chapter word count: 521 (oops)
noir heart: forty-three
The more Jack listens to Anna's explanation why Elsa married - actively sought to marry - the reprehensible Kozmotis Black, the more his suspicions are allayed...and confirmed. A strange notion that both sides of the innocence/guilt dichotomy are satisfied at once.
As Anna speaks, she talks of bravery and courage; just over five years ago, their parents' company Snowfield Architecture was days away from bankruptcy and leaving its employees jobless, and no matter what solutions Agdar tried, it appeared that the company's doom was certain.
Enter Elsa, in its darkest hour.
Unbeknownst to her family, Elsa approached consultancy firm CEO, millionaire, tyrant and borderline psychopath Kozmotis Black with an offer: save Snowfield Architecture, and she would be his.
Of course, Kozmotis jumped at the chance; Elsa's confidence, intelligence and beauty were renowned in the business world and, indeed, the media - except to Jack, who evidently lived under a rock - and several times had she been approached with offers of courtship.
She refused every single advance, including ones from Kozmotis himself.
However, his thirst for power, tyranny and general prickery was equally renowned, so in true asshole fashion he made some alterations; as well as the pre-nup, Elsa was to cut off contact with her family the moment they were married. If she was to be his, then the possession was to be absolute.
"She missed my wedding, my housewarming...he wouldn't even let her attend our parents' funeral…" Anna laments sadly, consoling herself with stroking her bump as she looks away. Jack can easily tell how much Elsa's return means to Anna; she will be there at the birth.
"When she came back home and told us what she did, Mama and Papa went crazy...but they knew why she did it. That's how I know she didn't kill that...it's just not in her nature. Do you understand, Detective?"
Anna would make one hell of a character witness, he notes. She would just have to repeat in court what she just told him, and the jury would be sold faster than The Force Awakens tickets on opening night.
Even if Elsa had means, motive and opportunity, the lack of evidence, reasonable doubt, 'presence' of the Ripper coupled with Anna's testimony means no jury would convict even if she was indicted - hello, double jeopardy.
Yet, Anna's story also reinforces his suspicion of her potentially malignant narcissist-sociopathic behaviour, especially if she might be a high-functioning sociopath. People like her wouldn't tolerate being part of a dying company, and her actions to save it may be less altruistic and more look-at-me-and-how-selfless-I-am. With 'Ripper-Fear' at its highest, it could have been the ideal time to put Kozmotis out of her misery.
Sometimes the perfect murder isn't getting away with it while the cops scratch their heads, but to stand just outside the law's reach and give it the finger.
Or maybe Anna is right and she is innocent.
One thing's for sure, though: he's done with Elsa Black.
meep meep.
special thanks to: jpbake, edgar allan snow, hornedgoddess, stefalove, lunasnoir, oninoko and heartonfire for reviewing!