The man was holding the canister with exaggerated reverence.
“You’ll never find another product to equal it!” he was saying. He pointed to the rubber funnel that sat on top. “This goes over the nose and mouth” he continued, holding it near to his face, “and this button releases the gas.”
The lady looked pensive. “How affective is it really? I mean, what you claim is quite amazing.”
“I know, I know, people always say that.”
She waggled her head. “I suppose it works on some sort of autosuggestion, or hypnosis maybe?”
He smiled. “No madam. It’s gas. Whatever the situation, this will put a spin on it.”
“What sort of situations does it cover?”
“Absolutely any.”
“Any?”
“Any.”
“Can you give me a for instance?”
“I’m asked that a lot too. Well, for instance… you were responsible for leaving the hot plate on. You simply say I did not leave it on, and take a puff. Walla! You’ll never believe anything else. If you were in a court of law you would say that with total confidence. You yourself would then be quite convinced that what you are saying is not fabricated, but true.”
She seemed satisfied and nodded. “It is very expensive.”
“Of course. There is only one person in the world who knows its formula.” He patted his chest. “Many have tried to duplicate the chemical composition believe me! Tried and failed.” He tapped the side of his head. “That is why you had to go to such great lengths to arrange this meeting. I travel widely, never staying in one place for very long, or any one country for that matter.”
“How long does it last?” She asked.
“It varies a little, but a year is guaranteed.”
She blew out a breath and squinted. That would be good. She’d be long gone by then. “Yes, OK, I’ll need two. Do you have two?”
He wiggled his satchel and said “I do.”
She slowly peeled off the notes and handed over the money. She took the can and held it in front of her. She said “I did not kill my husband” and took a long, deep draw on the spin gas and handed it back. He placed the spent aerosol back in his bag.
Her fingers curled around the handle of the knife in her pocket as she took the second can.