EXPLANATORY NOTE: This chapter contains hints of sexuality, explicit violence, and sensitive (religious) themes for some adults.
If you're sensitive to these topics, it's recommended you stop reading this story.
Noticing that they haven't answered, the detective manages to give John a big hug on his shoulder and announces they're going out to eat.
He doesn't know if John is hungry, but he is.
This gesture from the detective bothers John greatly; he doesn't understand the marked intimacy lately.
He knows it's to let him know they're there, close, very close.
And what's most urgent for John right now is to go to a salon where he can get his nails done.
He won't always be able to hide his hands under his gloves.
They get into John's car.
The detective gives him the address of the restaurant.
Everything has been arranged, and it's on the way to John's house, just so he can't refuse.
On the way, neither of them speak to each other.
However, the detective has noticed John's difficulty finding his keys, and an almost imperceptible tension in his jaw every time he has to touch something while driving.
It's a standard car and requires a certain amount of strength on the gear shift.
Using the rearview mirror is a double-edged sword.
Apparently, nothing happens.
But it has given him a concrete sign that John is hiding something in his hands.
Knowing he's being watched creates a growing tension in the atmosphere.
An accused and an executioner.
They arrive at the restaurant.
John is the first to unbuckle his seatbelt; he urgently wants to get out of the car.
Clive does the same; before getting out, he notices a very thin, reddish line on John's seatbelt buckle.