by Andy Ben
...elements which demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt the direct involvement of Marco Politto Renzi against whom the crimes relating to the willful murder of Mrs. Giovanna Renzi neé Bruschini and the subsequent crimes related to the attempted concealment of the corpse by means of the arson of the villa...
... exclusive property of Mr. Marcello Renzi, and the crime of property damage can also be ascribed.
... full confession of the aforesaid Mr. Politto, written by himself and validated by an expert in handwriting, regarding the crimes described above...
...regarding the manslaughter or willful murder of Mr. Giacomo Bonomi, at this time there is no direct evidence, only circumstantial facts such are the attached minutes of the testimony of Ms. Cristina Mirozov, Russian ciizen, recorded by the undersigned, as informed witness...
...further search in the house and office, and the inspections of the places and areas usually patronized by Mr. Politto have provided no objective confirmation... even if the murder of Mr. Bonomi can concomitantly be linked to the Vertova and Bruschini murders, the motive cannot be proven, furthermore the lack of a confession to this specific crime and the missing of the murder weapon could lead us to suppose a different material executor rather than Mr. Politto, a possible accomplice, with the likely help of one or more persons inside the club... known as “Dark Angel” the night of...
Marginal observations
The present report and the files are made available to the Public Prosecutor’s office and to the appropriate State Police departments, for further investigation on the alleged crimes against the patrimony, person...
... therefore the undersigned, urges further investigations to verify the incongruences in the Bonomi’s murder.
«Do come in, Montorsi... and sit down.»
Once again, I am in Chief Rossi’s office, in front of his desk, underneath the huge window covered by white linen curtains that screen the dim light of dusk, that hits me with long and sharp shadows from the dark leather armchair and from the furnishings on the mahogany desk.
Each time I enter this office I have a feeling of fear, mixed with respect for the man behind the desk.
Today is different.
Fear has become certainty that the meeting I am about to face will forever mark my future.
I am fully aware of what I have done, of the motives that made me act that way; I know I dealt with the events in the best possible way and I am going to serenely face the inevitable consequences.
«First of all, I wanted to congratulate you once more for the brilliant solution of the case... I have always known you were one of the best police officers under my command, and the fact have demonstrated that.»
«Sir, I...»
Rossi silences me with a gesture of his hand: «Don’t interrupt me, Montorsi! The Prosecutor has closed the case... now shut up and let me conclude.»
I nod my assent and go back to listening him.
«...precisely since you are one of my best officers, I am very sorry that I am going to loose you, especially this way. But we are all makers of our own journey...»
Rossi stops, looks at me and searches in my face for a sign of amazement, but there is none. «Hmph...» he mutters. «... your self-confidence betrays you, Montorsi... you already got everything right, yet let me... how can I say this... scold you one last time, hoping this meeting can help you reflect on your future.»
Rossi takes from the drawer a sheaf of paper and hands them to me. «This file contains the two final acts of this matter and you must sign them... but first, let me tell you the end of this story...»
I take the papers and turn them my side. On the first one, on the top left of the page, below the State Police heading, are indicated place and date; below that the subject reads “Post assignment”.
«After the fuss you generated regarding the Bonomi’ case, the political and sexual intrigues, or alleged ones, that might have been carried out inside the Dark Angel club, now under judicial attachment, someone from the high command... the upper spheres, as young people like you call them... well, they asked me to get rid of you. It was an easy conclusion, considering who belonged the toes you stepped on, and the fact that your good friend Scala has put the news in the headlines thanks to your tip-off.»
Rossi stops again and stare directly into my eyes, finding no sign of repentance or remorse in my gaze. «Although many of your wrong-doings are not include in the official reports of the Bonomi case, as we agreed upon, there is the indelible fact that you explicitly and officially singled out various Departments, and the Assets administration office, supposing crimes such pimping, stock manipulation, embezzlement, abuse of office and I don’t know how many other counts came to your head... all this some of the most influential people in our country... whom, let’s be serious, had the only guilt of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Where you expecting something different?»
«Sir...»
Rossi’s voice becomes booming. «Shut up, Montorsi, be silent! Frankly, you have no tact at all. We all know pretty well what kind of people governs this country, but honestly throughout my entire carrier I always tried to keep away from it, as much as I could. And When I couldn’t, at least I tried to tiptoe through it. Instead you are a caterpillar... you run over everyone with your investigation... in the Prosecutor’s office, the lawyers representing the “honorable” members of Parliament were tearing us to pieces... you had their picture in the headlines without one single evidence... what do you think? These gentlemen would not have gotten where they are today without knowing how to parry a blow... you were silly and careless.»
After the quick tirade, Rossi’s voice calms down and goes back to the paternal tone that had marked it until just a moment ago.
«I tried to defend you in all possible way, using your impeccable record of service, reminding them that you solved the case... but there was nothing I could do... let’s say that your “punishment”, yet exemplary, has the ironic aftertaste you like so much, and will at least avoid you an internal inquiry to assess you abuse of office... but I don’t think you will like the solution that was found... I certainly don’t like it... nevertheless, the Prosecutor has made this decision irrevocable, therefor from this moment on you are no longer a member of this police station.»
I thought I could manage, I thought they would have ferociously reprimand me... but, to be honest, this is a hard blow... wait a minute... what about the letter with the post assignment? I don’t get it.
«You have been promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector... you had much wanted it for some time now... and yes, you will be the youngest Chief Inspector in the history of the State Police... they are waiting for you in thirty days in the Riva del Garda’s police station to take office. Until then, you are suspended: use the time to rest and reflect on your actions.»
«Riva del...»
«That’s right, Montorsi, this is your punishment... sign the documents.»
Still dazed by the Chief’s news, I sign the two documents: the one that appoints me and the one that puts an end to my brilliant yet short career, sending me to a secluded village in the borderland.
«This is all, you can go... good luck.»
Mario is waiting for me right out of the door of the Chief’s office.
«Gloomy eyes, Giulia... I guess it did not work out well.»
«Do you want to hear the bad or the good news first? Supposing that we can call it that.»
«Start with the good one.»
«I am no longer an inspector: you can collect your winnings.»
Hearing my words a pleased smile appears on the superintendent’s face. «You got promoted! This is a great news... former inspector Montorsi, we must celebrate!!» Brizzi’s eyes shine with a sincere happiness, and a loud laugh completes his exuberant enthusiasm. �
�I’m really happy for you, Giulia, you deserve it.»
I smile at him, although my soul is full of anger and disappointment due to the news I just got: the transfer and the final shelving of the investigations.
While we walk towards my office, among aseptic passageways and many offices like mine, I decide not to tell Mario that this was, most probably, the last time we worked together.
22
Amused I reply: «By the way, Kris...»
«Oh I like that! Do tell me.»
It’s finally time that I free the little conscience I have left and reveal to the girl all the details and the underhand works of this matter, which until now I guarded jealously. That part of the story that I omitted every time I told it.
«...it is about time that I tell you the whole truth.»
«The truth? I don’t understand...»
«I must start from the beginning... sit here, by my side.»
The girl sits on the deckchair: «Ok! I’ll take advantage of the moment to gain a suntanned.»
She unties the red swimsuit, letting free her nice-looking breast, puts the beach towel down and she lies down on her back, putting a pair of sunglasses on.
She stretches a hand in a bag resting on the sand, takes a bottle of sun cream. She unscrews the cap, turns it around and lets down a trickle of cream over her chest.
The feeling of the cool cream over her warm body causes a shiver that makes her nipples swell.
She turns towards me and I can just guess her mischievous eyes through the dark glasses when she says: «Do you want to continue?»
I say no, with a nod of my head.
She pouts: «The same old bear! All right, I’ll take care of it myself.»
She sits and smears it over her breasts, her neck, then she voluptuously moves down with both hands on her belly and hips. She stands up again, puts some more cream on her hands and start massaging her thighs and calf, till the ankles.
She closes the bottle and puts it back in the bag, settles the back of the deckchair, then she sits down: «I am ready.»
I start my story.
«Have I ever told you that before becoming the President of Sarca Pharmaceutics I was a chemist? ... a good one indeed.»
«No, but I suspected it.»
«Five years ago I gave order to the Sarca lab to develop a molecule that Francesca, my head chemist, and I had synthetized a few years ago.»
«I guess you are talking about the active principle of Cortonic.»
«Exactly, the origin of my wealth. Yet that molecule had one big defect and unfortunately, despite five years of research and millions spent, the defect has not yet been eliminated. Well, to be honest, the last years of research on Cortonic did not intend to solve the problem, but rather to hide it. And I must say that my staff did an excellent job at it: Cortonic is apparently perfect and it can in no way be ascribed to it any death case.»
«Are you telling me that Cortonic is potentially deadly? That you put on the market a drug that, instead of saving lives, does the opposite?»
«Don’t misinterpret me, Cortonic is revolutionary, unique. It helps cardiopath patients stabilize and it causes a regression in the illness. It cures eighty percent of cases of heart attack: it is a lifesaver drug.»
«I don’t understand, then. What’s the problem?»
«The problem is that if you give Cortonic to a healthy patient, he will suffer a heart attack within three hours.»
«This means that if the diagnosis is wrong...»
«You hit on the problem: in case the diagnosis is wrong it causes the pathology that it should instead cure, with disastrous effects that lead to certain death.»
«But the lab tests, clinical trials, experimentation, the entire process to make it...»
«We just had to alter the results... this is exactly where our story begins.»
«I’m lost now. I thought the results were altered by your chief chemist, upon request of the Taurus, so that Sarca would sink in the stock exchange, and...»
I interrupt her once more. «God, yes, this is right. Taurus, in accordance with my late wife, tried to demolish the drug’s credibility by making it appear dangerous, hold a knife at our throat then buy Sarca stocks at low price... I would have lost everything and Bonomi believed that he would have gotten a company and a drug that in a few years would have made him extremely rich. The fact is that we had already altered the results and so I had to cover up our traces.
«At the end it was nothing but a money matter.»
«No, it’s not only that. A business must first and foremost gain a profit, but my dream has always been that I would make history. So, when Francesa and I developed the molecule, I thought that could be the chance of a lifetime... Furthermore, there is another element I haven’t revealed t you and that is the cause of all these events.»
«What’s that?»
«Laura.»
«Laura? What’s her role in all this?»
«As you know, Laura was my personal assistant. But she was more than this. She supervised the research, verified protocols... everything that was related to Cortonic... she was the one who told me about Bonomi’s intentions... her death was a tragic accident, but I am responsible for it.»
Kris answers back: «Right now I could believe you to be responsible for a mass murder, but I don’t understand how you could be responsible of a bag-snatching gone back.»
«The day she was robbed, Laura was carrying some documents that demonstrated Bonomi’s fraud, but also my wrongdoings. Those documents should have never left Sarca, but Laura was so over-meticulous and zealous that she decided she would study them calmly at home... if I didn’t intervene she would have found out my secret, Cortonic secret... I am the instigator of that attempted robbery... I could not think it would end up that way... I got the document back and I destroyed them...»
My voce breaks due to the tension and the sense of guilt that have been with me ever since, when my mouth is about to say what I have long admitted to myself: «... and with them the lives of my most trusted collaborator and my brother.»
Kris jumps to her feet, take off the sunglasses and looks at me with an astonished glance full of disbelief.
We are surrounded by an unnatural silence that lasts a few minutes, broken only by the washing of the waves, then Kris gets over the shocking news and takes action.
«I was by your side for such a long time, without asking anything; I always followed you, even when...» Another moment of doubt, of hesitation. Kris’ words stop in mid air then, almost an outburst of rage, she shouts: «Why are you telling me this, why now?»
Calmly, but firmly, I answer to her: «Let’s go back to the bungalow... everything will be clear then.»
I stand up from the deckchair putting my feet on the hot sand and I wait for my lover to get dressed and pick up her bag.
Then we walk together to our room. She is silent and walks two steps behind me. I walk firmly and inpatient to free my conscience at last.
23
... and we close tonight news with an economic report. Sarca Pharmaceutics, well-known producer of the lifesaver drug Cortonic, has official become part of Taurus, following a long and hard agreement that sees Taurus acquire the shares of former president Marcello Renzi, who is stepping down after eighteen years. During the management of Mr. Renzi, who recently announced his retirement to private life, we recall Sarca’s striking ascent from a small family business to a stock exchange reality, the discovery and commercialization of Cortonic, and the tragedy, a few years ago, that led to the premature death of his wife...
I stretch my arm towards the small table, to reach with some difficulty the TV remote control. When I finally succeed and I brush it with my fingers, “Chicco Machine-gun” stops talking, but in my head memories I thought were far away emerge again. I realize I am lying in bed.
I had another attack. There are getting more and more frequent and I cannot hide them from Kris, who must have assisted me somehow while we were walki
ng back from the beach and that is now looking at me with a sympathetic gaze, sitting on the border of the bed.
«Don’t worry» I try to cheer her up. «Nothing happened.»
Her tone gets immediately serious, but keeps quiet; I suppose she is still worried for the sight I must have offered her... how long ago was that?
«Nothing, you say? As soon as we got in you felt sick and...»
«Shhh, shhh... be quiet... for a man in my condition it is all right. How long...»
Her amazed gaze becomes fury.
«It’s all right!? You got in the room, switched on the TV, and suddenly you fell on the bed. You have been unconscious for almost half an hour. I hardly got you into bed and I had the reception call for a doctor... and you say that it is all right!?»
I gather all the forces I still have in my body and then, in an imperative tone, I shout at her: «Stop it! And listen to me.»
Hearing my words, and the naughtiness I put into them, Kris falls silent.
«Now do exactly what I ask you to... please.» My tone gone back to condescending seems to be working as I hoped: yet reluctantly, Kris nods in assent.
«Call the reception and reassure them saying a doctor is not necessary, then go to the safe, take everything inside and give it to me... understood?»
Kris nods again.
«Go, quickly, and don’t worry, I will be all right.»
Kris stands up and walks hesitantly to the sitting room. She stops and turns in my direction to meet my sight. Then turn back again and walks more decided, but when she reaches the bedroom door she turns once more to look at me.
I gesture her to keep going.
She stands for a moment on the doorstep, then her figure disappears through the door.
I hear her voice speaking in a perfect English on the phone in the sitting room, explaining to whoever is on the other side of the line that the medical examination is not needed.
Then, long never-ending minutes of silence.
