Conversation · Klaasje (Miss Oranje Disco Dancer)

"She would have seen us. My bed is right next to..." She's forgotten her cigarette in the ash tray.

"Yes, of course. She's been up here many times, jacking private stations off the ring antenna. She used to come here, to drink on the roof with me. Before it got... weird."

"You've been through there, right? I saw you come out." She points to the door that leads to the pinball workshop. "It leads downstairs."

"She could have come to the roof through that, then made the shot right here, where I stand. It was dark outside, I wouldn't have seen her."

"You've been trying to kick that door down, right?" She points to the barred door, next to the window. "Maybe it leads downstairs?"

"She could have come to the roof through that, then taken the shot -- right here, where I stand. It was dark outside, I wouldn't have seen her."

"She could have had access to the roof." She points to the barred door next to the window. "You've noticed that door there, right? Maybe it leads downstairs?"

"Why do you think it was her?"

"She has this thing for me -- ever since I met her and the boys downstairs. She's been pretty frank about what she wants..."

What she's saying is -- sex?

"And what is that?"

"Sex -- and more. I made the mistake of confiding in her -- I told her I was on the run. She started protecting me. It became an unhealthy relationship."

"When I started spending time with Lely," she says in a near-whisper, "she told me to end it. Said there would be shit if I didn't. It was not a good meeting. We stopped talking after that, but..."

Wait, wait, everyone -- just wait. What is this? Derail this whole thing immediately and investigate.

"I don't understand. Ruby's a woman, right? It's a woman's name."

"Yes." She nods.

"But... you're also a woman."

"Women like women too, officer. Try not to fixate on this. Let's move on."

Well, I'll be damned! That's one more thing we know about the world!

"What do you mean, like?"

"I mean romantically." He turns to her, the cuffs still in his hand. "What exactly in your relationship with Ruby made you think she's romantically interested in you?"

"She said she's in love with me. She even asked me to run away with her, when I told her I'm a fugitive. She started developing... notions about our relationship."

"And you led her on?" The lieutenant narrows his eyes.

"A little. I was flattered, you know. But then I had to let her off and it was not easy. I came to regret being friendly with her." She looks at her feet. "We maybe kissed. Nothing more."

Yes, but what was their relationship outside this unequal power dynamic?

"I don't know what to make of this."

"I know what this sounds like. That's why I didn't want to tell you before." She raises her eyes to meet yours. "But she knew what had happened -- when I came downstairs."

"Somehow she knew Lely was dead. She wasn't surprised at all. When we came up here she was calm as a stone too. She cleaned it all up, like she had a... plan."

This is a familiar theory. You had it too, remember? Could it be that Ruby was covering up after herself? The lynching...

Yet again you're coming up with this... The worst thing is -- it may be true?

That is a little strange... people don't usually keep things together under stress like that.

Could it be that Ruby was cleaning up after herself? That the lynching was a cover-up for her -- and she organized the boys to do it?

It's ominous -- you buying into her theory and running with it. Be careful with this Logic guy.

"What was your relationship like? Before this conflict?"

"We spent a lot of time together. Listening to the radio and such. She had great milieus. And she was good company. I was sorry it had to end..." She pauses.

What was that question about? She's feeding her friend to the wolves here.

It also has startlingly little to do with arresting her, you suddenly realize...

"This is just sensationalism and guesses."

"I know what it sounds like. That's why I didn't want to tell you before." She raises her eyes to meet yours. "But she knew what had happened -- when I came downstairs."

"Sounds like she was fixated on you."

"This is just an assumption."

"Okay, I won't fixate"

"Good." He turns to her, the cuffs still in his hand. "What -- in your relationship -- made you think she's romantically interested in you?"

"Okay, I understand now. Just clearing it up."

"Actually -- I don't." He turns to her, the cuffs still in his hand. "What exactly in your relationship made you think she's romantically interested in you?"

"I'm fixating on it, Kim."

"Don't," he says and turns to her, the cuffs still in his hand. "What -- in your relationship -- made you think she's romantically interested in you?"

"Okay, now I understand. Yes."

"I do not." He turns to her, the cuffs still in his hand. "What exactly about your relationship with this person made you think she's romantically interested in you?"

"Go on."

"Before we do..." He turns to her, the cuffs still in his hand. "What exactly in your relationship made you think she's romantically interested in you?"

"I don't understand." The lieutenant sounds incredulous. He still has the cuffs in his hand. "What exactly in your relationship made you think she's romantically interested in you?"

"Sex?"

"And more." She nods. "I made the mistake of confiding in her -- I told her I was on the run. She started protecting me. It became an unhealthy relationship."

"When Ruby said there would be 'shit' happening if you didn't end your relationship with the deceased -- was she threatening you?"

"She came over one night. Drunk. Said she'd turn my life into a living hell. I've been threatened before, so I can tell when someone knows how to do it."

"And she's a pro. She must be. To keep the Hardies in line. I tried severing ties with her after that. I thought it had worked, but..." She looks through the window of her room.

Some of that fear is still with her. She exhales sharply...

What are you talking about? She's afraid you'll arrest her.

No, wait! Look at her! Teeth like pearls, face like a pebble -- she looks like a Twenties movie star. You can almost see her in Automatik Polychrome. Those posters in Ruby's lorry...