Chapter 147 - Alibi

"Dominik, I'm really sorry," Scarlett Yang said. "I didn't think about the consequences then. I wasn't really thinking at all. I followed my thirst ... Was Andrzej very angry?"

"We cleared it all up," Śliwiński gestured to her into the living room.

"So he was," she sighed. "What smells so good in here?"

Śliwiński looked at her curiously. All he could smell was the smell of the pancakes and cocoa they had for breakfast coming from the kitchen. But the American woman could not talk about it.

Scarlett, with the ease of her own, made for the kitchen. There were also cups and a plate with a few pancakes on the table.

"Can I try it?" She asked looking at the dish with a gleam in her eyes.

"They're already cold," he said. "I'll fry them for you, they'll be tastier."

"Are you really gonna do this for me?"

"Of course," he smiled and reached for his apron.

The actress, without taking her eyes off him, slowly slumped down into one of the chairs.

"Did something happen?" He asked worriedly.

"No, it's just ... I don't remember when anyone other than a professional cook made breakfast for me."

"I'm the cook," he announced. "As if. I went to cooking school."

"Really?"

"I didn't finish it because I started acting in movies."

The pancakes sizzled over the hot fat. If the media find out that he was making breakfast for Scarlett Yang ...

Dominik still had mixed feelings about this situation. They were doing absolutely nothing wrong, and yet someone could make current events erotic. After all, a woman eating breakfast at the man's house and prepared by him, while two days earlier they kissed in the middle of the street ... Andrzej will have to show great fortitude to believe in his faithfulness despite the evidence.

Completely unconsciously, he sighed.

"I spoke to the director today," she said.

"Yes?"

"He would like to take test shots as soon as possible. In Los Angeles."

"As soon as possible?"

"Yes. This year."

Śliwiński laid out flushed pancakes on a plate and set it in front of Scarlett. He handed her cutlery and put the dirty mugs in the sink.

It was already early December and time was passing very fast. Christmas will come soon, which he is to spend with Andrzej and Paulina's family. Accordingly, he should think about appropriate gifts. He didn't want it to be anything, so he had to make a choice, think carefully about everything, and that took time.

"God, how delicious it is!" She exclaimed with her mouth full. "What is this?"

"Pancakes with white cheese," he replied indifferently, because his thoughts were in another place.

"Insane!"

He could not help smiling, although he was not at all happy. It was not a nice prospect to go to the other end of the world at that time.

But since he undertook to play in this film, since so many people, including Scarlett and Andrzej, are counting on him, he must do it.

"Okay, so when are we leaving?"

***

Andrzej Nowicki put the camera to his eye. He focused the focal length on one point on the wall and then began to bring it closer. He changed the lens and repeated the action. He was pleased with the result, which made him sigh with pleasure once again. This equipment, worth more than a mid-range car, was a real wonder. The most precious thing about him, however, was that he was a gift from the heart of a man who loves him. When buying this camera, Dominik did not pay attention to the price, he just wanted to repay his friend for everything that he had done for him. He put a lot of effort into finding something that Andrzej would really like.

Nowicki, for whom photography was not only a profession, but a passion, could not help but be delighted at the sight of this miracle of technology. He refused to accept it because of the price, but Dominik really wanted to give him something and put so much heart into it that it was impossible to refuse without hurting him. The camera was really excellent and Andrzej took a number of great photos with it, including those with Śliwiński's face on advertising billboards, but he wanted to check it again before the upcoming important session.

"Excuse me, Mr. Nowicki?"

Andrzej put down the camera and saw two people approaching him. They were wearing outer garments, suggesting that they are neither employees of this company nor its customers, otherwise they would have used the changing rooms. The woman who asked this question had ashen, short hair, only her slightly longer fringe covered one eye. The man accompanying her assumed a rather aggressive attitude.

"Yes," he admitted. "How can I help you?"

These two looked like troubles, but since they were allowed into the company premises, they had some sort of license. Private detectives? Police?

"My name is Liliana Andryszek, I am the Assistant Commissioner in the Criminal Division, this is my partner, Commissioner Daniel Święcki. Can we talk for a while?"

Police! Andrzej's heart beat faster.

"Is ... Is something wrong?" He asked, not hiding his concern. Dozens of black scenarios appeared before his eyes. "Anyone had an accident?"

"No, no, take it easy," the woman replied. "We just want you to confirm someone else's alibi."

Surprised, he blinked. Has this Bambus gone completely crazy? What has he gotten himself into again, and why is he pulling him into it? In addition, he did not inform him about it.

He sighed as he put the camera back in its case. He was glad that the plan that had been in between the change of decorations was empty at the moment. Nobody at work will see his nervousness when he tries to sew something for his fuzzy colleague.

"Alibi?" He muttered. "So there is a crime."

"Did you know an aspiring actor named Iwo Mężyński?" The policeman spoke for the first time.

"No," he admitted.

"And the name Marek Marczak tells you something?"

"Even a lot" Andrzej felt confused. Why are they asking about Marczak, not Długosz?

"Mr. Mężyński was one of Mr. Marczak's actors. Unfortunately, he is dead."

"Ah yes. It's sad." It really was, but since Andrzej did not know the actor, his grief was not as great as it would have been if someone he knew had died.

"Where were you the night before between ten and one?" continued Commissioner Święcki. His tone was sharp, aggressive, but Nowicki did not blame him. He understood that this was his job.

So they didn't ask for Bamboo. His name was not mentioned in the conversation. Was it then Marek who was suspected of something?

Andrzej sighed, not hiding his dislike.

"At Marek Marczak's, unfortunately."

The policemen looked at each other.

"Unfortunately?" The woman asked.

"I have known Marczak since August and I do not have warm feelings for him. Personalities made me drink a little too much that night. And I spent the night at Marczak's place."

"You said you drank too much. How can you be sure that Mr. Marczak was in the apartment all the time?"

"I am not so sure and I did not say so. You asked where I was, not him."

The commissioner smiled with satisfaction. Was his testimony incriminating? For sure. After all, they did not provide an irrefutable alibi. Forgive me, Marczak, I will not lie for you.

However, something disturbed Andrzej.

"Does it mean that Marczak is a murder suspect? Because if so, then ..."

"Yes?" Święcki intercepted.

"We talked that morning. If Marczak had committed a murder at night, he would probably not be able to talk this way. Otherwise…"

"Otherwise what?"

"I really don't think he left his apartment that night. Knowing him, it is more likely that he wanted to catch me in some outrageous behavior and take pictures that compromised me."

The policewoman grunted, suppressing a laugh.

"Thank you, you helped us a lot," she said. Nowicki noticed that her partner did not like his last statement. Did he think Marczak was guilty for some reason?

Andrzej dismissed the thought in disgust.

"Oh, and one more thing," the Assistant Commissioner said to him. "If you were to judge the character of Mr. Marczak. Do you think he would be capable of committing murder?"

"I used to think so," he admitted. "Marczak is a type who likes to get his way. However, I met him, and while I still can't say I like him, I can't imagine him killing someone in cold blood."

He didn't add that he could have done it out of affect. After all, it has not been six months since Andrzej himself stopped him from raping Dominik and the actor walked roughly for many days.

Then, however, a great passion came to the fore. Somehow Nowicki could not imagine that similar emotions played in Marczak in relation to someone else. Anyway, Marczak understood how badly he behaved then, and since then he has started to change for the better.