“Oh, I remember,” he whispered. “I'll never forget. They were so odd. It said, Justice has been served. You're welcome. And you're getting closer.”
I swayed on my feet.
“Tekhan!” The King shoved his knights aside to steady me.
“It's him,” I whispered.
“Yes, of course. Why are you surprised?”
“Don't you see? He wrote that note four days ago. He's been several steps ahead of me the entire time.”
“Only because he created the game, Tekhan! This isn't an equal playing field. He set it all up and led you through it.”
“Yes, but how did he know how I'd react? Or where I'd be?”
“Anyone who has known you for more than a day would know that you would react with extreme intelligence, keen observation, and high morals. It's not all that difficult to predict your actions, Tekhan.”
“I'm predictable?”
“To those who know you, yes.”
“To those who know me. You're saying that he knows me.”
“He may not be close, but he has at least observed you.”
“Of course, he isn't close to me. No one is.”
“Until now,” the King said.
I met his stare, things shivering inside me.
“Um, shall I just go on ahead?” Mr. Lun asked.
“No, we were just working some things out, Mr. Lun.” I straightened my coat and waved ahead. “Please.”
I pushed aside my rising and useless emotions as I followed Mr. Lun. Since I didn't understand most of them, this wasn't all that difficult. The King followed closely, his guards sliding back between Mr. Lun and us. We took a set of stairs down to the warehouse floor, then wove through soaring towers of shelves full of wooden crates until Mr. Lun stopped before one.
“This is it.” He waved at the ground.
“Right here?” I pointed.
“Yes, sir.”
As I crouched, I caught the scent. Soap was indeed used, and that was fortunate. If it had been vinegar or something with a sharp odor, I wouldn't have been able to pick up the scent. As it was, it came easily to me. I barely crouched before I was standing again.
“Pig blood,” I said.
“What?” Mr. Lun gaped at me.
“It was a deception,” the King concluded.
Smirking at him, I nodded. “This person is very cunning. He doesn't have to commit murder to make people fear him. He created a reputation for himself, must have worked months on it, only to do things like this. It's all a story. Fiction to bring forth truth. Fascinating.”
“To do things like this?” Mr. Lun asked. “What was this? I'm so confused now.”
“It was a theft, Mr. Lun. A theft that you didn't notice because a meaningless threat implying that a theft had been averted distracted you. It's genius.”
“But I've already told you that nothing is missing.”
