by David Falchi
13
I don’t know how many times I passed out while I was in the porch. The adventure that I had just lived had left my body exhausted, while my spirit had been contaminated by the entity that I had come in contact with. When I managed to extract the phone from my pocket and call the Mayor the sun had almost set. Needless to say that the tone of his voice seemed worried. Perhaps, my timbre must have sounded like a crow’s caw.
I didn’t even remember what I told him on the phone, and in fact I wasn’t even sure that our short conversation had even taken place. In any case, when I saw him coming inside a police car I thought I was hallucinating. Everything moved so slowly and for a moment I thought that I was still inside Lerner’s mirror. Two agents crossed the gate. The one on the left was tall and brawny, and it looked more like a bear than a man. The other one was tall too, but not that brawny. When the latter saw Mr. Guidi’s lifeless body covered in blood, he brought his hand to the holster. His colleague’s eyes were fixed on me, because apparently he still hadn’t decided whether I was a threat or not. The Mayor joined the agents and he said something that I didn’t understand. I let myself slip into numbness while a police man came near the body that was lying on the lawn.
The Mayor and the other agent approached me.
«Is there anybody inside? » asked Mayor Genova.
I knew what he meant by that. «The woman escaped. She’s in the wood», I whispered. «This was hours ago».
«He’s dead», said the agent near Mr. Guidi. «I don’t think there’s anything that we could do now. Shit, we’re dealing with a homicide here».
«Shall we arrest him? » asked the big guy in the uniform by his side. Like his colleague he was shocked and scared by the sudden turn of events. I bet that he had never handcuffed anyone before. With a closer look I noticed that the agent was younger than I expected. For a moment, the Mayor’s eyes seemed to have softened but then he his institutional role got the better of him. «Don’t you see that he’s a wreck? Even if he had committed the homicide he doesn’t seem to be able to go anywhere. Call an ambulance and let’s try to understand what the hell happened here».
«Do we have to go inside? » asked the big guy on his side.
I smiled when I thought how the Mayor must have struggled to recruit two agents willing to come to the Guidis’ mansion, and that’s why he hadn’t brought the police patrol like we had agreed in our meeting. The rumors must have spread quickly. I heard Lerner bursting into laugher but he was far now, so it might as well have imagined it. The Mayor approached me and whispered at my ear: «I want to ask you something. Can we come inside? »
«The house is safe», I replied.
The man nodded and stood up. «Call an ambulance. And find Abbadia San Salvatore, then get another ambulance... just in case we might need it. I don’t want to take a chance. Only God knows what’s going to happen to my career as a Mayor. This situation has already put my career in a shitty position».
The two agents teamed up and called the ambulance. They were finally ready to enter the property.
«Search everything» ordered Mayor Genova, «but don’t touch anything. If you think you need it call a backup team: don’t try to be heroes».
«We know the drill», said the big man in the uniform. He seemed pale. Maybe it was the first time that he had to deal with a case of homicide.
I heard them entering the house and then I closed my eyes. I only needed to wait for the ambulance. Despite everything, I was a survivor. I still wasn’t aware though of the consequences but at least I could say that I was alive.
* * *
Before they put me in the red and white van the police searched me. The big policeman seemed pretty satisfied when he pulled out the knife and the gun.
«This proves that he didn’t commit the homicide», said the other guy. «The victim was killed with a stoker».
«Who said he didn’t use that anyway? » said the other. «Have you thought about that? Shit, what a mess».
I stopped listening to them while my eyes were fixed on the firearm that they had just taken from me. That gun had all the pieces of the puzzle. I just had to remove the gloves and touch its surface. The truth would have hit me right away, like a runaway train.
Two young men with a stretcher approached me. They both looked scared.
«Don’t worry», said the big guy. «I’ll go with you. We can’t live this one alone. He’s a suspect».
They finally brought me away from that haunted house. I couldn’t see the Mayor, but he must have been nearby. He probably was still on the phone, barking orders, trying to reestablish order in a place that was ruled by chaos. He would have been back soon, and then we would have had our chat: I had to prepare a complete and truthful report, one that the public opinion would believe.
The cop flapped the weapons right under my nose while he sat on a stool near the stretcher. «These ones will come with me, for the moment. Are you happy, ghostbuster? »
Actually, I was happy, but in that moment I couldn’t bring myself to talk. Even if I had been one step away from dying I couldn’t have resisted to that thirst for knowledge: soon I would have hold the gun, and then I would have been ready to welcome all the knowledge that it contained.
The creature had been in contact with the weapon for long enough. Once the revolver was back in my hands I would have been able to get all the information that I needed to close the case.
But that wasn’t the right time to do that. Now I just needed to close my eyes, with the awareness that at least for a little while I wouldn’t have been harassed by the spirits. Of course, I was heading to the ER, a place that was probably packed with ghosts, but I still had the Mercury bracelets on my wrists, and I could still count on a very hungry assistant. I didn’t need that damned gun.
I was sure of that. The last thing that I saw before I passed out again was the big cop who was checking the nurse’s bottom, while she was giving me the IV therapy.
* * *
I don’t know whether keeping me sedated had been done on purpose or if I was too exhausted and I’d remained unconscious for twenty-four hours. Whatever the reason, the first time that I came back to my senses, it was night. I must have been alone in the dormitory, or at least that was what the absolute silence that ruled in the room suggested. The complaints of the spirits that lingered inside the medical care were the only things that broke the silence every now and then.
«Welcome back, Kiesel».
Well, I wasn’t really alone. I looked around and I saw the mirror on the bedside table near me. It was the only personal object that was close at hand. Lerner must have done something to convince my jailers not to take him too. And if he had been able to do that he must have fed.
I made sure that I still had my gloves and then I checked the bracelets. Everything was exactly how it was supposed to be, and the presence that I had fought against had been defeated. There wasn’t a rational reason that would have made me fear its come back. I compelled myself to relax, and ignore all the imaginary fears that were occupying my mind.
«Lerner», I mumbled. My mouth was dry while my voice was hoarse. «Can you give me a heads up? »
«I think they’ll tell you all about it within a day. Now get some rest. We’ll need one last maneuver to get us out of this situation».
Even though I haven’t realized it yet, I had already dealt with that aspect. Especially because that wasn’t the first time that I was on the other side of the law. The only way for me to solve this problem is by having some rest.
* * *
When I woke up, several hours later, I felt much better. Maybe that was due to the sunlight that was flooding the room for the first time in days, but I really felt relaxed. There was a nurse taking notes, right in front of my bed.
When she realized that I was awake she smiled, but she only did it out of courtesy. «Are you ready to eat something? »
«I think so».
«There. Good boy», said a male voice. I m
oved my head slightly and I found the big cop that had brought me to the hospital, resting on the entrance door. «The sooner you eat your breakfast, the sooner we can start interrogating you».
«Sounds fair», I replied.
«The Mayor will be here soon», continued the agent. «Last time I saw him he was pretty pissed off».
I didn’t reply. The girl got out of the room, and then she came back a few minutes later with a cup of tea and some rusk. It’s not exactly what I would have chosen but I didn’t complain and I enjoyed everything that I was being offered. The cop left the room and waited in the aisle, giving me some quiet time alone. I noticed that the nurse was keeping herself at a safe distance; maybe she was afraid that I hurt her. Apparently, I was still the prime suspect of the murder case. But, as usual, like Learner would have said if he hadn’t been quiet this time, I was one step ahead of them. Normally, I would be accused of being a fraud or a crook. But this time I had been accused of killing a man.
I was about to finish my drink, which by the way was way too sour for my taste, when the Mayor entered the room, escorted by the usual big cop and by a well-dressed man that was wearing a pair of sun glasses. Mayor Genova had dark circles under his eyes while his face looked pale. He probably didn’t get much sleep that night.
«I’m glad that you feel better», he started off. «In this way you’ll be able to clarify this story». Then he turned to the nurse. «Can he talk? How is he doing? »
«Haven’t you talked to the doctor before you entered the room? »
«No, otherwise I wouldn’t be asking you this question. So? »
«We’ve monitored him all night long. Every hour he had gotten better and better. He was dehydrated, and presented a high fever. However, his heartbeat was kind of low, and that didn’t match both his clinical picture and the symptoms that he presented when he got here. But now everything’s fine. The blood test results should be here soon».
«Very good» said the Mayor. «This is the first good news that I hear in twenty-four hours». He grabbed a chair and he sat on my right side. «Don’t you agree? »
I looked at the stranger. He was still standing, and he was between the big guy and the first citizen. «Did you find the woman? » I asked.
He made a lame smile and then he turned to the stranger with the sunglasses. «A good start, don’t you think? We’re here to interrogate him and he’s the one asking questions». The other one pretended to snigger but all he did was snorting. Then, Mayor Genova looked at me. «No, we still haven’t found her. And this is not a good thing because apparently she’s the one who has butchered her husband. Her prints were all over the stoker. But the injuries on the kidneys didn’t cause his death. According to the doctor who has run the autopsy the victim’s heart blew up. He said that a bleeding mass had replaced his cardiac muscle. I hope you have a reasonable explanation for this situation, otherwise Marshal Venditti here is going to put you in jail. And you’d better answer, or he’ll take care of the interrogation himself. Did I make myself clear? »
«You’ve the right to an attorney, if you think that you might need one», added the Marshal.
I tried to get up and to sit on the bed’s edge but I realized that I still didn’t have the strength to do that. «That won’t be necessary. You just need to be willing to listen to what I have to say. And believe my story».
«We’ve already talked about that», replied the Mayor.
«Before I start talking I would like to know one thing. Where are the objects that I’ve been confiscated? »
«They’re in the lab» replied the official. «But apparently they didn’t give us any bad news. The revolver has been used but the wounds on Guidi’s body weren’t a match. The blade had blood traces but they belonged to you. So, now, would you mind telling us what happened? »
I sighed and I prepared myself to relive the events of these past few days. A part of me was glad: that would have helped me to collect the memories of those final moments, and after I’d have retried my gun that would have helped me to put up the pieces of the puzzle.
14
Once I was out of the hospital I felt much better. I couldn’t believe that a place that contained so much pain could have such a negative effect on my body. And it could actually weaken me more than any spirit could do.
When I left the Mayor he was writing a report in which I only appeared as a freelance assistant that had nothing to do with the events. I had to wait a few days before I could find the energies to cast that last spell but everything went smoothly. I didn’t like to use the art of persuasion to get rid of uncomfortable situations but things with Piancagnaio’s authorities were getting kind of ugly. They were determined to find a scapegoat, and since Mrs. Guidi had gone missing, I had become candidate number one. I would have never backed down from a danger, but the idea of being locked up in a penitentiary and not being able to work made my heartbeat raise.
No, Lerner was right. If we had tried to influence their will, even slightly, we would have been able to convince them that I was innocent, and even the marshal would have bought that. My assistant had refined the formula that I had learnt from a Greek illusionist. And since he didn’t know what the police was going to do with the objects that I’d been confiscated he had used that same formula to remain by my side.
That morning, I was supposed to be escorted from the hospital to Siena’s Prison, to confirm my preventive detention. While I head out I saw the steering wheel that was supposed to drive me there. The man on the wheel seemed annoyed and his eyes were fixed on a cell phone. He didn’t even noticed that I had just passed him. He had absolutely no idea that he was going to wait there for a while before he was called back.
I leaned against the glass by the side of the entrance. A lot of people kept coming, I suppose to visit their hospitalized relatives. No one paid attention to me.
I only had to wait for five minutes. Another steering wheel had stopped right in front of the stairs that lead to the building’s backyard. The giant cop, who had also witnessed to my arrest, got out of the car. He had the same sulky expression.
While he walked in my direction his head looked down, like a bear, he was ready to carry his prey.
«Everything is set» he said. «Can we go? »
I distanced my back from the glass behind me. «Yes. Are you sure that you have taken everything? »
«The hotel guy thought about everything. I just retrieved the luggage».
I nodded and we headed toward the patrol car. That was the first time that I sat on the passenger seat on a steering wheel. Well, at least there were some positive things, in the chaos that I had lived this week. My suitcase was on the carpet. I didn’t need to check its content, I was sure that everything was inside. Just like I was sure that no one had looked inside. The protection spells were still working.
«Where are we headed» asked the beast on the wheel.
«Depends. Some things are still missing».
He slapped his forehead and the noise that he made resounded in the entire cockpit. Then he pitched backward and he grabbed two transparent plastic bags. One contained the dagger, while the other one contained the gun. I picked the two objects up and I put them on my lap.
«So? » asked again the agent.
«Drive me back to the hotel Ragno d’Oro», I finally said, «I still have a few things to do».
* * *
I was back in my hotel room, even though the last time I slept there was like a century ago. I sat by the desk and I placed the mirror on one side, and the gun on the other.
«Why don’t you let this one go, for a change? We’ve won. This should be enough. Let’s get out of here and help the kid. The case would be a cheerful piece of cake. We’ll get rid of it in a few hours, and then we’ll head home».
«I must know what happened», I replied.
«Curiosity killed the cat» sang my assistant. «What life is this, Kiesel? Number six or seven? »
I ignored him, and I started to rem
ove the gloves. As usual I felt naked and vulnerable. And only the idea of touching the object made me feel even worse.
The gift, that sometime I considered a curse, had brought me to discover some interesting things. Sometimes, it had brought me in nightmarish dimensions, where I had barely found a way out. Keeping those memories away required a huge willpower. It was the reason why so many prophets were called crazy in the past: they hadn’t been able to control the gift that they were given and they had given up. The same thing had almost happened to me at the beginning of my career. Now the gloves had become a part of me. I never took them off, not even when I slept. That skill couldn’t just be turned on and off. The only thing that I could do was shielding my mind otherwise the memories of the objects would have crushed my subconscious, causing bizarre dreams and nightmares.
In this case though, I didn’t want to reduce my knowledge. On the contrary, I wanted to expand it and in order to get that I decided to remove as well the Mercury bracelets. It wasn’t just curiosity that was pushing me to behave like this. If I had just discovered a new species of demons I needed to know everything about their nature. Until that moment I had just inferred a few things but now I needed to draw a detailed portrait. And that was the only way to do it.
I headed toward the room’s door, and when I opened it I still had my gloves on. Pierfrancesco was still there.
«This will only take a few minutes. Do you think this could be a problem? »
«No one will bother you. When you’re done we’ll go fix that situation that I told you about».
I smiled. «You have my word, kid. I’ll be quick».
I closed the door and I headed to the chair. Like me, Lerner was sitting on the same chair. As usual, in his world the room looked worse than ever. Everything was destroyed, while he was the only thing that had remained intact. His arms were crossed and they showed his disapproval.
