time. In fact, they’ve been of use to us on occasion. However, as you say, they’ve grown too strong. Their roots are too firmly entrenched. It would be impossible to wipe them out completely with one blow. We have determined the identity of those who killed Fevzi. For now they are our only targets. Don’t worry, we’ve begun the procedure.”
His mischievous wink as he said “Don’t worry” was an unnerving sight on such an expressionless face.
“So far so good, but what about me? As you know, they’re out to get me too. I’m being followed, my flat is being watched. They’ve got me by the throat. I don’t have your power. My life wouldn’t be long enough to knock them off one by one.”
Looking me in the eye, he was silent for a moment.
“Sofya Hanım was sufficiently warned when she appeared at the funeral. We hope we persuaded her. It’s important to realize when working with such elements that one should not necessarily remain always on the same side. It’s critical to have a strong grip. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth . . . We laid out all our cards. It’s obvious what they’ll do next. Certain unwritten rules are in force in this community. The world we live in is without mercy. I must say, though, that the cassette you produced yesterday created complications.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “A tape can’t be used as evidence. Unless I’m mistaken, the court of appeals has even ruled on that.”
A smile flickered across his lips. “That’s right, such a ruling has been made. But as you yourself know, evidence is not needed to produce gossip.”
For some reason, I felt the need to defend myself. “But you know that it was all that woman journalist’s doing.”
“Ayşe Vidinli Hanım . . .” he said, correcting my use of the word “woman.”
That’s right, her name was Ayşe. The name I couldn’t remember was the common Ayşe. What’s more, it’s one of my favorite names.
“And she even handed over the interview to her newspaper,” I continued.
“They would never have published it.”
He said it with such authority it was impossible to claim otherwise.
“Forgive me for asking, but what exactly is the problem then?”
“A number of superfluous elements became aware of the existence of that tape of yours. Still more superfluous elements then became involved.”
“They’re just greedy,” I said, springing to their defense.
He smiled as he looked at me. “Precisely. Greed. One of the seven deadly sins. But they’ll be taken care of in due time.”
He was as unruffled, as full of self-assurance, as ever. When it came to handling Ayşe Vidinli and her sidekick Ahmet, I wondered what he had planned. My curiosity did not mean I needed to ask him. The less I knew, the better.
“Fine,” I said.
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