by Ines Galiano
- Well, I do not know. Go ask someone else. - There are bottles everywhere.
- Red is missing.
- The body was dragged to a car and got bruised along the way. Then it was taken to the hill, where someone shot it.
- What a beautiful story.
- There may be traces that may identify the killer.
- I'm happy for you.
- I think you know more than you are telling us.
Karla stopped and threw the rag to the bar, tired of the conversation.
- I've told you everything I know.
- It is not true.
- You're going to have to arrest me to find out more.
- That will not be necessary, I think you’re going to tell me right now - the detective had started to take a piece of paper out of his pocket, with a disturbing smile on his face.
- Oh really?
- Let's see, is the information we have from you in our records. Karla Martinez 54 years. Divorced, with a son called Red. A wave of fire glimmered in Karla's pupils. It could not be ...
- Is that correct?
- I ... - Karla suddenly seemed scared and looked nervously towards the back room -. Inspector - her voice denoted urgency - please do not tell Shara Marst.
The inspector raised his eyebrows, surprised that he had found a dark secret. He got up from the stool and tried to reach for a glass from the pile of freshly washed glasses on the other side of the bar, but Karla took his hand, squeezing it tightly.
- Do not tell Shara.
- Why would I not tell her?
- Please...
- Why hide it?
- Shara and Red do not get along ... I would never forgive myself for hiding that information to her ... Please - Karla seemed on the verge of crying -, I will lose my job and I cannot afford that ...
Lowe wondered if the whole scene could be a farce or if Karla really had reason to be afraid of losing her source of income for a poorly kept secret.
He turned to look at Col and Setti, but saw that they were in the same position, talking in whispers and laughing softly. It did not seem like they were paying attention.
- Do you realize that your son is a possible murder suspect?
- No, I do not...
- You really don’t know where he is?
- No.
- He has not contacted you since he left the tavern?
- He has not!
- What about the day you saw him leave? Didn’t he tell you where he was going?
- I told you I did not talk to him. And I did not think he was really leaving either.
- Murder is a serious accusation.
- Red would not do any of that ...
- So who do you think struck Lisa then?
- I don’t know.
- Why did your son leave Pireia when he was young?
- I sent him to work with his father, far away.
- Why did he come back?
- His father decided it was better for him to work in the tavern, with me.
Lowe knew that Karla was hiding something, but he also knew that a mother's love for her son goes much farther than whatever threat from a police officer, so he tried to change his strategy.
- Do you know Eric Amat? - He said taking a picture out of his pocket and showing it to her.
Karla looked at the photo, slowly, and shook her head.
- Sure?
- I think I know who he is, but I have never spoken to him. He lives not far from here.
- Sure?
- I would say that perhaps he has come to the tavern sometimes, but one cannot memorize the names of all the clients.
- Eric Amat is a witness in the case, but someone has conveniently shot him. He's in the hospital, in serious condition.
Karla said nothing.
- That means that we could be talking about two murders, Karla, of which your son is the main suspect.
- What does Red have to do with that second case? She answered upset.
- They have tried to silence our witness, I would say that the two cases are related.
- There are many more people in this city with certain interests - Karla exclaimed, to cover her mouth quickly, as if she had said more than necessary.
- Like who?
At that moment, the door of the back room opened and Shara appeared and joined the conversation.
Karla quickly turned to the other side of the counter and continued with what she was doing before the inspector showed up.
- Inspector, Shara said, I was hoping to meet you soon.
- Good morning - he answered -. What's new?
- Not much, but I thought you could tell me about Eric Amat.
Lowe realized that Eric Amat's photo was still on the counter, under the watchful eye of Shara Marst.
- He's in serious condition.
- What happened?
- He's a witness and they've tried to silence him.
- Unsuccessful?
- Yes.
- I see. Sahara did not dare mention anything else, but Lowe knew she was aware of Eric’s current situation.
- Can you think of someone who might want to silence Eric? Did you know him?
- He was my father's friend.
- Was he now?
- They distanced themselves at some point. I was still too little to have knowledge of the details.
- Who could want to silence him? - The same person who shot Lisa?
- How do you know that Lisa died of a shot?
- Wasn’t that published in the newspaper, Inspector?
- Yes but in fact she died of a concussion to her head, made with an object like a bottle - Lowe tried to memorize every detail of Shara's expression upon hearing the news. However, Shara seemed well trained.
- A bottle? How unromantic.
- You still don’t know who could have done it?
- Do you have any news about your friend Neil?
- No - Shara clenched her fists, although she tried to hide that by crossing her arms.
Lowe had the feeling of wasting his time and he was tempted to demand an interrogation at the police station, but he knew he needed some more consistent evidence before arresting anyone.
He got up and shook her hand in farewell.
- Call me if you remember anything about Eric or if you hear from Neil. He paused. Or Red. He turned around and headed for the door.
- He was sure they were both lying, they must have known something about Red ... especially Karla. He was running out of time, he had to find some other way to make them talk.
Col and Setti seemed to be arguing in whispers, but when they saw Lowe approaching, they cut off the conversation immediately.
- Are you done, boss?
- No, but we're going to have to go. The three of them went out into the street, where the sea breeze hit their faces.
- Where are we going? - Asked Setti.
- To the home of ...
Lowe felt a figure moving quickly behind him. He turned his head distractedly and saw a figure dressed in black running out of the tavern in the opposite direction to theirs.
Strange, he narrowed his eyes to get a better view: a tall, dark, thin boy ran towards the hills.
He immediately realized that it was the same boy who had been following him this morning. As if driven by a coil, he ran after him, before the astonished look of his companions.
- Boss? - Setti shouted behind him -. Do you want us to follow that boy?
- Yes! - Lowe also shouted, still running. The boy ran much faster than Lowe, but he did not give up. He saw how he rounded a house and turned to the right. The inspector made a tremendous effort, but he knew he was about to lose him. He came gasping for air to the last house on the street where he had seen the boy turn to the right, Setti and Col came a few seconds behind him. The three of them looked out at the corner: there was nothing, only a stony slope that got lost among the mass of trees on the mountain where they would not find anyone.
- Damn! - Lowe spat.
- Who was that, boss? Do you know him? - Setti asked him, still breathing.
- He's the one who threatened me!
- That kid? - Col pointed to the slope, with a confused expression -. But that’s the delivery man!
- The deliveryman? He hands out the newspapers in town, to earn some money.
- Do you know him?
- Everyone knows him, right, Setti?
- I do not know anything ... - Setti had turned red and avoided looking into Col's eyes.
- Come on now! - Col gave him a gentle push on the shoulder, taking the inspector to a state of immediate despair.
- Do you know him or not? - The inspector asked directly.
- I know his family ... his name is David.
- Good, right now I put a search warrant up.
- A search warrant? - Setti looked at him with his mouth open.
- Yes, we must interrogate him. I already told you that he tried to threaten and coerce the police force this morning, so when we get to the office, I want him ...
Setti had not closed his mouth yet and looked at him as if he had gone mad.
- No don’t you think that that is a bit excessive? Col. Intervened.
- Excessive? - Lowe could not believe what he was hearing.
- His parents will not be happy if we arrest ...
- His parents? What do his parents have to do with it? We're talking about two murders!
- Inspector, calm down. "Col made a placating gesture with his hands. I understand your position. However, we have been here longer, and we know how these things work.
Lowe let him talk, without saying anything -. The boy is not even 18 years old and has never been involved in anything. Not even with the Marst. - Even if we arrest him, he will not be able to tell us anything - Setti added -. On the other hand, if we go to the place that he left running ... - the policeman pointed back to the tavern.
Lowe understood what his companions meant and, although he did not like it, it gave him the perfect excuse to get something else out of Shara Marst.
Where had the boy been hiding? Did he work for her? Had she sent him to threaten him? The new prospect of having something to put pressure on Shara motivated him again.
They walked the road back in the opposite direction, this time more slowly, to the door of the tavern, to find it closed.
Lowe knocked on the wooden door and the three policemen waited a few minutes, but no one answered.
- Open the door right now! - He shouted at the air with fury.
It became immediately evident that there was no one inside the tavern or that anybody was going to open the door for them.
Setti and Col did not dare to say a single word, for fear that another scandal would burst loose.
The detective turned around and looked at them desperately.
- Now what do you say about arresting the boy?
- What about calling Miss Marst's phone or trying to visit her at home? - Setti asked timidly.
- Lowe looked at them as if he was about to explode
- You have until midnight to arrest Shara Marst, he answered angrily. If you cannot find her, then let's go for the boy.
CHAPTER 10
Surprises
She had to act quickly, because the detective would not believe her for much longer and it was essential to take care of Red before anything else. There must be more options, she thought, as she drove away from the tavern sitting in the passenger seat of Karla's car. But she could not think of any other option. She looked out the window at the sea: the sun was turning reddish, reminding her that the hour was getting closer.
- The boy is too enthusiastic – Said Karla pulling her out of her reverie.
Shara turned her head in her direction, annoyed by the accusation.
- We do not have anyone else.
- Yep - Karla sighed - sometimes I think ... Why not reconsider Red’s offer?
- How?
- You could still get a good position under his command.
- Are you serious?
- Shara ... - Karla looked at her with a motherly expression - you do not have to do this. Red has been working with your father long enough to know what this is all about ... and he has won the favor of the boys, you must admit it. He could become a very powerful boss.
- Are you telling me that I must give up all of my inheritance to follow the orders of a usurper?
- Not me said Karla...
- Enough - said Shara Marst quietly and turned her head back to the window.
Shara heard Karla let out an exasperated sigh while driving on in silence. After a few minutes, Karla stopped the car and parked it in the darkness. Both women left the car and looked towards the large illuminated mansion.
- Do you think the boy will have arrived yet? - Karla asked.
- No, we still have a few minutes - answered Shara – let’s go to the back door.
In silence, they went around the mansion, hiding behind the large row of trees that surrounded the house. Voices and laughter came from inside: they were not waiting for them. Once being on the back driveway, they waited until it was 7 o'clock. Shara counted down: three ..., two ..., one ... A shot was heard in the distance, on the other side of the house.
Immediately there was a rush and hurried steps within the house going in the direction of the door of the main facade, away from where they were hidden.
- Come on, - Shara said, starting toward the house, followed by Karla. With an old, rusty key from the door shelf, they opened it carefully. Shara took a small revolver from her purse and went in without making any noise.
The back door opened onto a dimly lit room filled with dusty furniture. The boys had not gone very far in their exploration of the great mansion. While they were crossing the room, another shot rang out in the distance. Karla's hands began to tremble and the gun she was carrying was moving dangerously in the air.
- Be careful with that - Shara warned.
Running, they reached the main hallway, which was illuminated by some old ceiling lamps. Guided by the sound of the footsteps, Shara turned into the opposite direction, towards the stairs. The voices across the hall began to be understood more clearly.
- There's someone hiding behind the trees!
- Well, go get him, asshole!
- Me? But ... why doesn’t Ricardo go?
- He told you to go!
- Enough of it! - Said an authoritative voice -.
- You go see who it is. Shoot if necessary.
The two women struggled to ignore the conversation that came from the other side. Shara preferred not to think about what would happen if they found David ...
They ran up the stairs and reached the second floor, where there was no visible light. Careful not to make the flooring creak, they reached the last door at the end of the hall.
- Here.
- That easy? - Asked Karla as they entered what looked like an old bedroom full of curtains and furniture with pompous upholstery.
- Almost.
Shara went to the fireplace and knelt beside it. The floor was cold, and the fireplace empty as if it had not been lit in many years. At Karla's attentive look, Shara removed the metal stand designed to hold the fireplace tools and began touching the stone floor under it with her hand.
- Do you want me to turn on the light?
- There is no need for that.
Shara's fingers soon found the cleft she was looking for. With the sound like a suction cup, the stone gave way to the pressure and rose an inch: enough for Shara to get a pair of fingers under it and lift the entire stone, revealing a small dirty hole.
- What is that? - Asked Karla amazed?
- It's the key to the safe - said Shara, triumphantly pulling it out of the hole.
Another shot was heard outside, this time followed by a scream. Both jumped up and ran out of the room.
- Let’s go.
They went down the stairs and back to the first floor, where the tumult became louder and louder.
They ran down the corridor, until they reached the room they had entered, while just at the same time they heard the main door of the mansion open.
- Who is this kid? - Shouted one of the boys, laughing.
It seemed that they were dragging someone inside between several of them.
- Bring him to the light so we can see his face - said another.
Shara and Karla went back into the darkness outside. Shara put her gun back in her purse and pointed toward the trees.
- Quick. -No, she heard Karla say behind her.
- What's up? - Shara asked, turning around almost distractedly. She was certain that Karla would have something to say about the boy: she would reproach her that they could not leave him alone with the boys and try to convince her that they had to rescue ...
Shara felt a sharp pain in her head and lost consciousness.
- Where is the box?! - she heard someone shouting in the distance.
- Answer me! Her head hurt, but the darkness began to clear.
- Wake up! Everything was moving very fast, they were shaking her.
- Where is the box? The darkness was dissipating, and she was beginning to distinguish a silhouette.
- Can you hear me? The silhouette became more and more clear, it was a man. She recognized that face ...
- Shara!
It was Red, that imbecile. She tried to move her hands, unsuccessfully, he had her tied to a chair ... With an effort she was able to move her lips.
- Let go of me.
- Ah, finally! What a heavy dream the princess has!
Red's face approached hers with a mocking expression.
- Have you slept well?
Shara spat at him.
- Whore! - Red reacted by jumping to his feet.
Sahara could see behind him. They were in the old bedroom where she had been with Karla before.
Where was Karla? Her betrayal ... She looked for her turning her head, but saw only Red, who had gone on the attack again.
- You're lucky I'm in a good mood ... you ...
- Do it - said Shara defiantly -.
- No, I just want to talk to you - Red put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but Shara tried to get away -.
- Tell me where your father's safe is.
Sahara did not answer.
- You think you can win now?
- I have everything, I have you, I have the boys, I have the key ... Shara laughed.