We are all voyeurs
He said
Otherwise glass would not have been invented
But what of mirrors?
I asked
It was God’s first creation
So that we might admire our own reflection
I was admiring the poem which was hanging in Phillip’s hall
It was written by Solange
I think it is rather good don’t you?
Yes it is very reflective
Where is Solange?
She is still on the island but I expect her back within the month
What is it like being back?
Depressing
And you?
I really have not put my suitcase down
Do realise that Pretty is back in Spain?
I thought she might return
She is sharing a flat with a girl called Linda in Barcelona
I am pleased for her as I thought she was lonely in Japan
There is something a little odd about the set up though
She has not turned gay has she?
No nothing like that
I am curious
Yellow
Sorry
It was a movie made many years ago you should know that
Funny guy
So what is so odd?
Have you ever heard of webcams?
Obviously
Well the apartment they share has a number of webcams linked to the internet
For one of those dodgy sites
How did she fall for that?
Pretty may be many things bit she is not naïve
That is what I thought until I contacted her
It seems that these sites are quite popular
I would think they are
She says it is a project
A project?
Are there cameras in every room?
Yes
So nothing is hidden
Nothing
Is it not a little invasive?
I mean what happens if you are shitting or worse
Do you remember a television series called Big Brother that was very popular a number of years ago
I remember it
It started off well and then just became a freak show
I always thought it to be improvised
It probably was
Are the cameras on all day?
24/7
Do they record or are they just live?
I am not sure but Pretty said they were live cameras
How did she get involved in this project?
Through Linda
Who is Linda?
A girl she met in Japan
A traveller?
No she worked for Pretty’s father
Do you get paid for it Pretty?
In a way
Your hair is shorter you look like Jean Seberg
I suffered from Gastroenteritis
In Breathless
A Bout de Souffle
I am not short of breath
I am perfectly well
You have lost weight
I have been ill
We live here rent free
What is expected of you?
To be free
Naked?
Sometimes
With a girl
It is not that type of project
Do you not feel violated?
No why should I?
People are watching you each second of the day
I am in charge
Are you?
Very much
I show as much or as little as I want
What would Jean Seberg have thought of it?
Ask her
That is impossible
Why
Because she is dead
Then why ask me that question Daniel?
I am not paid for this but we live here rent free
I would not have been able to live here
I would not have been able to afford the rent
I have been ill and collapsed in the bedroom
Linda was at work
I shit myself
I vomited everywhere
Someone who was watching me took pity and contacted whosoever they needed to contact
Paramedics arrived and I was taken to hospital
When I arrived back in the apartment flowers awaited me
I felt loved
The flowers were from a voyeur
That is unlikely
Why?
The location of this apartment is secret
Perhaps they were from the web company
This is a possibility but unlikely
Why?
They are based in Japan
I am not concerned who sent them
I felt loved
Perhaps Linda sent them
I asked her
Perhaps Jean Seberg sent the flowers
Cynic
Do you realise if I committed a murder in let’s say Leeds I would be caught quite soon unless I was very careful
If I had committed this murder thirty years ago then life would have been much simpler
DNA was in its infancy and there were no CCTV cameras
How many times do you think that your image has been recorded since you left your flat?
How many people have watched you?
I have not thought about it
Your journey was tracked
So was mine
Ring Pretty
Why?
Tell her it was me who sent the flowers
Do you watch her on the web cam?
Sometimes
But you know all there is to know about Pretty
Solange asked me to
Does Pretty know?
Does Pretty care?
Solange woke up one morning and was unable to contact her friend so she rang me and there she was covered in her own vomit
So I called the paramedics
How did you know where the apartment was?
Pretty told me
Solange was aware also
How serious was it
Serious enough
If I had not called for help then Pretty would have become quite dehydrated
What is her friend like?
Plain but then again anybody looks plain near Pretty
Have you met her?
I have spoken to her on the phone
Is she gay?
Not to my knowledge
She strikes me as rather shy
Do you think that we are being watched Daniel?
No unless you have cameras secreted in this room
I can promise you that I have no secret cameras
Do you remember the Orwell novel when Winston and Julia are betrayed by the shop keeper?
Yes he is a member of the thought police
Both Winston and Julia thought they were hidden but they were being observed
What is your point?
That one cannot hide
One could hide in a forest
But one would have to leave the forest
Possibly
If you look out of the window to the left there are cameras controlling the traffic flow
You would have been observed when you entered my flat
If you look at my laptop you will see the entrance to this block of flats
If my buzzer rings in an instant I can see who is there
Nobody can hide
Where did you park the car?
I took the tube
They know that you are here
If they were interested
Where are you?
I am in London
Go into my site
I would not know how
Phillip has it bookmarked
How did you know?
He told me
How did you know that I was visiting Phillip
He told me
Well log in
You do not have to do this
It is something for you
Do not worry I am fully dressed
I am Jean Seberg
Pretty was walking around the apartment
She was dressed in a New York Herald Tribune tee shirt
I am your Patricia you know
Aand I am your Michel
Do let me know when you are next in Barcelona
Why?
I might find an apartment where we are not watched
Does one exist?
Maybe
Or we could use this apartment
I would imagine that there are lots of Breathless fans out there
Then I would have to kill a cop
And I would betray you
We would be watched you know
Nothing is secret anymore