Part 2 the faceless man chapter 58 the golden rose
JORWOOD DISTRICT, 19 Hope Road.
It was close to the Tassock River, which ran through Beckland, and pedestrians could see the slightly murky but unusually wide water through the gaps between the houses.
Mike Joseph, a reporter for the Daily Observer, stepped out of his carriage, pointed to the three-story gray and blue building ahead, and said to Klein, who was beside him in a long black double-breasted tuxedo, a half-height silk bowler hat, and gold-rimmed glasses:
”That’s the Golden Rose, the best legal brothel in the Chorwood District plus the Bakerland Bridge area, opens at 3:00 p.m. every day and stays open until 2:00 a.m.”
The best legal brothel in the Chorwood and Bakerland Bridge area? That means there are better but not legal ones in those two districts? Klein grunted silently, catching sight of the building with a golden rose set in the doorway and no so-called sign.
”I don’t suppose this kind of thing counts as a stand-up girl?” He responded casually.
”Sure, classier.” Mike gingerly led Klein to the front of the building and pushed the door in.
Just inside, Klein smelled a slightly pungent mix of scents and heard a soothing but ambiguous melody.
Instinctively, he looked around the room and noticed thugs in black jackets and half-height bowler hats standing on either side of the entrance and in various corners of the hall; as a legitimate place of business, these were obviously used to deal with drunks and reckless people.
Various couches and chairs, even a piano, were placed around the golden hall, and a place for dancing was enclosed in the center.
At this moment, one lady with hair color either blonde or brown or yellowish or black, with dresses either complicated or simple or flamboyant, was sitting in different places, some of them mature and charming, some of them shy and tender, some of them youthful and moving, and some of them quite beautiful.
These ladies were either enjoying the melody with their cheeks resting on their heads, talking playfully to each other, quietly flipping through newspapers and magazines, or accompanying the men in dancing.
Since it was only three-thirty in the afternoon, there weren’t many patrons, only so few, and at a glance, it looked more like a formal ball than the interior scene of a brothel.
”If you come after 8pm, you can see some interesting performances, heh, if there is a lady you fancy, go over and ask her to dance, ask her for a price in a beautiful melody, and if you both can reach an agreement, you can go to one of the rooms on the second or third floor and have a wonderful time, and hey, for a price, you can sleep here for the whole night. ” Mike sidled his head from side to side, suddenly losing his previous composure and gentlemanly demeanor and becoming slightly more flippant.
He smiled and walked into the hall, leaning towards a young, green girl who wasn’t very old, fifteen or sixteen at the most.
This, is this showing his true nature, or is this a professional performance? Klein looked rather jaw-dropped and subconsciously followed behind Mike Joseph.
”The victim, Shibel, was only sixteen years old, so theoretically, a girl of a similar age would be more likely to be friends with her and know more.” At this, Mike lowered his voice and explained.
He whirled around and raised a slightly sparse eyebrow, resuming his normal volume:
”Which lady do you have your eye on?”
”I’m just your bodyguard.” Klein responded following normal logic.
Mike nodded his head imperceptibly and suddenly laughed:
”I’m not used to having people watching when I do things like that.”
”I’ll guard the door.” Klein understood what Mike meant and assumed a stern and professional demeanor.
Without further ado, Mike came to the youthful girl, bent over and reached out, inviting a dance.
Becoming a prostitute at this age, Bakerland is really shiny and dirty …… Hey, it’s surprising that a middle aged gentleman with a very nice temperament patronizes this place, he’s gray at the temples ah …… Klein dropped his hands and stood upright, eyeing Mike and the greenish girl wandering in the center with slow dance steps.
After a few minutes, Mike walked back, slightly chagrined, to Klein:
”Too expensive.”
As the two men drew closer, he added in a low voice:
”That girl knows Shibel, but the owner of the place, Ms. Lopez, forbade them to communicate with others about it or else they would be severely punished, and god, the poor girl even shivered instinctively at the mention of the punishment, I can imagine how horrible it was.”
Klein sighed sympathetically but helplessly and asked rhetorically in a suppressed voice, “So, what are you going to do?”
”I don’t want to invite misfortune for those girls, I’m going to go straight to Ms. Lopez.” Mike slapped Klein’s shoulder and said, “Protect me!”
Klein sidestepped his body and gave a solemn admonition:
”If you get into a dangerous situation, you have to listen to me.”
”Understand? Listen to me!”
”Okay, okay.” Mike raised his hands to the shoulder position and nodded frequently.
As he spoke, he walked towards the single couch in the corner position, where a lady with a flirtatious appearance, colorful dress and heavy makeup sat.
”If you don’t want to opt out after the dance and embarrass yourself in front of those girls, I suggest you talk to Ms. Lopez first and figure out the prices for the different girls.” Mike raised his voice.
The lady heard the exchange between the two and looked over sideways and slowly got up, piling on a smile:
”Good afternoon gentlemen, I’m Lopez, do you have a girl in mind?”
”Yes.” Mike suddenly looked the other man up and down and said with a light chuckle, “I admire you.”
I also appreciate you …… acting like you’re home in a place like this …… Klein’s mouth twitched.
Lopez’s expression froze for a second, then he swung around and said with a fake smile:
”I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well today, you should know that women have times every month when they don’t feel well.”
Seeing that there was no way to corner Lopez into a room exchange, Mike was silent for a few seconds and suddenly became serious:
”Ms. Lopez, I’m a reporter, I want to learn about Shibel from you, here are my credentials.”
Lopez’s face turned suddenly grim, and she replied impatiently:
”I’ve told the police everything I know, you should go to them!”
”Sibel was a wandering orphan, adopted by me, and that night she accepted the invitation of a guest to spend the night at the other’s house, and died on her way back in the early morning.”
”Well, please leave! Or go and ask the lady to dance.”
As he spoke, Lopez waved the two beaters next to him over.
Klein took a step and stepped in front of Mike Joseph, escorting him back toward the hall, and the two thugs, seeing this, didn’t recklessly drive straight away.
After a few steps, Klein lowered his voice:
”She’s lying.”
”Huh?” Mike looked sideways in shock.
”Her eyes are wandering when she talks, not daring to look directly at you, but then quietly checking you out, which suggests she’s lying and watching for your reaction, plus she’s standing in a very high-defense sort of way and appears agitated.” Klein gave his analysis soberly.
Mike opened his mouth and after a few seconds sighed:
”You really are a great detective, only with both keen observation and outstanding reasoning skills can you find these useful details.”
This is only because I turned on my psychic vision and observed that the color of Lopez’s emotions was off …… Other than that, it’s all justification after the fact …… Klein smiled and laughed:
”Thanks for the compliment, we should get going.”
Mike Joseph looked back at Lopez and noticed that she was walking towards a side door to the hall, seemingly heading to a lounge that belonged to her, and that side door belonged in the corner of the corner, the neighborhood was so cold that you couldn’t see what was going on there from many locations in the hall, and it was guarded by two of the same thugs on the outside.
”Perhaps, we should follow Ms. Lopez and observe her reaction afterward, maybe the anxiety she just felt will make her do something ……” Mike suddenly looked sideways at Klein and said, “Can you take care of those two thugs quickly? ”
”Sir, I’m only responsible for your protection and it’s against the law.” Klein responded with a smile.
”I’ll add money! Counting on there being a fight, that’s a total of five pounds! If there’s a fight when we escape, it’s ten pounds!” Mike Joseph gritted his teeth.
”Deal!” Klein offered to reach out and shake the other man’s hand.
Then, the two circled around, avoiding the two fighters from before, and quietly arrived near the side door.
”Guests stop, please leave this place.” One of the beaters stepped forward and stopped Klein and Mike Joseph.
”I’m sorry, we’ll be right …… there,” Klein apologized politely, bending down.
Just then, his right fist struck out abruptly, landing hard on the stomach of the beater in front of him.
The fighter instinctively covered the small of his back and his body bent into an arch, while Klein, who had re-stood up straight, put up his left palm and chopped the back of the opponent’s head in a smooth manner.
Splat!
The fighter directly fell to the ground and fainted, while his companion obviously did not expect such a situation and froze, not having time to react effectively.
Klein instantly slid over, stretched his right palm over his mouth, and threw out a left fist to the abdomen.
Bang!
The fighter bent over violently and spat out the undigested food, while Klein drew back his right hand in time and slashed down with his vertical palm.
At the same time, his left hand held his opponent up, causing the fighter to slowly fall to the ground without making a thumping sound.
After glancing at each other, Klein twisted the handle, pushed open the side door, and flashed inside, while Mike Joseph buried his body and followed at a quick pace.
Why are you so skillful …… You are just a reporter! In the midst of Klein’s bellyaching, his footsteps were light but fast in frequency as he marched forward down the floor-covered corridor.
Suddenly, they heard Lopez’s voice:
”Tell Capin not to send anyone over lately!”
Capin? Send people? Klein looked to Mike at his side and found him equally puzzled.
This time, they heard Lopez’s footsteps coming down the hallway again.
”Go!” Klein pulled Mike by the hand and ran for the entrance without looking back.
In the process, he slammed the side door, breaking the lock in the process so that whoever was inside couldn’t get out for a while.
Then, pretending nothing had happened, the two men walked briskly through the halls, near the exit, and took off at the sound of vague anger.
Coming out onto the street outside, Mike sighed with relief and heartfelt admiration:
”I’ve been through quite a few similar scenarios, but never one as simple and easy as today.”
”Thanks to you, I’ve got to get back to finding out who Capin is.”
As he spoke, he pulled out his wallet and withdrew a five pound bill, muttering:
”But frankly, you’re really expensive, it’s the equivalent of most of my week’s salary.”
”But you can claim it back, can’t you?” Klein responded with an upturned corner of his mouth, then whirled around to ask with some concern, “You’re not afraid that Lopez is going to find your newspaper based on your credentials and call the police on you?”
”Those are fake papers.” Mike Joseph spread his hands familiarly.
”……” Klein could only express his deep admiration.
After watching Mike get into his car and leave, he walked diagonally across the street to wait for the public carriage, keeping a close eye out for anyone coming out after him.
Just then, a rental wagon drove slowly by and stopped in front of him.
A middle aged male in a black coat stepped out of the carriage and nodded to Klein.
With his blue eyes and thin face and graying temples, he was the same old gentleman Klein had seen in the Golden Rose.
He wasn’t a customer of the Golden Rose …… like us …… Klein suddenly flashed such a realization.
”Hello, I’m Detective Eisinger Stanton who is assisting the police department with this case, can we have a chat?” The middle aged man pointed to the carriage.