Dye

I approached the rather inconspicuous looking barbers shop and being
as it was after hours rang the bell which emitted a rather constipated
ring. After a brief pause I saw a shadow moving behind the muzzlin
blind and then the door was jerked wide open,
"Yes? What!" the man positively spat the words at me.
"Mr. Todd? We had an interview scheduled for five thirty, have I
caught you at a bad time?"
"Interview? Oh grief was that today?" his eyes darted around as if
searching for something while he mumbled some incoherent phrase before
seeming to regain his bearings, "Where are my manners? Please come
in."
"Why thankyou", I followed him through the small front parlour. There
was a row of three chairs along the wall and a metallic strip of a
mirror ran the length of the room. Matted hair covered the chessboard
linoleum floor and a curious crimson stain led a trail to the back of
the shop. Mr. Todd must have seen me surveying the scene, as he grew
rather anxious,
"Dye! Had a bit of a spill earlier today. You wouldn't believe what
these kids today are putting on their hair."
"Must've been quite a spill indeed, you've even got it all over your
hands."
"What?" he barked and grew more agitated than before thrusting his
hands into the deep pockets of his apron, "Well as I said it gets
everywhere."
We proceeded into a small chamber at the back of the building, which I
can only guess was the living room. There was a small gas fire hissing
at me from the wall which threw a rather eerie blue glow over the
entire scene. A couple of plush armchairs faced the blaze and beside
one sat a miniature occasional table with a number of pristine shining
razors on top.
"You certainly seem to take pride in your profession Mr. Todd"; I
called to him as he shuffled off to what I assume was the
kitchen.
"Pride? Ah yes well I always say if a job's worth doing it's worth
doing right", I thought this was followed by further mumbling but could
not hear from such a distance.
As I was about to go in search of Mr. Todd my curiosity was quenched
by the squeak of a faucet turning and the soft gush of running water.
He must've been trying to wash that dye off.
"I hate to be bothersome Mr. Todd but would you mind if we go started?
I have several other appointments this evening."
"Of course of course, why how rude of me. I haven't even offered you a
drink"; he strolled back into the parlour now minus his apron. I
noticed a distinct line half way up his trousers where the accursed dye
still clung to the lower half. It really had gotten everywhere.
"Cup of tea thanks."
"Sure I can't interest you in something stronger?"
"No, not much of a drinker I'm sorry to say."
"Ah well, more of a scotch man myself, I find it calms the
blood."
He returned with the drinks, placing my cup on the table I saw
fingerprints on the white porcelain. That stuff really was tenacious!
He took a sip from his rather generous glass of scotch and settled in
the chair closest to the fire.
"Now, what is it you wished to talk to me about?"
"Well I'm doing a piece on the bodies that turned up in the alley last
night."
"Bodies?" the whisky dribbled down his shirt as he attempted a
combination of talking and drinking simultaneously and doing neither
very well, "what bodies?" once again he seemed to grow tense.
"Surely you must've heard, the police found several as I said in the
alley around the corner. Sorry if I have alarmed you Mr. Todd."
He was mumbling to himself again, eyes now working even more
furiously. He seemed confused about something as if he were performing
a complex equation in his head.
"Mr. Todd?"
"What! Yes? Oh the bodies, startled? No just a little taken aback
that's all. I always thought this was such a safe area."
"Well so did everybody else Mr. Todd but apparently times change. Does
that mean you have nothing to tell me? No suspicious characters outside
the shop, no noises in the night?"
"I'm afraid so, I heard nothing out of the ordinary. I'm quite elderly
as you can see so my hearing's not what it used to be but I'm sure I'd
have heard some commotion if a murder was taking place outside my back
door. Perhaps the bodies were simply left here?" he paused for a moment
to lean forward and turn the fire up a notch, "why you haven't even
touched your tea, it'll go cold."
Quite thrown by his sudden change of subject I suddenly felt rather
awkward, "you're quite right, I do apologise, letting it go to waste
like that." I scooped the cup in my hands and gulped down the entire
thing in a rather greedy fashion. Wiping my lip, "very nice indeed. Is
it Darjeeling?"
"Heavens no! Earl Grey actually, I can see you don't know much about
your tea."
"Not really, never cared for it much actually. More of a social
pleasantry than a drink really if you ask me."
"Well I'm sorry to hear that. Now is there anything else? I don't mean
to be rude but it is getting rather late."
"I quite understand Mr. Todd, there's nothing further I wish to ask
you. I'm just sorry for wasting your time, I'll be taking my leave
now."
I dragged myself up out of the rather comfy armchair and felt rather
queasy. A head rush from standing up too fast I suspect. However things
went from bad to worse, the room refused to focus and I began to feel
incredibly warm as beads of sweat broke out on my brow.
"Are you alright?" asked Todd.
"I&;#8230;drowsy&;#8230;can't see straight", it took all my
effort to mutter these few words as I felt my legs were about to fail
me. I fell to my knees and had to put both hands on the floor to stop
me from landing face down on the rather plush carpet. A shadow fell
over my vision, Todd.
"I do believe you've been drugged my good fellow. I imagine you'll be
losing consciousness any minute now. Shame, such a promising young
journalist too I'm sure."
I craned my neck upward to better hear what he was saying but it was
as if my ears had been packed with cotton buds. Everything sounded
distant as if behind a thick pane of glass. The only sound that
remained was the hiss of the fire and that seemed to be growing
louder.
My vision had become so impaired that all that remained of Mr. Todd
was a dark blot outlined by the glow of the fire. He moved over to the
small table and I could see something glistening in the half-light.
Twinkling as he turned whatever it was around and around.
"Now&;#8230;where&;#8230;begin?" this was all I caught of his
muffled speech.
As the shadow Mr. Todd had become moved over me the light from the
fire was eclipsed leaving my already fading world in foggy
darkness.
"Hold&;#8230;won't&;#8230;a bit", came mumbled from somewhere
above me. Then I felt the most curious sensation before I sort of
lethargic drowsiness came over me. A chill ran from my head to my
stomach, which provided some comfort from the warmth of the fire. My
head lolled from side to side and I saw that Mr. Todd had spilled more
of that damned dye all over the floor and it was still spreading. He'd
got it everywhere, on my clothes, on his and especially on that shiny
thing that had been in his hand. I was just about to chastise him for
his clumsiness when the scene faded to black&;#8230;