<< Such a hypothesis is incredible. >> Leoni said in disbelief. << Are you sure it's not, however, a coincidence? >>
<< Absolutely not. >> Ottavia replied determinedly.
The first thing Ottavia had done early in the morning was call the Commissioner to explain her theory to him.
She had almost not slept all night due to her impatience to tell him about her small but important discovery and she also had an example ready to support her hypothesis, based on one of the many police cases that occurred in Brimstone.
<< This situation is very similar to what happened a few years ago in Brimstone: it was a case of fraud and embezzlement in a well-known company. The police investigations all pointed to a single name, but how this evidence led to the "culprit" was all too providential and this made the investigators suspicious. >>
<< I understand. It was like they were handing them the solution on a silver platter. >>
<< After a careful analysis, they discovered who the real criminal was and that it was precisely this who provided the false clues they found. Their excessive effort in trying to get away with defaming an innocent person by placing the blame on it ended up exposing them to the truth. >>
<< Wow, what a story. It's so incredible that it seems like something out of a TV series. >>
<< Whoever this person is who sent you that message and is spreading gossip, is making the same mistake: in order not to be found, they are excessively trying to sidetrack the investigation. >>
The woman had prepared herself to have to fight to defend her trial from the man's disbelief who, instead; contrary to her expectations, he had shown himself to be very willing to believe her. It was the first time this had happened to her.
<< Okay, I'll do as you say. I'll ask the guys to see if they can find out what area the email was sent from... or whatever way to do it. They are smarter than me with technology. >>
<< You'll see that it's the right direction, I feel like it's like this. By the way, will you be at the torchlight procession tonight? >>
<< In my position it's not a good idea to be there. Among other things, I think it would be very annoying to our only suspect, after the accusation I made against him. >>
<< I understand. So good luck Commissioner. >>
Ottavia ended the call; a shiver ran through her from head to toe.
She had no doubts about her hypothesis, but she shouldn't stop and investigate just because she now had a lead. On the contrary, she had to start moving into gear.
The next step was always to figure out where the victim had gone on the night of her death. To find new clues it wasn't enough to rely only on her gossip, but she hoped that Signora Carmela could still involuntarily help her in this if she managed to hear something new. Her, meanwhile; she would have done the same while keeping her eyes open.
That evening the community had decided to organize a wake in honor of Cynthia.
The authorities of Branchlion, the citizens, and anyone who wanted to participate, would gather to support Jannes' mourning. Regardless of the suspicions against him, many believed in his innocence. The wake was also a way to show him that not everyone thought of him negatively.
Each held a small candle in their hand. It was the number of flames that made Jannes and Cynthia's relatives, who had flown in from their country only that morning, realize once they left the hotel how many people were beside them in that difficult moment. As much as they tried to remain stoic, they couldn't hold back a moving smile and a tired "thank you" to the mayor who, at their side, guided them throughout the ceremony. Starting from the hotel until reaching the local church, a large procession walked in silence along a pre-established route. No one spoke during the march accompanied by the smell of melted wax, a silence that was briefly disturbed by the crying of one or more newborn children. All the time Ottavia observed the people around her, hoping to notice traces of guilt through the dim lights of the candles, but nothing unusual emerged at that time apart from a few tired yawns. Not even in the church, when the parish priest celebrated the funeral mass, the expressions changed... and to think that a murderer could be hiding among those people, she thought.
There was a large photo of Cynthia just outside the church entrance, a close-up of her angelic face that perfectly captured her sweet smile and kind eyes. She didn't care about her sexual secret, about her particular obsession, or what games she played in bed with her husband, not having been a bad person in her life was the most important factor about her, and for this reason, she deserved justice.
She promised her in front of God that before the end of the summer she would find whoever had hurt her.
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A boat took off amid constant insults from its navigator, irritated by the constant noise of rusty metal that the engine produced. He knew it was old, but he hadn't imagined it was old enough to be so loud. Out of his irritation, he often punched it, trying to silence it. All he wanted was silence that evening.
Every bump of the boat that cut through the waves corresponded to an extra beat of his heart; a couple of times he grabbed his chest convinced that he was about to have a heart attack. The agitation shook him more than the rough sea... or should we say that it was the sense of guilt that made him feel so bad because he was aware that he was doing something wrong. Unfortunately for him, he had made a promise from which he could not back out, an oath based on a bond of brotherhood that he had not been able to turn his back on and which he cared about almost as much as his own life.
The lone navigator had moved away for many miles, apart from a few dim lights the coast could barely be seen on the horizon, camouflaged with the dark moonless night perfect for concealing his presence and the act he was about to carry out. Before the clouds allowed the moon's rays to shine on the sea, he threw a suitcase into the water. Thanks to the stones with which it had been filled he quickly sank, leaving behind a gurgling of bubbles that stopped after a few minutes.
He felt a heavy déjà-vu at that moment.
The memory of the similar act already committed worsened his discomfort and he ended up vomiting overboard.
He had deluded himself that by getting rid of that burden he could go back to living in peace, but instead, he was still in a bad situation, if not even worse than before.
Before that moment he had deluded himself that he could still lead a normal life, but after that night, as he returned to the mainland, he realized that he would never regain his hoped-for normality.
He rejected the prospect of constantly living with the anxiety of having to keep secrets.
He had to set the record straight.
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The next two days were very hectic in the town: the rough sea gave high waves for improvised surfers, a local festival had begun in the town and there was even a friendly improvised beach volleyball match, all fueled by an exhausting hot wind.
The strong waves provided continuous hours of play for the teens who enjoyed being continually tossed up and down on their rubber steeds or directly on the shore, overwhelmed by foam and algae, while lifeguards were on the lookout for any swimmers in danger; only the youngest children were forced to stay dry, whose protests fell on deaf ears to their protective parents. However, those who were not comfortable with such a strong current stayed safe in the innermost part of the beach, keeping away from the angry water that tried to take away the more careless ones who dried them or their flip-flops forgotten near its waves, while someone was trying to resist the wind that was forcefully trying to chase everyone away.
Felix persisted in reading the newspaper even though the pages kept folding together. He didn't want to give up, not so much to give up his reading but to have an excuse to ignore the petulant neighbor at the umbrella who did nothing but talk to him about work every time he saw him. Unlike his wife Ottavia, Felix had a normal job as a pharmaceutical representative. His main job was to travel around the country selling products and services, including drugs and medical devices, and he was rarely in the office filling out paperwork like most of his colleagues. The work was not heavy, but certainly very tiring as it often required full days of travel to reach pharmaceutical facilities that were not always close to home.
He was satisfied with his job and had no problem talking about it… but on vacation, it was a different matter. He didn't want to hear about market transactions, salaries, or anything that reminded him of the office.
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When he seemed to have reached the point of seeing himself defeated and having to endure another difficult conversation, he glimpsed the splendid figure of his wife returning from her relaxing walk with a friend. Before the neighbor caught him, he rushed to reach his spouse. Acting like an incurable romantic, he proposed that they continue the walk together (making her understand with fleeting glances that she was helping him) with the excuse of spending time together. The friend let them go, struck by so much "love", mistaking Ottavia's amused giggling for sweet embarrassment.
Wife and husband strolled along the shore hand in hand, chatting and enjoying each other's presence.
While they spoke, the world around them disappeared, erased by the love they exchanged in that moment dedicated to them, forgetting at least for a moment their commitments and duties. When they came out of their bubble of affection, they were already far from the lively beach whose noises were muffled by the roar of the waves, in that little-frequented area there were few souls around and almost all along the shore large and cumbersome rocks emerged which partially blocked access to the sea. Even further ahead we could glimpse the small port of Branchlion, a long concrete dock to which some boats, all belonging to fishermen, were docked.
The structure extended 20 meters into the sea, in the perpetually immersed part algae had grown into a sort of undulating green carpet in which small mollusks were hiding. Those who could not find a place to dock were forced to drag their boats ashore with winches mounted at the edge of the beach, some giving the impression of not having set sail for a long time due to their abandoned appearance, so much so that they even had some cobwebs on board. The few sailors present were busy fixing the nets or overhauling the boats, while some were arguing with seagulls and stray cats to prevent them from taking what they had caught. A motorboat that was no more than ten meters in length was preparing to reach the port announced by an annoying rusty screech, it was painted a dull sky blue and a flag with torn edges stood out on top of the cockpit. Felix greeted his owner as he emerged onto the forward deck, stopping him before he could throw out the docking line.
Alberto, the owner of Lido Saturno, reciprocated with a radiant smile.
<< Hey Matteo, what are you doing around here? Are you taking the lady for a walk? >> the man asked him.
<< We stay on our own for a while. >> he replied, thoughtfully embracing her companion.
<< Why did you go out today? No restaurant jobs? >>
<< My relatives will take care of it, today is my day off. I took the opportunity to try to fish something and move “Grandpa” a little. >>
<< Grandpa? >>
<< It's the name of the boat. >>
<< I must admit that I have never been on board a boat. I would love to experience the experience at least once. >>
<
<< I don't know... the sea is quite rough. She may get seasick if she is not used to it. >>
Felix knew they were just excuses.
Since he had inherited the ship, Alberto was very jealous of it and was not always willing to let people on board, regardless of whether they were strangers or even his relatives. All it took was a little encouragement (and a thousand promises not to cause harm) to convince him.
<< What do you think, darling? Are you feeling it? >>
<< More than willingly. >>
Felix felt foolish for thinking that Ottavia would refuse such an offer. She was a gentlewoman who grew up with a somewhat rigid upbringing, but she was not someone who held back when it came to experimenting or trying new experiences.
You could see the enthusiasm on her face and that made her even more beautiful.
When the boat took off, she rotated her head between the receding land and the sea that opened in front of her, the wind stirred her red hair so much that it looked like a living flame, and the drops of water splashed on her and made her skin shiny. The man could waste hours admiring her and, in those moments, he was grateful to heaven for having been lucky enough to meet such a beautiful, as well as wonderful, woman.
Now and then, Alberto slowed down the speed to indicate some areas of particular interest on the coast, even if in the distance the landscape stood out enough to give the illusion of being able to touch it with his hand. Unfortunately, the seabed was indistinguishable due to the rough surface, when the current was calmer, he stated that it was possible to see large schools of tuna, sea turtles, and even the remains of ancient ships sunk more than 300 years ago. Felix thought about how many times he had heard those details that made Branchlion an interesting place and how he appreciated them more now than when he had been a young boy. It was all very nostalgic, and he was happy that his wife was interested in it.
<
Felix followed the direction and noticed that there was indeed a sailing ship lying on the beach, in a state of decay.
<< Yes ma'am, a sailing boat to be precise. It belonged to a guy with money who came to these parts three years ago, but it seems that he didn't know how to handle it and ended up in the sand. No one was hurt, fortunately. >>
<
<< He didn't have the money to repair it and left it there, rotting on the beach. Unfortunately, we can't even remove it because that area is private property. >>
<
<< Dunno, I have no idea anymore. Once they say about the municipality, another time they say about the mafia... it's no longer clear. >>
<< Oh. So those nearby are the famous illegal houses that everyone complains about. >>
<< Exactly. A great example of money misspent. >>
Eight rectangular mustard-colored entrance buildings stood just beyond the abandoned vessel, partially hidden by a brick wall and thick bushes that had grown too tall. They were the only buildings nearby, everything else was occupied by groves of citrus trees whose scent invaded the nearby highway, the pride of the local farmers. No one had appreciated that a good portion had been deforested to make room for those horrors, especially now that there was no permit to live there due to their illegality. Probably, whoever designed them had thought that by staying in such a particular area they would earn a lot of money. Now, most certainly, they were mourning the financial loss.
Once the boat ride was over, Alberto asked the couple if he could have the pleasure of inviting them to dinner that evening.
Since their arrival they had promised each other that they would all be able to sit at the table together and considering that it was his day of rest, they could take advantage of it. They agreed without problems, a quiet evening of food, a chat, and friendship didn't hurt anyone.
Back at the port, the fishy smell had become more intense.
A group of fishermen had just returned from a successful catch and were showing off their catch by holding them up in the air like trophies, some of them still partially alive. Instinctively Felix and Alberto rushed to admire the catch like when they were children who challenged each other to touch the ones with the ugliest faces. Felix realized almost immediately that his wife had not followed him, remaining near the boat.
<< Ottavia? Is everything okay, darling? >> he asked.
She turned around smiling, showing off her gold-rimmed glasses.
<< I was cleaning my glasses. >> was her response.
Great, he thought. Everything was fine.
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Felix, Ottavia, and their children had stopped to eat at the Lido Saturno restaurant several times since their arrival in town, and that evening too the quality of the food was high. As a good restaurant located by the sea, fish was the main protagonist of the menu and for those who were fond of it the freshness was immediately noticeable with strong flavors, dishes were rarely taken away still half full and in the empty ones, there were almost not even crumbs left.
The place was not luxurious, but many customers, especially in the evening service, were elegantly dressed, especially the ladies. Perhaps influenced by this aspect, some had no problem ordering the most expensive wines that best suited the dishes or leaving tips for the waiters even though it was not obligatory. Almost every evening the place was full and it was not unusual for the staff to often be forced to send people away due to lack of space, the regulars knew that it was better to book well in advance if they wanted to have a place to eat. One table was as good as another, but the best were certainly those overlooking the sea.
The table that the family shared with the Viennas was precisely one of those.
They talked, ate, laughed, and joked, all aspects that made a pleasant dinner.
<< How about we go fishing together one of these days, Matteo? When do we get to spend time together again, like in the old days? >>
<< I more than willingly accept. Unfortunately, in Brimstone I don't have the sea close by and I can no longer enjoy a nice Sunday catch. >>
<< Bring the kids too, then. The more the merrier. >>
<< Excellent idea. We'll teach them some fishing and sea tricks. >>
Felix didn't notice the annoyed looks of his children, forced to hold back their grumbling so as not to make a bad impression.
<
<< It wouldn't be bad... we could even do it. >>
<
<< Look, this stuff costs money, it's not like buying a net of onions. >>
<< Do you often go on boat trips? I couldn't help but notice that it had a "used" look. >>
<
<< Wow, you really love it. >>
For a moment Felix seemed to notice something strange in Ottavia's manner.
She was asking questions in her typical inquiring tone when she wanted to investigate a person who, in her opinion, was hiding something. Yet, she was composed and calm, while on those occasions she stood stiff as a statue and with a fixed and severe gaze, she wasn't even fiddling with the small red stone hanging from her golden necklace, a habit she had when she was concentrated or thoughtful.
Maybe he was wrong... maybe it was just an impression.
At a certain point, his wife's phone rang and she politely took leave of the others to go away and answer it.
She exited the restaurant, turning just a little to the left of the entrance so that family and friends couldn't see her from where they were sitting.
In reality, there was no one on the phone, because of the music in the restaurant Felix had confused the ringtone of the call with that of the messages. In any case, it was a good excuse for Ottavia to breathe a sigh, but it wasn't one of relief. On the contrary, she served to release some of the anxiety that had been gathering in her chest.
All day she had kept a small plastic bag hidden in her bag with a fake nail inside, painted in blue and purple and on which two small diamonds were glued. Finding such an ornate fake nail on a boat was just strange… but what made the find truly alarming was that that type of nail was the same one the victim was wearing on the day of her death. She couldn't believe that such evidence could be found on board her husband's friend's boat... was it possible that Alberto was involved? Ottavia rarely got upset, but that little piece of plastic had sent her into a panic. For Felix's sake, she hoped instead that it was a colossal coincidence.
Ottavia paused from her thoughts, stroking the wedding ring on her finger. She got straight to the point: Was Antonio Vienna involved in the murder of Cynthia Remaut?
Due to the friendship that bound him to Felix, he hoped not. But she couldn't decide his innocence like that, based on emotion alone, she thought.
Now, the right thing to do would have been to hand over the evidence to the police, but doing so would have jeopardized the reputation of a possibly innocent man. If he was involved, then it would be up to her to find out.