Conversation · Klaasje (Miss Oranje Disco Dancer)

Watching herself reflected in the bedroom window -- tall and sparkling and draped in smoke.

"That door there..." (Point to it.) "Did you know it leads to a downstairs elevator?"

"Mhm." She takes a drag. "Go ahead."

"There's a peep hole on the other side, looking into your bedroom."

"A peep hole? You mean like a hole in the wall?"

"Yes. Looking into your bedroom, miss." The lieutenant points to her window. The unmade bed is visible through the glass.

"Okay..." There's a pause as she processes this information.

A jitter of fear and disgust moves through her body, beginning from her shoulders and ending in her hips. The cigarette tastes foul to her now.

"Do you think... this is somehow related to... Ruby passing through there?"

"It could be connected."

"Okay... do you have any way of knowing how long it has been there?"

"Unfortunately, no, but if I were to guess -- long enough. The perforation is under the book shelf on your wall. It should not be hard to cover with some tape."

"Let's not discuss it any longer."

"No, it's okay. Was there anything more?"

"If it was recent, who do you think made it -- Ruby?"

"It's very hard to believe -- that she'd do something like that. But... no. I don't know." She squints. "I just don't know about this, officer."

"She could have. Maybe she did. Or maybe it's been there for a long time, the local kids use it or something. Was there anything else back there?"

"If it is recent -- who do you think made it?"

"Shit... I don't know. Maybe it's been there for a long time. Maybe the local kids use it or something. I don't know..."

She does. She must have some idea.

"I'll be fucking covering it up with a lot of tape -- that's for sure. Was there anything else back there?"

"If I'd make a guess I'd say it's recent."

"God... where is it? I think I need to cover it up."

"The perforation should be under your bookcase, in your bedroom."

"Thank you." She looks toward the window. A cold wind blows in from the sea.

"There's no way of telling."

"It could just be a coincidence."

"We don't know at this point."

"Do you think this is somehow connected to me?"

"Looking into your bedroom, miss."

"You must have some idea -- who might have been interested in making that hole?"

"Honestly, I have no clue."

Yet? Maybe it's something she's keeping for a later move, when she's more sure of herself...

"There were tracks on the floor. They're recent."

"Huh. This isn't good."

She's straight as a stick, suddenly.

She feels like quarry, encircled... Her eyes dart to the door.

"That's all for now." (Conclude.)

"Mhm..." She flicks the ash from her cigarette absent-mindedly.

She's lost in thought -- eyes narrowed, forehead furrowed...

"It's an old pinball workshop. The room back there. This place used to be a pinball arcade."

"Okay." She smiles. "I'm glad someone's had fun."

She looks at the door. Suddenly, her eyes widen. "Oh... Do you think Ruby could have gotten in that way? To the roof? She could have come up through there!"

"It's possible."

She keeps looking at the door with a worried expression. The wind ruffles her hair.

"Not really."

"I don't know..." She frowns, uncertain. "Was there anything else? Back there?"

"It's possible."

"I did not." She takes a drag of her cigarette. "Do you think this has something to do with what happened?"

"I did not." She takes a drag of her cigarette and smiles. "Mystery solved then. I kept wondering where it led."

There may be more to this mystery -- at some later time. She's holding back. Let's make a mental note for now.

"That window is new."

"It is." She moves slightly to your left to check her reflection in it.

An evasive manoeuvre. Ask a follow up!

"When was it changed? During your stay?"

"Yeah... I'm trying not to lie to you here. Stop making it hard."

"Then tell the truth."

"The truth is I'm a horrible girl. Windows break around me. It's not their fault."

You hear the scribbling of the lieutenant's pen.

Feels like success.