by Helena Rose
Costantino decided to continue with his plan and pretended to believe Viviana’s lie. "Of course my dear, go ahead, all the more so because tonight I can’t keep you company. I’ve a complicated case and want to lock myself away in the study and consult some books to try to figure it out. I’ll ask the servants to ensure that no one is to disturb me." Good, he had made sure that Viviana would not look for him and that she would believe that he was so occupied she would not notice his movements.
They finished dinner and Costantino said good evening to Viviana with a kiss on her cheek. "I’ll go my dear, give my regards to poor Clara and Miguel." Before leaving he gave Viviana a loving look. Viviana smiled at Costantino, but the poignant look made her feel troubled and a dark sense of imminent danger engulfed her. A shiver ran down her spine.
She got up from the table and ran to her room, she would soon meet Hector.
Costantino waited until Viviana had gone upstairs and then he hurried out of the house.
He quickly made his way to La Virgen del Mar chapel. He arrived with his lungs ready to burst as he was out of breath and his heart was pounding. He would do anything to protect Viviana, including dealing with Hector.
He saw a light filtering through the windows of the small wooden building, Hector had already arrived. He clenched his fists and prepared for the confrontation.
He silently entered through the door. A voice rang out in the chapel "Viviana my dear, you came!"
"No my dear Hector, Viviana is not here, and you have to explain to me why you sent my wife secret notes and tried to organize a compromising meeting with her."
Hector turned and saw Costantino advancing slowly towards him. He stepped back frightened, he had never seen the calm and devout doctor with such a wild expression on his face.
"You're back to create new problems, aren’t you Hector? Wasn’t it enough for you to have cruelly abandoned Viviana without any real explanation? Do you still want to hurt her?" Demanded Costantino.
"No, you're wrong, I'm back just to address my mistakes. If you’ll let me explain, let me talk to Viviana I could clarify everything ..." Hector tried to explain.
"You’ll not talk to her and you’ll stay away from her. She's my wife, if you've forgotten, and I’ll not let you compromise her in a cowardly way! Do you realize that her reputation would be in danger once again if you met?" Anger distorted Costantino’s features.
"I don’t want to do her any harm, I’ve never wanted to. I assure you," said Hector, raising his voice in turn.
"You never wanted to hurt her? However, you somehow managed to do so, and hurt her very badly" Costantino grabbed Hector by the arms. "Go away Hector, go back to where you came from and leave us to live our lives or I swear on my honor that I'll make you pay!"
Hector screamed in pain and tried to defend himself. Soon the two men started to wrestle furiously. So involved in the fight they were not aware of a figure cloaked in a mantle of black silk who had approached the chapel listening to their conversation. The stranger blocked the door of the chapel shut and then walked slightly away. The figure retrieved a lit oil lamp previously hidden in a clump of sundried vegetation and also picked up some twigs.
The figure then returned to the chapel and laid the branches and dry foliage beside the building’s wooden wall before dropping the lantern that shattered. The oil contained in the lamp caught alight, also setting fire to the twigs. The figure stepped back staring fascinated at the flames. There, thought Doña Raquel , everything is accomplished. The fire will be my ally to get rid of anyone who stands between me and what I want. Hector won’t be able to come back again to upset my plans. I thought it would be Viviana who would accompany Hector to hell. I was looking forward to the gossip that would arise when their bodies were found together. Instead, Viviana survives to mourn the death of her husband and also of her lover. I couldn’t ask for better.
The wooden structure of the old chapel parched by the sun and whipped by wind and salt for so many years caught fire quickly. La Virgen del Mar chapel, a comfort to fishermen and farmers, soon became an inferno of flames and smoke.
Doña Viviana reached the beach with a sigh of relief. Costantino had believed her lie and during the journey she had not met a soul. The chapel was not far away and in a few minutes she would know the truth that Hector had kept hidden for all those years. Impatience made her quicken her pace. In the direction of the chapel she saw a strange and ominous glow, fear struck her like a whip. She increased her pace. She passed the vegetation growing on the edge of the beach and approached the chapel. A cry of terror broke from her lips. "My God, the chapel is on fire!"
Viviana’s voice made Raquel turn round in the direction from which it had come from. I have to disappear, to hurry. One moment, I forgot one last detail and then also Lucas will be finished!
Raquel took the cufflink that Lucas had lost during the scuffle with Cristobal and threw it near the burning chapel. Then she fled.
Viviana saw a figure cloaked in black running away from the fire, "Stop!" She shouted desperately. She went nearer to the chapel where the flames were now so high that they prevented her from reaching the front door. She ran towards the town in search of help. Oh Virgin of the Sea help me! I pray that Hector is not inside there, I beg you!
Breathless she reached the nearest tavern, taking care to keep the hood of her cloak over her face, she rushed in and shouted "Quick La Virgen del Mar chapel is on fire! Help me, there could be someone trapped inside!"
The customers, after their initial amazement, stood up knocking over tables and chairs. Everyone knew how dangerous a fire could be with its destructive fury if it spread to the town. Some made their way directly to the chapel, others went in search of buckets and containers to carry water. A tam tam played along the city streets made other people pour out of their homes eager to help.
Soon they realized that it was too late to remedy the fire. The old wooden structure was now engulfed in flames. Many knelt down to pray to the Virgin of the Sea, the merciful mother that had always protected them was burning.
Viviana returned to the chapel desperate. She followed the route that she had seen the black-clad figure take and on a branch she found a piece of black silk damask. She was still clutching the piece of material in her hand when a deafening roar reached her, the chapel had collapsed in on itself.
The flames after having devoured everything, went out leaving behind only smoldering ruins.
A scream ripped through the air, "There are some dead!"
Horrified Viviana moved closer trembling. Hector, my Hector ... but she could not cope with the sight of charred bodies and ran towards her home.
It was now nearly dawn, what would Costantino say to her? Tears were streaming down her beautiful face when she entered the house. Her maid ran to her, "Ma’am, Thank heaven, you’re all right! Tonight some people came looking for the master but he wasn’t in the house and neither were you! I was so worried! "
Viviana waved aside the maid with her hand and walked in a daze towards Costantino’s study. A terrible anguish caught the breath in her chest. Costantino, my God ... it can’t be, she reached the desk. Her eyes came to rest on a crumpled sheet of paper that she picked up with trembling hands. Despite her vision being blurred with tears, she recognized Hector’s elegant calligraphy. With a strangled cry she fell to the ground lifeless.
Immediately after the meeting with the banker, Lucas began traveling back to Zacatecas. He did not feel like waiting until the following day to leave, as he was too impatient to report to Aurora the excellent chance of obtaining funding. In addition, and he almost did not want to admit it even to himself, he could not stand being so far away from Aurora, every moment without her seemed to last an eternity. He arrived at the hacienda in the early afternoon.
He entered the house silently and immediately asked for his wife.
Pablo informed him that Aurora had retired to rest after lunch before returning to the clinic. Lucas went up the stairs t
wo steps at a time. He slowly opened the bedroom door, Aurora had dozed off, an open book lay on the bedspread. Her face relaxed in sleep was even more beautiful and innocent, her long dark lashes shaded her cheeks and her red lips were slightly parted and seemed to invite him. He bent down and kissed her gently on the lips.
Aurora shook herself and opened her eyes. “Lucas, my love, I thought it was a dream, and instead you're here." She said stretching luxuriously.
"I wouldn’t have missed the joy of waking you up with a kiss for anything in the world. You're even more beautiful when you’re asleep."
Aurora smiled and pulled away slightly, "You’ll be tired, come and rest a little."
"What a tempting offer." Lucas said mischievous " but I think that if I come to bed I won’t be able to sleep at all. "
"So don’t sleep," she replied equally mischievously.
That afternoon the mineworkers and the sick waited for Lucas and Aurora in vain.
Two days later, the couple was enjoying a well-deserved day off when a man arrived at the hacienda. It was a mail carrier.
"I’ve a telegram to be delivered to Mrs. Aurora Navarra y Reyes." He announced breathlessly.
Pablo called Aurora and Lucas who arrived at the entrance shortly after.
"I hope nothing serious has happened." Said Aurora as she clutched her hands to her chest gripped by anxiety.
"Thank you." Lucas said as he took the letter that the man held out, then went back into the house, accompanied by Aurora. He sat her down on the couch and opened the envelope. He read the first few lines in silence, shook his head and dazed started to reread the telegram in disbelief.
Aurora could not stand the wait and cried, "Tell me what’s happened I beg you!"
Lucas sat down on the couch next to her and hugged her tightly, "My darling, have strength, your father’s had an accident ... "
Through tears, Aurora whispered, "Is it serious?"
Lucas’ stricken silence brought her slowly to awareness. "My father’s dead." She hid her face in her hands and moved even closer to her husband's chest as he held her tighter. "I'm sorry my love ..." Lucas let her cry, murmuring words of comfort.
Only much later did Aurora find the strength to read the telegram and find out how her father had died. Doña Viviana had written only that he had died in a fire, omitting the reasons for which Costantino had been in the chapel when it went up in flames. She apologized for the delay of two days before informing her, but the pain had incapacitated her to such an extent that she had not been able to think clearly. She also requested Aurora presence at the funeral.
Lucas ordered Penelope to pack their bags. On hearing the terrible news she was profuse in her condolences before undertaking Lucas’ order.
My mistress has performed remarkably well, dear Hector is dead, and the trap to get that bastard has been sprung! She felt herself overflowing with joy.
A few hours later Aurora and Lucas left for Tampico. Aurora did not notice the time passing, her mind was full of memories of her father, his smile, his protection and the complicity that united them. She could not forget all that he had meant to her, a valuable ally even against Viviana, a trusted friend, an extremely good and understanding father.
Even though they arrived late at night they went straight to the Vargas de Coronado’s house.
The meeting between Aurora and Viviana was heartbreaking, the two women united by grief embraced in tears.
"Forgive me my dear for not writing to you immediately," said Doña Viviana between sobs. "When I heard the news, the pain was so strong that I was nearly out of my mind and I spent a whole day in despair, unable to think of anything. If it hadn’t been for Father Julian’s help, I would definitely have gone crazy."
Lucas could do nothing other than watch them without finding any way to relieve their pain. Only towards dawn did Lucas managed to convince them to go to sleep for a few hours. The funeral was to be held shortly after and they would have to draw on all their strength to be present.
Viviana in particular, appeared bloodless, like a ghost. Lucas had always seen her proud, beautiful and confident, she was now pale, limp, with pain in her eyes and dressed in full mourning. In fact, Viviana was feeling the most excruciating torment. Inside, in addition to the grief over the loss of Costantino, she felt the punishment of never ending remorse; remorse for not loving him enough, not reassuring him about her feelings, not marrying him right away causing him pain with the knowledge of her relationship with Hector. What a cruel game fate has dealt me! In one night I lost the man I love and the man I thought I loved. The sense of guilt broke her heart, only with the death of both of them did she realize that the loss of Costantino was infinitely more unbearable than the mere memory of Hector. Only now I know that I didn’t love Hector but only the memory of the passion and the feelings he aroused in me ... my God, Costantino! Will you ever forgive me?
She could not help stifling a sob while Aurora supported her as they went up the stairs. If only I had thrown that note away as soon as I received it and then all this wouldn’t have happened. My beloved daughter, your mother is to blame for all this. Viviana crying held Aurora more closely while she asked for death for herself to be released from the pain.
Meanwhile, Captain Josè Pereira, who was appointed head of the investigation, went to see the remains at La Virgen del Mar chapel. He had to make his way through the crowd of onlookers and the poor people who had come to pay homage at the house of their protector that had been destroyed. A profusion of flowers had been placed in the rubble. The bodies of the two unfortunate men who had perished in the fire had already been removed. He looked around discouraged, his blue eyes scrutinized the area carefully looking for tracks. How would he find any clues to clarify what had happened if the area was a bustle of people trampling everything, moving the rubble and laying flowers?
Although he did not consider it unhelpful, he moved closer to the remains of the building and carefully patrolled the perimeter of the chapel. Next to the remnants of a wall he saw some blackened fragments. He bent down and picked up a fragment, glass. Not far away there were the remains of what appeared to be a lantern. An oil lamp outside the chapel, not inside. An idea struck him like a knife, arson! Is it possible that someone had really wanted to set fire to La Virgen del Mar chapel that all the inhabitants of Tampico were so fond of? And what could have been the reason? In addition, the corpses ...had the arsonist wanted to kill those people or was their presence in the chapel at the time of the fire a coincidence?
Everything seemed very confused. What was a distinguished and respected man like Don Costantino doing with a stranger at night in such an unusual place?
Due to the Don Costantino’s fame, Don Josè would never suspect that he had been involved in any strange business, but Josè Pereira was a man of law and in his life had seen so many ugly things done that he was not surprised by anything anymore.
He stood up and resumed his inspection, a glint caught his attention. He hurried over to it excited. Maybe I've finally found something! He picked up the object, it was golden, slightly melted by the intense heat of the flames, but it was still clearly recognizable as a cufflink. He cleaned off the thin layer of soot and on the dented surface of the jewel an inscription was visible, the insignia of its owner LNR. Yes! A clue at last! If on the second body we don’t find the other cufflink that means that I have in my hands the name of the murderer!
"Captain." He heard his subordinate call him. Don Josè went over to the young man and saw that he was pointing at the charred remains of the front door.
"Look at the iron latch," said the policeman.
Don Josè saw that the latch seemed to be closed from the outside. So it is true ... someone had locked them in, we’re dealing with a murder!
"Go and question the witnesses and try to track down the woman who gave the alarm," Don Josè ordered. Then he ran to the morgue, he absolutely had to see the corpse before some kind soul thought of closing it in a coffin.<
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Josè had optimistically called the small hall of the barracks where they kept the bodies of the victims of crime a morgue. Certainly it did not look like other morgues he had seen in Mexico City or Puebla, but then Tampico was only a small coastal town and crime was not so widespread as to require better equipped facilities.
The policemen outside saluted him.
"The doctor from the convent is already here and is examining the corpses," said one of the two policemen.
Josè nodded and went into the morgue. There he found Dr. Peron who was observing the state of the bodies.
"Poor Dr. Costantino." Dr. Peron whispered, "It must be a terrible blow to his poor daughter."
"You know her?" Asked José.
" Yes, she is a doctor and we worked together at Convent’s infirmary before she got married to Lucas Navarra y Reyes. "
Lucas Navarra y Reyes? LNR? Don Josè’s intuitive mind began to work feverishly. Could the son in law be responsible?
Feigning indifference, Don Josè began to ask about the poor victim’s family. He found that Aurora was an only child, that her marriage had aroused quite a stir and that the son in law was one of the most talked about and ambiguous personalities in Tampico.
He was distracted from his musings by the doctor’s voice who had begun to examine the corpse of the unknown man, in search of clues.
" What have you found? A single cufflink?" Don Josè asked disappointed. In this case, it would mean that LNR were the initials of the victim, not the killer.
" No, another type of jewel ... a medallion." Dr. Peron took a pair of tweezers and gently pulled the chain from the neck of the poor stranger. Don José immediately took a handkerchief wiped the black soot from the metal and saw a symbol appear, a bull's head surmounted by a crown.