The Year of the Mantis

by P J Mann

  She raised a hand to her forehead, feeling the unavoidable sense of guilt for having ruined someone else’s family.

  “Mom, it wasn’t your fault, but why were you invited?” She pretended not to know the reason for the invitation, although Luciano informed her about it. She considered it important to have her mother convinced that she was still in Hungary.

  “Apparently, Claudio subscribed a life insurance, and I was one of the beneficiaries. I am still shocked about it, but now I’ll need to understand the bureaucratic steps to get the funds. I expect a long battle as there’s a murder involved and its release might get blocked by the Police until the case is solved,” she guessed, fearing she would never get her share.

  “How much is the allotment you are supposed to get?” Irina wondered after a short pause, if there would have been a better way to ask this.

  Nervously biting her lower lip, walking around the room at her father’s home, Irina’s heart started to race.

  “It’s a lot of money, thirty million Euros— can you imagine?” Madlen wasn’t sure she knew how to spell that amount of money.

  “Holy Shit!” Irina exclaimed aloud. She was aware of the testament being in her favor, but she didn’t know the exact amount granted to her.

  “Luciano, Claudio’s son, had the same sum with another life insurance, moreover he got half of the firm his father was running. The other half went to his wife, as he said they had built it to succeed together, so he wanted to include her in the testament too.” Madlen looked around and listened to her voice resounding in the apartment, and its emptiness daunted her soul. “I wish you were here; I can’t stand this loneliness.”

  The last sentence was almost a whisper, mostly intended to Claudio, whose absence started to feel unbearable.

  “You can contact the insurance company and try to come to a compromise. I understand perhaps they are going to wait for a statement from the Police, but they might be interested in having the chance to pay less than the agreed amount and pay immediately, ignoring the Police order of blocking the funds, if you are willing to bargain the compensation. Thirty million is a big sum, but so is twenty, for example,” she cunningly suggested, glancing at her image on the mirror.

  “I…I don’t know,” Madlen replied, hesitating, the soft leather of the couch gently crinkling as she caressed it with her hand. “I will have to call them, but first, I need to make sure I’m not suspected of the murder. There must be a way to make the Police understand that I had nothing to do with Claudio’s death. I loved him.”

  Irina understood the situation wasn’t going to be easy, particularly for her mother. As for me, it would be impossible to connect me to the crime scene; the only two people the Police are investigating are Luciano and my mother. I need to act very carefully, perhaps leaving the country... I need to make sure my departure is as confidential as my entrance.

  The silence between the two women seemed to last for an eternity. “Is there anything wrong?” Madlen asked. It was rare for Irina to remain silent for such a long time. Generally, she had a lot of things to tell her. However, on that occasion, it was like the world stopped turning around and everything was on hold, waiting for a response from the Police or from the insurance company.

  “No, why?” a nervous giggle betrayed her state of mind.

  “Because you’re never so silent,” Madlen admitted. “But maybe it’s just me? I’m still so shaken. The possibility of being accused of Claudio’s murder is driving me crazy...”

  Glancing around herself, Irina pondered carefully what to say. Certainly, she needed to regain her composure, or she might have ended up in trouble. For the first time, she understood the implications of dating Luciano, she was risking losing control of the messed-up situation she put herself into.

  Well, I guess it’s too late to regret, now I need to go on and make sure to get out of this story. Then, perhaps Luciano and I could live our lives in peace and wealth.

  She grinned, thinking about the possibilities that her relationship opened to her. “You think about getting the money, once you get it you can secure them abroad, so whatever will happen, you won’t lose them.”

  “But I don’t want anything to happen to me! I haven’t killed Claudio!” Her voice raised, trembling in exasperation.

  “Mom, you need to solve one problem at a time. At this precise moment, nobody has come to arrest you. They have no proof of your involvement. Therefore, the best thing is to secure the funds. Once this is taken care of, we will see what our next move will be.” Irina clenched her fist, clutching the sheets of the bed as if to grab her only hope before falling into an abyss.

  Indeed, Irina was right, and Madlen couldn’t take care of everything at once; she had to think about what was the most immediate thing that came across her. In that case, it was the prize of the insurance. “You might be right; I’ll contact the insurance company and see whether there’s a way to get the money. Without Claudio, I am afraid I won’t be able to keep up the expenses, and finding a job, after not having been a nightclub dancer for such a long time, won’t be easy.”

  “True, but you don’t have to worry about it right now, and if you need me there, you know you only have to ask.” Irina didn’t want to be recorded officially by the authorities in the National territory, but she felt she needed to be close to her mother.

  “No, you stay away from this mess. I’ll manage on my own, and besides, I need some time to reorganize my life and to secure my position with the Police. Although it’s clear I was the last person who saw Claudio alive, it doesn’t mean I am the assassin.” She tried to convince herself about the strength of her position, but she could see the weak points in it. The only evidence in her defense was that she wasn’t in possession of any firearm.

  “I need some time to think about what my next move will be, but I want you to know I love you very much, and . . . well . . . I’m also sorry if I made you feel left aside,” Madlen said. She wasn’t sure why, but she considered it of importance to explain once again her position to Irina. For her entire life, she tried to protect her daughter. “I was afraid that if you had grown and had gone to school here, people would have harassed because of my job. All I wanted was to give you a good life, one far from the judgment of those who have nothing else to do but stick their noses in business that doesn’t concern them at all.”

  “Mom, you don’t owe me any explanation. I know it would have been challenging for you to have me there, and I perfectly understand your reasons. I also think everything would have been far more difficult, if I had been there.” For a long time, Irina thought about her mother, and considered her sacrifice.

  For the rest of the world, she was only a stripper in a night club, but none of them ever considered that sometimes you don’t have any choice. Her decision was, after all, better than begging at the side of the road or ending up in the hands of ruthless pimps.

  “Take care of yourself, Mom, I love you,” she assured.

  A smile relaxed the concerned expression on Madlen’s face. “I love you too,” she whispered before interrupting the conversation.

  With a grimace, Madlen toured visually her surroundings as she placed the telephone on the couch. Certainly, Irina was right, and she should at least ask the insurance company about the modality and time frame to have the funds released. The money she’d been saving wouldn’t last forever, and she needed to secure her finances. After the reading, everyone who was present received a copy of the testament and the details for the inheritance.

  She went through all the information, but nothing conclusive came out of it. “One thing is clear, that in case of murder, it must be proven that the beneficiary has nothing to do with it,” she muttered as she searched on the documentation received. “This is understandable and I’m wondering whether I can do as Irina suggested and bargain over the funds in order to have it unlocked. Otherwise, I will have to figure out a way to make a living.”

  Back in her room, Irina remained seated for
a moment, then with a whine, she let herself collapse on the bed. She needed something she didn’t have the luxury for— time. Time to think, plan, and act. Before any of those, she needed to have her mind clear from all the thoughts haunting her.

  Closing her eyes everything got clearer. “I need to get rid of all the evidence,” she whispered as if she feared someone could have heard her, although she knew it wasn’t possible, as she was alone in the apartment at that time.

  The noises of the traffic coming muffled through the closed windows, seemed to echo in the room along with the voices of the people passing by in front of the building. Even from the other apartments, everything was quieter than usual.

  Her eyes opened wide as she grabbed a clear and steady thought. Getting rid of the evidence meant also getting rid of the pistol. That weapon should simply disappear, and she was certain she had found the right way to make sure nobody would ever find it. Or maybe… she grinned. . . I’ll have to make sure the Police will find it.

  Grabbing her mobile phone, she hesitated, wondering whether Luciano’s telephone would have been tracked by the Police. Grimacing, she threw the mobile on the bed, I will have to find another way. Concerning myself, I should probably leave the country.

  Without waiting any further, she stood from the bed, left a written message to her father on the table and rushed to get the car. She needed to arrange her departure, and another plan started to form into her mind.

  Pushing her foot on the gas pedal, she sped toward the harbor of Civitavecchia. There she was sure she would have found the same people who helped her to reach Italy from the island of Corsica.

  It took less than one hour for her to arrive at her destination, and immediately she directed herself to the dock, where the fishermen who were traveling between the two countries would have helped her one more time for the return trip.

  Without any hesitation, she walked in the boat. “Anybody there?” she called, hoping to find at least one member of the crew.

  Aldo’s head peeked from the cabin, and when he saw Irina, he opened up into a bright smile. “I thought you would have enjoyed a longer stay here in Italy,” he joked with a chuckle.

  “That was only half an enjoyment, and I was here for business.” She leaned against the baluster. “I need to leave right away. When is your next scheduled departure?”

  “We can arrange it in a couple of days, on Monday at one o’clock in the morning, do you need a ride?” with a confident stride, he reached her.

  “Yes, I will need to contact Alec to get me from the international waters to the coast. We will need the maximum discretion, if you know what I mean.” Her lips trembled anxiously, as she pursed them together.

  With a light nod, Aldo agreed, considering how to make sure the two things would have combined. “Let me talk to Alec, once I have spoken with the rest of the crew, be reassured of it. We should agree together, so everything can run smoothly. The price is going to be the same as for the trip from there to here, and we’d prefer payment in advance.” His expression toughened. The agreement was different, but he needed to also acknowledge the risks.

  Narrowing her eyes, she clenched her fists, glaring at him, “That was not what we agreed!” she shouted, barely containing the beast inside, coming closer to his face.

  Her attitude couldn’t impress a rough seaman like Aldo, although he knew what she was capable of and that it was better not to try her patience. Nevertheless, he was aware there wouldn’t have been another way for her to reach the French coast, then to rely on their ride.

  “The risk is getting higher. If we get caught by the coast guard, we will end up in trouble. I’m not going to risk any of my business for you. I need my insurance.” His voice remained calm, but rage started to boil inside at the demands of this spoiled brat.

  Averting her eyes from him, she considered her options. Indeed, if I want to have everything cleared, I need to come to a compromise, although the deal has suddenly changed.

  She didn’t have time for bargaining with anyone, so she inhaled deeply, trying to quell her rage. “Fine, you will have your compensation, the moment we leave. In this case you will have to deal with another issue.” What seemed to be a problem suddenly offered her the solution she was looking for. “My father will come with me, but he won’t reach any of the coasts. His journey will have to end in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea.”

  “You’re insane!” His voice started to get louder, and he didn’t care that she was one dangerous girl; it wasn’t even the question of the money anymore. The change in the deal she proposed wasn’t something easily arranged. A dead body was always something difficult to conceal. It didn’t matter whether they would have dumped him in the sea or taken care of him in an alternative way. Their connection to the murder wouldn’t have been difficult to establish.

  “We didn’t agree on being charged twice for the service, so I guess I’m asking a fair exchange. You are going to have more money than you asked for, and I’m going to get rid of a nuisance that starts to get quite annoying, to be honest.”

  Shaking his head, in the desperate attempt to find a solution, Aldo turned his eyes to look at the clear surface of the sea. For a moment, he remained to listen to the waves lapping against the boat, letting his mind rest for a bit.

  “It’s too dangerous,” he muttered.

  A long pause of silence broken only by the water battering against the side of the boat and the far chattering of other fishermen, preparing for the evening, fell upon them.

  He opened his mouth as if to say something, but he immediately closed it as a couple of fishermen passed by. One of them waved to Aldo and greeted him, to which he replied with a nod and a smile.

  Aldo followed them until he was sure he couldn’t hear what they were talking about. “Come with me, it’s not safe to talk here.”

  Without waiting for her reply and expecting to be followed, he headed to the deck. “This is going to be too risky for us. It’s no more a question of money, it’s rather that neither of us wants to be connected to a murder. We all have our lives, and smuggling a person, which is a European citizen, between two countries isn’t a problem, but helping someone in getting rid of a corpse, is a fucking big problem. I don’t need to explain this to you!” he hissed.

  She smirked at him. “You look sexy when you get pissed, Aldo. It would be a pity if I needed to get rid of two corpses, instead of one.” She came closer to him, whispering into his ear, as her hands searched for his skin under the oil-tainted shirt.

  She was sure there was an easier way to get what she wanted, noticing the way Aldo always stared at her. He would have gone through hell and back to have the chance of holding her naked body, teasingly showing from the short dress she was wearing.

  He closed his eyes, deeply inhaling the scent of her skin, counting the times he wished to have her as close as she was in that moment. She was dangerous, and perhaps that was what attracted him the most. When she promised death, it was something she wouldn’t have failed to deliver. He was certain that when she promised pleasure, it wouldn’t have been a joke—she’d be damn serious.

  As her body almost glued to his’ through their clothes, his arousal overwhelmed his reason, desperately trying to warn him of the danger lurking in the promise of pleasure. Slowly his hand lifted her skirt, caressing her soft skin traveling up to her panties. It was too late, and he knew he fell into her trap. If he didn’t want to be a victim of the ‘mantis,’ he had to do what she was asking, even being an accomplice to the murder of her father.

  “I can be very generous with those who are loyal to me,” she whispered, holding her naked body to Aldo’s.

  He barely heard her words, and he already regretted his weakness. He knew she wasn’t supposed to stay. She was there like the morning breeze, easy to rise and easy to disappear, unless she would have turned into a storm, burying her victims to the bottom of the sea.

  Opening his eyes, he glanced at her, “I still need to call Alec, but I
consider it quite unfeasible for you to join us on Monday. We need to be coordinated to the millisecond.” His voice barely a trembling whisper.

  “I knew you were a reasonable person. Call me when you have an answer, don’t let me wait in vain.” She stood from the bed and quickly dressed, ready to leave the place and return back to Rome, where she would have set up the trip with her father.

  “This is no longer only up to me. You know Alec, and he has his schedule. Be prepared to hide in the Italian territory for another month or more. You know better than me how these things go.”

  Aldo remained for a moment to think about what he agreed to, and the more his mind regained clarity, the more he felt he’d acted in haste and was ashamed of how he handled the situation. He wasn’t alone; there were the members of his crew who would have traveled with him.

  “The only consolation is that none of us is an innocent angel from heaven,” he smirked, shaking his head as he slowly dressed. “We’ve been taking care of many other side jobs, besides fishing. We all have our unpaid dues with the law, but this time...”

  He stood and peered outside the window to the horizon. “...This time, we’re dealing with a homicide.” The creaking noise of the wooden structure of the boat rocking with the waves reminded him of the reason why he preferred to stay away from people and sought refuge at sea, where he didn’t have to deal with the craziness of humanity.

  CHAPTER 11

  Time mercilessly slipped away from Maurizio, and yet too many pieces didn’t fit together.

  Maurizio arrived in his office a bit earlier that morning, his intention was to go through all the details on a list he compiled and try to place every suspect in the right place at the time of the murder.

  His mobile phone caught his attention, diverting his eyes to where he kept it on his desk; for some strange reason, he wondered why Berenice hadn’t called him anymore. Certainly, If I hadn’t asked her to call me unless there was something extremely important to tell, she would have done it more often.