The Devil's Game

Chapter 13

Harris positioned his car right across from the entrance to Michael's building in SoHo.

No wonder he cheated. Life doesn't come cheap here.

Harris believed in a simple lifestyle. A bagel and coffee in the morning and a roof to live under was all he strived for in life. He arrived that same morning in New York City and went straight to Michael's house. He didn't want to be in this cold weather any longer than he needed to be.

"Let the show begin," he mumbled, gripping his camera and pointing it at Michael, who was emerging from the building.

"Where you going?" Harris muttered and started the engine.

Michael's taxi drove up Sixth Avenue and turned on 42nd Street and then down the iconic Fifth Avenue. Michael watched the long rows of open umbrellas moving along the sidewalks.

New Yorkers are out in any weather.

The taxi stopped in front of the famous New York Public Library.

Michael went straight to the information desk and asked for Amanda. He was directed to the Rose Main Reading Room. He was told to look for an Asian woman in her mid-thirties with long hair, wearing a black sweater and a pair of blue jeans.

He entered the Reading Room. He wasn't in a state of mind to appreciate its majestic, high ceilings or the grand hall that was lined with thousands of books on open shelves along the floor level and along the balcony, lit by massive windows and grand chandeliers, and furnished with sturdy wood tables, comfortable chairs, and brass lamps.

Harris was only a few steps behind Michael.

Michael walked down the main corridor, looking to each side.

A few aisles further down, he could see a woman matching the description. But the description did her true beauty no justice. Her piercing, green eyes looked up at Michael.

Helen of Troy was once called the most beautiful woman who walked this planet. This woman was walking right beside Helen, Michael was thinking.

Amanda was sitting in front of a pile of open books.

"Amanda?"

"Mr. Adams?"

Michael nodded.

"I'm so glad you came. Please take a seat," Amanda whispered, pulling out a chair.

"Let's not waste time. Tell me how you know?" Michael said, feeling a tingling at the base of his neck.

"Mr. Adams, I understand your confusion about what I told you last night." Her tone of voice was soothing.

She pulled one of the books toward her.

"You recognize this image, Mr. Adams?"

She pointed to a painting of a nude man and a nude woman covering their genitals with a fig leaf. They were standing under an apple tree. A snake was leaping from the branch of the tree toward the woman.

With a slight head shake he said, "Sure, Adam and Eve. But..."

"Yes. What do you know about Adam and Eve?"

"What's that gotta do with me?" His eyebrows squished together.

"Please just answer the question. I will explain everything, but I need you to understand some things first. So, what you know about them?" Her eyes widened.

"Uhm, I know the Bible says they were the first humans created by God."

"Great. What else?"

"This is stupid. I don't have time for this." He pushed the book away.