-Hello...What's happened again?...We're on our way.
-What is happened?
-Dante called, said the neighbours heard some noise in the victim's flat.- I said, and Ashley and I ran down the stairs.
-You think the killer went back to the crime scene?
-It's not necessarily the killer, it could be someone connected to the murder. Beretta 92 is with you, I hope.
-Always with me.
By the time Ashley finished talking, we were already running out of the driveway and racing towards the house where the murder had taken place. Suddenly my phone rang again, and I looked at the screen and saw an unknown number. I didn't know the number, but I was sure it was him.
-Dante's calling again?
-No, an old acquaintance. -I said on an exhale and switched off the phone.
I know that he will call all day and all night without stopping, will write a thousand and one texts. So it's better to switch off the phone. I've got my other phone in my bag in the car so I can afford to switch it off for a while.
-Who's the acquaintance? -said my sister when we were already in the driveway.
-Ashley, not now. We have to call the intercom so they'll open the door for us.
And then we got lucky because there was a woman coming out of the doorway. Otherwise, to open the door, we'd have to call the number of someone's flat and spend 20 minutes explaining that we're the police, not someone who's here to rob someone.
-Good afternoon, we're the police. - said the sister and, probably at the speed of light, showed her ID.
We instantly started running up the stairs and in two minutes we were already on the 2nd floor. When we got to the door, we listened, and there was indeed someone in the flat. The man was talking on the phone, the whole conversation was not audible, but it was possible to make out some phrases. "He's nowhere to be found." "I won't let you down." "I'm honoured."
- What's the plan?-I whispered.
-Let's go after him.
-I think he's coming.
We moved as quietly as possible away from the door and rounded the corner.A few seconds later, the door opened and a guy came out.
He looked to be in his twenties, wearing a black tracksuit. The unknown guy started down the stairs, Ashley and I waited a bit and followed him. When he got out of the house, he got into his car and we got into our car.
-Let's hope he doesn't notice he's being followed.
-Yeah, we should call Dante or Silvio and tell them we're following this unknown guy. -I said, starting the car.
-"I'll call Silvio.
While Ashley was looking for her phone, we were already driving out of the yard and following the stranger's car. I kept my distance so he wouldn't notice he was being followed.
-Hello...There was a guy in the flat...We started following him...We're passing the shopping centre now...Okay.
As my sister talked on the phone, I kept thinking that she was going to ask me, " Who was that guy who called you?" There was no use in hoping Ashley would forget, she had a phenomenal memory. She once reminded me of an event 15 years after it happened. I can't tell Ashley about it, so I have to make up some very believable lie. I don't really like lying, but it's the only option I have.
-What's on your mind? -My sister's voice brought me out of my thoughts.
-Nothing.Oh, our stranger has stopped.
-said I, watching as the car of the guy we were chasing stopped not far from the cafe.
-Taking a coffee break?
-Looks like it.
The guy got out of his car and walked leisurely towards the cafe. He met another guy at the entrance and they went inside.
-Let's go. - Ashley said as she got out of the car.
I got out of the car and locked it and followed my sister. We walked into the cafe and sat down at a table near two guys we didn't know yet.
-He needs to be found, brother Adriano. The leader was killed and the gods are angry with us, we have to earn their forgiveness.
-What can I do, Brother Federico?
-Find the sacred relic and bring it to the meeting tomorrow.
-Okay, Honour to Gods, Brother Federico.
-Honour to the Gods, Brother Adriano. -said the guy and was about to get up from the table and leave, but ...
-I'm Chief Inspector Ashley Grace, hands on your head, you're in arrest. - said the sister, pointing the gun in the direction of the almost arrested.
-Today is not your day fanatics. - I said, standing up next to Ashley.
-Put the gun away sister, we didn't do anything wrong. -said "Brother Adriano" in a calm voice with a smile.
-Yeah, you guys are like saints. -I said.
I put handcuffs on the detainees' hands and my sister and I led them to the exit.
-The newspapermen don't waste any time. Listen to this. "A mysterious murder this morning has the police baffled."Who committed the murder and how is it linked to religious fanaticism?
Hurry up and find out the details." -I say, picking up a newspaper from a stand outside the cafe.
We put these "brothers" in the car and drove to the police station. All the way they were silent and smiling as if they were going not to the police station, but to a holiday resort. And there was one interesting detail, the look in their eyes. A confident look, such a look in criminals most often indicates that they will not stay long in the police station. They will be helped to justify themselves and they will be found innocent, or a friend or relative will help them, or money will solve the problem. But in the case of these guys, I don't think it will work, the article is too hard. Killing people for sacrifice is horrible and all these sectarians will pay for taking the lives of 50 people.
-Why are you smiling? Do you have any idea what's going on right now? Rose, maybe they're a little crazy. -Ashley asked, looking at the detainees.
-Ashley, they were burning people alive. Are you still questioning whether they're crazy?
-I mean, I don't want them playing dumb here. I have the impression that they've decided to stay in a mental institution instead of a prison.
- Sectarians, if you're going to pretend to be crazy, I'm sorry to disappoint you, you're not going to succeed.
-We don't want to deceive anyone, sister, and we've committed no crime.
-You don't think killing people is a crime?
-Sister, we were only doing the will of our Gods.
-You'll say so at the interrogation.
-He's looking for you, Sister Rosalind. - "Brother Federico" said quietly.
And a chill ran down my back. Why? Because if he's looking for me, he'll find me.
-What's he talking about? -Ashley asked me.
-I have no idea. And stop calling me sister and talking rubbish.
We drove the rest of the way to the station in silence. I couldn't stop staring at those fanatics, so confident and intimidating. But what scared me the most was that those two knew something about me and him. I'd rather erase my memory completely just to forget about him.
-So, Ashley, you take them to the police station, and I'll park. - I said as we pulled up to the police station.
The brown-haired woman got out of the car and pulled the detainees out, slammed the door shut, and led them into the building. I drove to the service car park. 15 minutes later I parked the car and was on my way to the interrogation room.
-Oh, Rose, hi, Alice told me to have everything ready for the autopsy by five o'clock. If I'm free at five, I can help with the autopsy. - said Janine, who was coming to meet me.
-Hi, thanks for the offer, but I don't need any help with the autopsy.
-Okay, well, I'm gonna go. -Said Janine. -said Janine before she went down the corridor.
I turned right and walked another five metres to the interview room.
-And here's Rose, we can get started. -Dante said as I entered the interrogation room.
I stood against the wall and crossed my arms over my chest. Our sectarians were already in the room, Ashley, Dante, and Silvio. It was a good thing Olivia wasn't there. Otherwise I'd have to listen to her "It's a spontaneous homicide" "All the evidence is circumstantial" bullshit again. Sometimes I think she's deliberately obstructing the investigation.
-So let's start from the beginning, you are Signor Adriano Trentino, and you are Signor Federico Abruzzo. You're accused of complicity in the murder of 50 people. Twenty-three in Naples, seventeen in Venice and ten more in Rome. The murdered persons range from 15 to 46 years of age.
-We are not guilty of anything, we did the will of our Gods. If we hadn't, the Gods would have been angry.
-This is a circus. -said Ashley and rubbed the bridge of her nose with her fingers.
-That's what it is. And what were you looking for in Signor Salvione's flat this morning, Signor Trentino? -Dante continued his interrogation.
-The flat belonged to our Reverend Francesco. I went there to get some things. I apologise if my actions violated the law.
-The prosecutor will pardon you. -Silvio said with a sigh.
The interrogation went on for another hour, though it was more like a circus than an interrogation. The fanatics did not admit their guilt at all, covering themselves with their Gods. From time to time it seemed to me that they were openly mocking us, though no, that was exactly what it was. At 2.40 the interrogation was over and I went to the lab. There I did some analyses with Alice, and by the time we finished it was 4.45. At five o'clock the autopsy was due to start so I left the lab and headed for the morgue. I changed into another medical gown, put on a mask, rubber gloves and a medical cap. When I entered the section room, I saw Janine who had already finished preparing the corpse, equipment and medical instruments for the autopsy.
-Hello again, everything's ready.
-Thank you so much Janine. - I went to the sectional table where Mr Salvione's corpse was lying.
-You're welcome, I think the phone is ringing. -taking out the ringing phone Janine answered the call and left the sectional room.
I picked up the scalpel to make the incision and suddenly I heard the door to the section open and close with a slam. I thought it was Janine coming back to get some of her things, so without a second thought I continued with the autopsy.
-Why aren't you answering your phone, Rosie?
When I heard his voice, I felt a chill run down my spine and I dropped the scalpel and it clattered to the floor.
-What do you want from me? - I asked, and surprisingly, my voice didn't shake as much as my hands.