Who is Shara Marst? (The Pireia files.)

by Ines Galiano

  But Lowe could not know all this, so he just smiled through the narrow space that the door chain allowed it to open.

  - Good morning, Mrs. Rios. I have to ... - the detective began.

  - It's lunchtime - the lady replied badly.

  - I brought you a cream puff - he said quickly, lifting the bag in the air.

  He was lucky that they were the old woman's favorite rolls, since this was the only reason why she let him in at such an hour. The two entered the dining room, from which came a delicious smell.

  Lowe's mouth watered at the plate of fried fish and potatoes and he thought bitterly about the cream bun the old woman was taking out of the bag and about the man who had followed him and who had thrown it on the ground without contemplations.

  He consoled himself thinking that he would go back to the bakery when he was done here and remembered why he had come to see her.

  - Madam, I understand that you have rented out another house near the port.

  - Yes - said the lady between bites -. One has to help oneself with some income.

  - To whom is it rented?

  - To an old friend. Eric ... - she thought for a moment, as if she remembered things from the past -. We used to work together.

  - Where? - Where would that be? In the Marst tavern. Lowe froze for a moment, thinking that all roads led him to the tavern lately.

  - In the tavern ...?

  - Yes, but that was many years ago, you know? It does not matter anymore.

  - Please tell me what your duties were there. The old woman sighed, annoyed that she could not devote herself entirely to the food, but explained:

  - Well, I was a waitress. In my time I was very pretty, I think. It attracted many customers.

  - For how long did you work there?

  - Well, not long.

  - What was Eric’s responsibility?

  - Well, he was one of the boys, you know. He carried boxes and did other things like that. Whatever was needed.

  - Did Eric and Marst get along?

  - Of course, he had almost adopted him. But at some point, they got into a fight, you know, those things happen. So, Eric resigned and continued his life not connected to the tavern.

  - And you?

  - Me? Well, I stopped being a waitress. I did not want to be a waitress all my life.

  - And what did you do next?

  - What is this? An interrogation about my life? - The old woman was pointing at him with her fork, showing an expression of disgust, as if he were spoiling her lunch.

  Lowe tried to calm her down. You see, ma'am, Eric called the office yesterday. Mrs. Rios listened attentively and slowly lowered her fork, changing the expression. Did she seem worried? He said he had seen something the night of Lisa's murder and told us he would talk to us, but when we arrived this morning ...

  The old woman gasped, and the fork fell to the floor with a metallic clang. I told him not to use the phone! Babbling now, in a full attack of hysteria -. I told him that ... - Then, she seemed to realize that the detective was in her room and that this could have certain consequences.

  She got up and pulled Lowe's arm, with a force that left him amazed. Dragging him, towards the door she warned him:

  - Do not come back here.

  - But, if I ... - Lowe tried to calm her, without much success -. Do not worry, nobody has seen me enter here. I managed to lose him. The old woman stopped before opening the door and looked at him for a moment:

  - Who was he?

  - A dark, tall, thin man. The expression of the old woman showed fear and then compassion. Her voice softened when she said:

  - Detective, be careful.

  - What are you afraid of?

  - Of everything - the old woman said, slowly, looking nervously towards the sideboard of the entrance where a brown envelope rested. Lowe remembered what he had told her in his previous visit about the money that Lisa Lewis had given her, how she had not touched it, waiting for them to come for it.

  - Haven’t they picked it up yet?

  Mrs. Rios seemed surprised by the fact that he asked about it and an idea passed through her mind, which shone in the brightness of her eyes.

  - Do you want to send me protection, detective?

  Lowe looked at her confused, since that request did not match the attitude she had had before with the police. Do you want me to send you an agent, ma'am?

  - Only one? - It seemed that the lady was about to cry.

  - Two? We can do that when I include myself to stand guard.

  - Yes, I would like that. Thank you very much ... - The lady squeezed his hand, completely changed.

  - At what time do you want us to come?

  - At nine ... at nine they said they would come for the money.

  - Are you afraid that they are not only looking for the money?

  - Yes ...

  - Will you give it to me?

  - Well, I should not, you know ...

  - I understand

  - She looked at him sadly now -. Only just do not move from the door, please ...

  - Do you want to file a report?

  - No, no, of course not -. Mrs. Rios seemed more determined upon hearing that possibility and her eyes hardened again. I think the time has come to leave.

  - To leave?

  - Yes. I'll pack my bags as soon as you leave and if you do not mind taking me to the station tonight, when the boys are gone ...

  - Where will you go?

  - Does not matter. Tell me something, is Eric alive?

  - At this moment, yes, ma'am, but he is in a very serious condition.

  - Will you take care of him?

  - I'll do what I can.

  - Well, I trust you - with another handshake, she opened the door and showed him out.

  Lowe went down the first rung of the stairs and turned to say goodbye, but the lady had slammed the door shut already. Confused by the whole scene, he left the building shrugging his shoulders and thought again about the cream bun.

  CHAPTER 7

  Silence

  Lowe arrived at the hospital at one o'clock. He left the car in the parking lot and entered the building. He looked for the room, which Setti had previously given him over the phone, and found it right away. In fact, he would not have needed to look at the number above each door, because it had been easier to follow in the footsteps of the policemen who walked ahead of him.

  Lowe imagined that they were the reinforcements he had sent, but he did not know all the office staff yet. He saw them halt and knock on the door, so he waited behind them.

  A sleepy Setti opened the door and looked at them without recognizing them, but then he noticed Lowe and smiled.

  - Have you brought me company, boss?

  The two policemen turned around, realizing for the first time that Lowe had followed them down the hall. One of them held out his hand:

  - Good morning, inspector, it’s great pleasure. We are the reinforcements.

  - So, can I go now? - Said Setti, with a hopeful gesture.

  Lowe did not answer, he greeted the cops and entered the room, followed by the others. The room was quite common, and like one of many other hospital rooms, with white walls and greenish sheets, a bed, an armchair and a television.

  The detective approached Eric, who was still unconscious, but already bandaged and clean.

  - He's been this quiet all morning, said Setti, but I know he is breathing as I’ve checked him a couple of times.

  - Has someone come to see him?

  - No sir.

  Lowe noticed that the other policemen were following the conversation in silence, cornered against the wall. There was not much space for four people and a bed.

  - Do not let anyone in, I'll talk to the doctor - he said, gesturing to Setti to come with him.

  They left the room and crossed the hall to the reception.

  - How about your morning, boss? Have you had something to eat? I still haven’t had anything ...

  Lowe smiled, t
hinking of the two buns he had wasted that morning, before going for the third one. The third one is a winner, he thought.

  - Just tell me this, Setti, you have been here longer, and after that you can go down to the cafeteria while I talk to the doctor - Lowe promised -.

  - Do you know Mrs. Rios? The owner of the apartment where Lisa stayed?

  - Well, I've never talked to her, really, but in town, they say things ...

  - What is said about her?

  - Well ... - Setti looked at him suspiciously. Aren’t we going to close this case?

  - Close it? Lowe stood in the middle of the hall, stunned.

  - Col told me ... well, after what happened to the witness, you know, we should not risk questioning any more people ...

  - We will question whoever is needed - Lowe was starting to get fed up with those two cowardly companions -. The same thing I told Col this morning.

  - But we do not want more things to happen, right? - Setti looked at him worriedly.

  - No, we're here to prevent them. And that means that the sooner we catch the culprit, the better. And for that we need to continue interrogating. Setti looked at the floor, like a child who had just been scolded.

  - Now tell me what you know about Mrs. Rios - repeated the detective.

  - Well, not much either, just what is said around here ...

  - Come on, tell me now.

  - Well, nothing, they say that she was involved with Marst in her youth. You know, working for him and all that, before getting married.

  - Was Mrs. Rios married? To whom?

  Setti looked at him again, with an incredulous expression.

  - I thought you knew, boss! Sometimes I forget that you have been here only two days ... but of course that’s why you still have so much energy ...

  - Tell me, come on, with whom? - Lowe asked impatiently.

  - With Marst - Setti replied, as if with a guilty expression.

  - With Marst?

  - Yes sir...- Mrs. Rios was married to Marst ... -

  The detective was on the verge of an attack. And didn’t it occur to you that this could be relevant to the case?

  - As it is... everyone knows about this ...

  Lowe sighed, trying to stay calm.

  - Okay than, when did they get married?

  - Oh, I do not know, it was a long time ago, even before I was born. But then they got divorced. She went to live elsewhere and dedicated herself to renting houses.

  - How long ago was that?

  - Well, I do not know either, but the girl was already quite big, because she put on a show.

  - The girl?

  - Yes, Shara.

  - Shara? Marst's daughter.

  - Yes

  - Are you telling me that Mrs. Rios is Shara's mother?

  - Yes, isn’t she? Setti looked confused now. Come on, that's what I've always been told, it's not that I've evidenced that either - he noticed the hard look on the face of his boss and continued - but if you want to, I will check it out, no problem.

  But Lowe was already thinking about something else:

  - Don’t you think it's a bit weird that Mrs. Rios took the new lover of her ex-husband for rent?

  - Man, sure that sounds weird ... but you need to understand this as a business, she is dedicated to it.

  - I want to know how many houses Mrs. Rios owns.

  - Do you want me to look at it now or after lunch?

  The detective diverted from his cloud of thoughts and smiled again.

  - Go to lunch, while I go see the doctor and go talk to him at the end of the corridor.

  - Okay, boss, I will be quick.

  Lowe approached the doctor, whose white figure stood out in the distance, thinking about what Setti had just told him and thought by himself:.

  See if it will turn out that I must question my own subordinates.

  The doctor was checking some folders at the reception desk and did not realize at first that Lowe was approaching, but when he saw him, he left everything and shook his hand, smiling.

  - Good morning, inspector.

  - Good morning.

  - What brings you here?

  - I came for the patient of 214. Eric Amat.

  - Ah, yes, a bullet wound, I should have imagined that ...

  - It has nothing to do with you. I just need to ask him some questions, but I've seen that he's still unconscious.

  The doctor seemed nervous about the detective's presence, but he tried to speak naturally.

  - I'm afraid he is in an induced coma right now. We had to do this during the operation, but he will recover. Everything went well. It was fortunate that the ambulance brought him in on time.

  - I'm glad. When do you think I can talk to him?

  - Soon – A false smile appeared on the doctor’s face.

  - Do you need something else?

  - No, thank you that’s all for now.

  - Than if you will excuse me, I have to take care of some other patients.

  - Don’t worry. Lowe pulled aside to let him pass, with the strange feeling that the doctor wanted to get rid of him. .

  Without anything to do in the reception area, he decided to go back to Eric's room to give him one last look and say goodbye to the cops who had just arrived.

  He crossed the corridor again, reached for the door and opened it without knocking. As soon as the door opened, the sound of the mechanical alarms became much louder. Startled, he entered the room and reached the bed.

  There was no sign of the two policemen who had been on duty and the patient's machine made a hellish noise.

  He looked at Eric and realized he was having convulsions. Quickly, he pressed the emergency button next to the bed, but there was no need, as the nurses were already on their way, alerted by the scandal.

  The doctor came in behind them and they pounced on the patient, asking him to wait outside. Lowe went out into the hall again and kicked the floor. I should have known, he thought, those two were not cops. He had been surprised that Setti had not recognized them, but he thought that perhaps he did not know all off the staff in the office. Or maybe he did. He thought with horror at what his boss would say if something happened to the witness, there, in the hospital, right under their noses.

  At that moment Setti arrived, with a greasy sandwich in his hands.

  - Good, boss! Do you want some, he said before realizing that a dreadful beeping came from Eric's room?

  - What happened?

  - Eric has been stabbed.

  - What? I leave him just for a moment and see what happens ...

  - The police officers who arrived, did you know them?

  - The truth is that no, but I do not know the whole department either ...

  - They're gone.

  - Where? To the cafeteria?

  - No, Setti, no. When I arrived, they were not here, and Eric had been stabbed - Lowe was vomiting the words, angry at himself. They were no policemen.

  Setti looked at him with his mouth open and dripping sauce from the sandwich.

  - That's why I did not know them!

  - I would appreciate it if you would tell at once when you do not know someone - the detective snapped.

  - Yes, okay, okay, whatever you wish - Setti answered quickly, almost stammering.

  - Stay here and call me as soon as there is anything new.

  - But were I not going to be relieved?

  - Your relief has stabbed the witness, so no deal.

  - Ah ... Lowe left without saying goodbye, furious.

  When Lowe returned to the office, that thin, dark man was waiting for him at the door. Lowe rolled his eyes but did not feel like mounting another scandal. He got out of the car and approached the building. The man did not flinch, and simply looked at him harshly. Lowe came to him and asked,

  - What?.

  The man seemed to smile.

  - Eric is a dead man. Lowe was surprised. How could this man know what had happened less than fifteen minutes ago? But of course,
he probably knew in advance what his teammates were going to do. Clenching his fist, he replied:

  - Not yet.

  The man laughed and said:

  - Yes, and you too - and added, with a disquieting grimace -. You are also a dead man. Lowe was beginning to get fed up with this nonsense.

  - Okay. Do you know you are threatening an agent? Do you know that that it's a crime?

  The man spat on the ground in response.

  Lowe reached for the hilt of his pistol, but the man turned and ran. Lowe pulled out the gun and pointed at the man, who was running away, thinking. If he shot him in the leg, he could interrogate him later, but in his mind the words of his boss about the scandals resounded. He pulled the trigger. But just at the same moment someone who was leaving the building opened the door and without noticing hit Lowe on the shoulder causing the shot to deflect. The shot went in the air and a scream was heard from someone scared in the distance.

  Lowe straightened up and searched for the man focusing his eyes at the end of the street, but he had disappeared.

  - What is the matter, boss? - Asked an altered voice.

  Lowe turned to the building and saw the surprised face of Col.

  - I was going to buy something to eat ... - Col stammered, looking at the gun, with which Lowe was still pointing.

  - You only think about eating! - Lowe snapped, pushing him aside and entering the building. Col followed him at a fast pace, until they entered the office.

  - I want a search and arrest warrant.

  - Have you found out who the killer is? Col closed the office door behind him and turned around, staring at Lowe with his mouth open.

  - Well, that’s been quick!

  - No, Col, no. Lowe sighed and put away the gun, which he still held in his hand. They just threatened me. A thin, dark man. Lowe gestured with his hands, indicating the individual's complexion, but Col had stopped, opening his mouth wider.

  - Threa... threa ... threatened? He stammered.

  - Yes, listen, I want to do a spoken portrait.

  - Por...-portrait? Bu...-but isn’t the case closed? Lowe banged his fist on the table, shouting,

  - The case is not closed!

  - But-but ...

  The high-pitched sound of the phone prevented Lowe from hearing Col's protests.