The Red Box

by Laura Sgarella

  “I am also the victim of a mistake. I mean something unusual. Three of my most beautiful bays have been killed and I was forced to close the riding school for a week. How stupid: did I tell you I am the owner of a riding school? Hopefully I have to be there by twelve pm and start my lovely activity again. The police are working on the case but they are not able to find out the guilty one of this story. They just confirmed what I was suspicious about: that the horses died by poisoning. It’s a big mystery to be sorted out. I think that envy is what lies behind these murders. There is nothing less I can do now. I had to modernize the riding school to better protect the other horses. But, apart from this, my life is wonderful. Now I must go, I am very busy. Thank you for the coffee and let me know about the proceeding of your story. I think it’s nothing serious. Maybe a hoax of a bored teen.”

  “You are right. See you dude.”

  “See you.”

  Mark did his best to arrive at the Van Gogh Museum as quick as he could. He wanted to see Rose. He ran as fast as lightening to catch the first train to arrive to his belle. He entered the foyer of the museum, went to the atrium and soon noticed that Rose’s desk was empty. Rose was not there. He found the courage to ask the other cashiers’ information about Rose.

  “Sorry if I disturb you. Can you tell me why the girl who works at that desk is not here?”

  “I am not sure. She was not here yesterday. Maybe a headache forced her to stay at home. I don’t think she wanted to leave the job. She is too fond of it. Anyway, matters like these are confidentially kept by the boss.”

  “Thanks a lot.”

  “You are the welcome. Have a nice day.”

  Mark had a last chance to contact Rose on the phone. But he soon found out that the answering machine was activated. “Never mind,” he thought, “I’ll reach her at her house later on in the evening.”

  He so had to run to another place: the hospital where he was guest before such a huge amount of luck changed his life once for good. “Hi Mark. What good news brings you here?” the nurse addressed him with a genial smile. “To us it’s an honour to have you here today. Let me show you the room you used to sleep in when you were our guest. Look this is the floor where you scattered your boots and this is the armchair where you placed your pullovers untidily. Nobody else is using this room. We are too fond of you. What are you doing now?”.

  “You know I am in a big mess now. Some bays of mine have been killed and the police are conducting the investigation to take the necessary steps to find out the killer or killers. Apart from that, my life is terrific I have a woman to love and a nice little flat which will be my hosting place until my finances will allow me to get something bigger. But it’s really a big pleasure for me to be here. How many beautiful memories! A gesture of kindness from you is a big blessing. I’m disappointed to tell you I have to go now. I have to be at my riding school by twelve o’ clock. There will be a special guest. An autistic boy is undergoing therapeutic riding. When he rides one of my horses, he doesn’t look isolated from the rest of the world. His parents are proud of him and of his improvement. Now, sorry, I really have to go. Thank you again for what you have done for me. I’ll never forget it and I will always be appreciative,” he said.

  “Bye,” said the nurse with a tear wetting her cheeks.

  Mark was at his school at twelve sharp and he was happy to welcome Tommy. The little boy mounted the pony by himself and went around the ground gracefully. All the other customers arrived one by one giving, place to their own riding the specific horses. Among them there was one who was particularly poor and swearing all the time. Mark had serious doubts about his permanence at the school. For the moment, he pretended he had heard nothing. He watched all his pupils, proud of their performance. Not even one was out of tune. He thought to offer some tea and biscuits to Tommy’s parents and indulged himself in a sonorous chat with them. He didn’t miss the mentioning of his bay’s poisoning.

  “It’s a pity to hear that from you. Tommy adores you and he never stops saying he would like to have a brother like you. Definitely we won’t let him know about your bays’ poisoning. Thank you for everything you are doing.”

  Mark kindly let them know he had to deal with other customers. The day passed quickly and finally it arrived the moment to see Rose. He went frightened to her flat and she welcomed him with a silken nightshirt and flip-flop sandals. “Hi Mark. I adore to see you here.”

  “I am just concerned. Where did you disappear to lately? I went to the museum this morning and you were not there. I tried to call you on the phone and I got an answer machine. What have you been doing?”

  “I’m sorry about that. I realized only now that my phone was off. I simply asked my boss for two days off because of my menses, terrible pains. I took some painkillers but they didn’t work. I was thinking of you all the time. Do you want something to eat?”

  “No, thanks. I am not very angry at the moment. I just needed to see you.”

  “Mark, tell me: do you really love me? I don’t like to be cheated. I cannot stand it.” A passionate kiss was Mark’s answer.

  Mark woke up with Rose’s odour all over his body. Rose welcomed him in her flat and they abandoned themselves to the most suitable tendernesses. Mark was nostalgic by nature. He found in Rose a sweet antagonist to that frame of his character.

  The previous day he had set the alarm clock at seven am to make sure that he would go to work on time. He drunk some piping hot coffee with two sugars. A quick shower and he was ready to go out. Before going to the riding school, he went to his flat to take the necessary instruments to work and here he found something gripping. A letter under his door read: ‘You will hear from us again. Signed P…’ Mark was happy he had finally a clue.

  He called the police to tell them about the letter and to know more information from their side. Eventually they had something to say, “Hi Mark. It’s the officer speaking.”

  “Good morning from Mark. Let me know, please.”

  “Well after a lot of difficulties we have been able to find out that the polonium used to kill your horses had been bought in the north of Amsterdam at a pharmaceutical company just the day before the day of the death of your bays. It’s very easy to hide somebody’s identity behind the pharmaceutical company because they have to expose their income to the public. To be more specific, whoever could have bought the poison that day. But we are confident we will catch the felon very soon,” they said.

  “As far as I’m concerned, I have something to say: I found a letter under my door this morning which read: you will hear from us, signed P… It sounds terrific, doesn’t it?”

  “I don’t want to joke but I think we had better patrol the zone of your flat. Those felons are willing to do everything to reach their goal. If you read the newspaper today you will find the news of the killing of your horses. We have allowed the journalists to write about it only now because we wanted to act clandestinely over this issue. Now be quick. You are under our protection.”

  “Thank you. I’m looking forward to hearing from you again.” He hung up the phone and once in his riding school he realized that a bloodhound had followed him to his riding school. The owner of the dog called him anxiously.

  “I apologize, I’m working with him to follow the traces of a lost pet. People misleading, sights are a lot, and this means work. I hope that the dog hasn’t annoyed you too much.”

  “Do not worry. I saw it right now. Please come in.”

  Thank you. You are very busy, aren’t you?”

  “I’m just preparing everything to welcome my guests.”

  “Thank you for showing me your place. But now I don’t want to disturb you any further. I’ll let you stay on your own. Have a nice day.”

  “The same with you”

  Mark watched the man disappear behind his school gates and had a few minutes to get in touch with Rose. He wanted to be sure that she would go to work that day. “Hi sweetheart, it’s Mark speaking. Are you OK?”
>
  “Of course, I’m fine. Thank you for setting the alarm clock this morning. I’m waiting for the museum to open. I’m ready to seat myself at the check desk. See you this evening.”

  “See you, darling”

  It was nearly time to start working for him. He made sure that the usual amenities wouldn’t be missing: coffee, tea and biscuits. Everything to the delight of the tired jockeys. He burnt the horses faeces to let the ground be nice and tidy for the first arrival. Finally, a woman in her sixties approached him. She was a skillful jockey for her age and she was determined to succeed with a strong will.

  “Good morning, Mark. Why do you look so sad today?”

  “It’s just the first impression. I didn’t sleep too much last night and some bloody bags are disheartening my eyes. I was waiting for you. Here is your horse. But be quiet: no obstacles.”

  “I see. I am very happy today. My niece is going to marry next week. She will be the most beautiful bride in Amsterdam. I love to find the energy to face the day. I have some biscuits for you. Try them: they are terrific.”

  “Thank you. But now let’s start, we have no time for chattering. By the way: how is your backbone?”

  “It doesn’t hurt me any longer. My doctor gave me very useful pieces of advice and I followed them. Now I go. I’ll call you if I need your help.”

  Mark was more and more nervous. He was waiting for the autistic boy but there were no signs of him yet. After a while he saw his mum alone. She immediately managed to justify to Mark. Her boy was busy all day with his school teacher and he would arrive at the riding school by twelve pm. “Nothing serious, hopefully.”

  “But nothing is guaranteed in life,” Mark exclaimed to himself. That’s because he saw Araon and Jill arriving. “Hi Jill, hi Araon. It’s good news. The both of you are here today.”

  “Yes indeed. It’s a long time since we have seen each other and we thought to pay you a surprise. You already know that Jill is pregnant and it’s better for her not to mount a horse. I’ll replace her in this wonderful enjoyment. Now tell me about you: was the girl at the puppet show your girlfriend?”

  “Well, I found my soulmate in Rose, the perfect woman for me. There is a kind of passionate love between the two of us. Let me know something: what is the secret behind the passion that still holds you?”

  “We simply love each other a lot and we respect our mutual moments of independence. You see: Jill is touching her belly. It’s too early to feel the baby kicking inside. We are simply enthusiastic.”

  “You have the face of happy people and this delights me. Now let’s mount the horse before other people arrive.”

  “I’m ready. Please look after Jill while I’m running over the place. She is too fragile now.”

  “Do not worry about that. I’m here for you.” There were moments of utmost joy and Araon didn’t want to interrupt them by mentioning that he had read the article on Mark Ward’s horse’s death. The police were apparently doing a great job though it was not easy to come to terms over the matter. He knew that these sleazy things would come to an end. He was enjoying himself too much to spoil those moments with sour mementos.

  They spent two wonderful hours at the riding school. They didn’t breathe a sigh of relief when they had to address to him words of leave taking. But they pledged that they would come back to the riding school soon.

  Jill was in awe in front of Araon who delighted her with all his tenderness. “Grachtengordel,” said Araon all of a sudden.

  “What’s wrong darling?” said Jill amazed.

  “Nothing wrong. I was just thinking of that place without a specific reason.”

  “Do you want to go there?”

  “No really. I don’t want to burden you with that stuff so miserably. I like riddles, you know. This is part of the game between the two of us. Now forget it. I’m sure we’ll have a fantastic evening. Let’s go home now.”

  Araon hid the disappointment for Mark’s reticence over the news. He had read the article on the assassination of his best horses and he felt the pain. Bereavement: this was the focus of the situation. Araon simply didn’t want to show his weak side. He talked clearly and with responsibility about the barbed wire of the riding school wall. Jill looked visibly tired. “Sweetheart?”

  “Yes, Jill.”

  “Are you sure you want to go back home?”

  “It’s up to you. I don’t want to see you so distressed.”

  “And you won’t. I need to have a walk in the streets of the city with you.”

  “hat’s fine. Let’s go.”

  They caught the first train of the underground to go to Bergijnlof, just next to their house. A very uncouth woman was sitting next to Jill on the train. She was smoking in her fashion on a train where the no smoking area was well depicted. “Darling, do you see that woman? She is smoking in a no smoking area and we should prompt her to stop since that will harm us and our baby,” said Jill desperately.

  “Be quiet Jill: we will get off the train very soon. The woman is too rude to be the object of our complaining. We cannot deal with her so easily.”

  “So I have to shut up. Is this what you are saying?”

  “Just to prevent quarrels. Everybody is watching her but nobody dares to talk. You see. Signs of relief were proper to that couple that just got off. The same will be for us.”

  “OK darling. I trust you and I believe you have taken the best decision. From what I see we are nearly arrived. You look pale, don’t you?”

  “Yes Jill. In the moments of silence, I had a bad image in my mind. I saw a doctor who placed your baby soiled with blood in your belly. And with that blood there was foreign blood. A shriek of little patience followed. What do you think is the meaning of my imagination?”

  “I don’t know I have read only once the interpretation of eyes-open dreams by Sigmund Freud. It may mean that you are frightened by blood transfusion. Don’t worry about that. I’m sure I won’t need it. The doctor who will assist the birth is Van der Baast and I am in constant touch with him. He assures me that the birth will be a question of a quarter of an hour. He asks me to image the head of the baby and the whole body in order to be ready to push him in the right moment. You look so desperate. But why not? Just kidding, of course.”

  “I am a weak man. I won’t be the best person to stand by you in those lovely and difficult moments. I like to touch your belly, it makes me feel close to our little Rokin.”

  “You are an adorable stubborn husband. Now don’t distract yourself we are near to getting off the train.”

  “Oh look: there is no the mind the gap thing over here like in London!”

  “What a fool. Come on we are already in the street.”

  Glances of admiration struck Jill as a sort of harassment, but she hadn’t the courage to talk and complain. She was going to be sick. It was not an uncommon state of mind that gave meaning to those spiteful moments. She remembered the words of the doctor who encouraged her to live with joy every single moment of her pregnancy, the most beautiful moment of a woman’s life.

  Araon changed posture. He was not satisfied by their mutual misery. He chased the trap of a worse status. It came to his mind that there was something fishy about Mark Ward. He was probably the victim of the witnessing of a crime and people were going to find revenge. Strange enough, nobody had threatened him over the discovery of the blood in the Van Gogh Museum. Overfilled with blame he found solace in the presence of Jill next to him. She was his priority and nothing would change this. They were walking hand in hand without opening their quirky mind to the circumstances. They walked and walked and arrived at a big department store. They decided to enter and look at a single item. Jill was so used to go shopping on her own that she felt embarrassed by Araon’s presence.

  “Do you like this place, love?” she said instinctively.

  “Well to me wandering into megastores is something new. I’m just happy to be with you.”

  “Shall we enter this wing. It should be
interesting.”

  A big lamp caught Araon’s attention. He took it from the pile and noticed something pleasant: the price of that item was just fifty euros. “Shall we buy this Jill? It’s not pricey and it is a good piece of furniture that may fit the bedroom. A better place to stay is your bedside table.”

  “Yes Araon. It’s wonderful. We have just to rush to the cashier and pay for it.”

  A shop assistant intervened to help them. “May I help you?” she said.

  “Yes. We are interested in this lamp. Can you take one for us, please?”

  “Of course. You are very lucky. This is the last one. Take it and go to the check desk.”

  “Thank you so much,” said Araon kindly.

  But Jill stopped Araon. She wanted to have a look at the shirts before going to pay for the lamp. She was attracted by a top, all pink with the drawing of a heart. “I’ll buy this. It’s just twenty-two euros,” she said. So now we can go and pay.”

  “Hopefully the queue is not very long.”

  As soon as he got the credit card from his pocket, he realized that the keys of their flat were missing. “Darling, there must be a mistake, I hope. I haven’t got the key of our flat in my pocket any more.”

  “Silly guy. You don’t remember you gave it to me earlier? Now be ready to pay.”

  The cashier was a very kind guy. He offered to them a pass to have a drink at the top of the building. “You need sugar, Jill. Would you like some orange juice?”

  “Yes, honey. I hope that to go upstairs is not part of a ritual. I always opt for nonalcoholic drinks.”

  They used the lift as if they were the laziest people in the city and, once on top, they were bewitched by the amazement of the place. Ordinary people mingled with celebrities and that was a most. Jill was disgusted by the presence of an intriguing man who was watching them with half-hatred. “How disgusting!” she said.