Hi Stefano.
Hi Marco, said the inspector, greeting back to him.
Hows going on?, asked the agent, Did you take up work again after the case youve handled with Atropos Association?
Pretty much, answered Zamagni, I meant that I got plenty of rest since the completion of that case, and now Im still trying to gather some data available in order to find out the connection between Santopietro, the voice of that man over the phone and the letter Ive received, but didnt find any clue for the moment. Probably my reference view is not the right one.
Yes, it could be so, nodded the agent, Lets get together and review all the details. Perhaps we can find out something helpful for our further inquiry.
All right.
If you can wait me for a moment, Ill go and take a drink just for refreshment.
Of course, said Zamagni, May I offer it to you?
Ah, no... I already owe a pizza to you, next time I have to pay it out, therefore dont even think to offer me anything to eat, otherwise well never be equal, returned Marco Finocchi.
Nevermind.
Well, how did you spend those few days of vacation?, then asked the inspector.
Nothing special. Just relaxed. What about you, any interesting thing youve done?
Either me, nothing special, except for an evening party out with my friends, drinking with them.
Zamagni nodded.
Shall we leave?, suggested the agent throwing away the can into the trash bin.
Yeah, lets go.
As soon as arrived at Zamagnis working desk, both met with captain Luzzi who was waiting for them right there.
Thats the way how you should work?, said the superior in a serious tone of voice.
Im sorry captain, but I needed to have a fresh and cold drink, and afterwards Finocchi showed up and took also something for himself. Maybe weve wasted time, but now promise that were gonna set to work really hard. Unfortunately, I didnt find anything that would help us to make the connection between the facts and the people in the inquiry process, but I guess everything will become easier as were already two persons instead of one.
I was kidding if you understood me right, the captain said to them, Among other things and the documentations on your working desk, I noticed the letter that was sent to you before. But I forgot to tell you something important. The expert that examined the text carefully, wasnt able to decode those words written over there, however he found that the letters are in Greek.
Ah.. therefore, I confirmed the impression I had when reading the text for the first time, admitted Zamagni, I never have learnt Greek, hence didnt know what to say, but now we are sure about it.
Yeah. The point is that unfortunately, this expert lacking a full proficiency of Greek language, has failed to provide us with the text decoding. We need to have the decoding from somebody else.
Sounds good, meanwhile me and Marco will take care of the rest.
I think youd have no time for now, said Giorgio Luzzi.
Im not clear at all, said the inspector, Whats up? Is something else so urgent that wed rather leave this at a later time?
We still dont know for sure, but I guess were gonna get to know very soon.
May we have a little bit more of information?, asked Zamagni kidding.
Youre right. Now Im gonna explain it better to you, returned the captain.
Were listening very carefully, said Finocchi.
Do you remember a hemiplegic boy?, the captain began to speak, turning to the inspector.
...Marco?, asked Zamagni, after a moment of hesitation.
The agent Finocchi turned around, with a hugely surprised face.
Ah, sorry, I didnt think it was about him, said immediately Zamagni.
I dont really understand what youre talking about, returned Marco Finocchi to them.
Do you mean Marco Mezzogori?, Zamagni asked the captain, who in return nodded as a sign of approval.
Yeah, Ive known him, if its correct to say so, then continued the inspector, Im informed that he was found dead yesterday in late afternoon.
Could you extend some explanation to me as well?, asked Finocchi.
I will tell you everything after a while, Zamagni cut it short, before turning to the captain once more.
How come you already know that?
Ive been informed about the results of autopsy. Its been a murder.
The inspector still remained speechless and after some moments, the captain began to speak.
From the results of autopsy, it comes out that a fight has been occurred between the hemiplegic boy and the murderer. Nobody knows the real cause of the fight, but we should keep inquiring further on.
Why did you approach to me personally, captain?, asked Zamagni, Ive got acquainted with the boy by chance, at the time he was found dead, and additionally, we need to take care of the verification of these documents. Isnt anybody else who could be in charge of this case?
Perhaps would be, returned the captain, but there is one other detail I havent yet mentioned to you.
What is it about?
The boys aunt has called the police, probably after the family has been informed on the results of autopsy, and has explicitly demanded you to deal with the investigation of this case.
The inspector remained silent for a couple of seconds, and then nodded.
Ok, as you wish.
Have you become famous now?, the agent Finocchi asked Zamagni.
I dont think so, but I know personally the boys aunt. It was just to do her a favor as shes my acquaintance by chance.
The agent nodded.
Well, what are you waiting for?, the captain said to them, as if he was feeling around the pressure that needed to be taken away.
Lets go right now, said Zamagni, and Marco followed him while both of them went down the street.
Now, it would be the right moment to talk to me and tell me some more things.
Im gonna tell it to you on the way to San Lazzaro of Savena.
But what are we supposed to do right there? Do you need to pass by your house at first?
No. Thats the place where the murder did occur.
IV
Could you let me know on what Im supposed to do right there?, asked the agent Finocchi, sat down on the passenger seat while coming close to San Lazzaro of Savena.
All happened just by chance, began to speak the inspector Zamagni, driving the car in the attempt to escape from the heavy traffic on the road, I know shortly Carla Mezzogori, the aunt of hemiplegic boy who remained dead from the murder. She asked me a favor to go and see the apartment where her sister-in-law actually lives. It was very obvious that the boy, given his physical disability, was living together with the mother.
Marco Finocchi nodded, and then let the inspector to go on with the whole story.
His mother declared that she went out for a while in the evening of the same day the boy was found dead. She still says of going out to buy some stuff as always, and once back home, she found her son laid down on the floor, with no sign of being still alive.
But who could have wanted him dead?, Finocchi asked such a question to himself and to the inspector as well. I mean... he was an innocent boy, I guess. I think he hasnt been harmful to anybody. One of the reasons occurring to my mind right now, is the vengeance for an offence the boy has committed before.
The agent remained silent for an instant, and then got back to reasoning.
But how can we? Perhaps it has to do more or less with a sort of dispute?
I couldnt really make a guess in this regard, said Zamagni, If it was about a sort of dispute, who would be the other person the boy has been disputing with? There wasnt anyone else inside the apartment, is that right?
Yeah, exactly, nodded Finocchi, It seems nobody, so far.
Another assumption is that of a petty thief who enters the apartment forcefully seeing the window left open, comes across with the boy over there, then suddenly a fight occurs between them while the boy is disadvantaged because of his general physical disability.
Based on this version, to my opinion theres a problem in terms of time, which means that, everything is supposed to happen very quickly, said the agent.
For now, we can only make guesses, returned Zamagni, Until now there are very few facts on which we can give any opinion.
What did mother say when you visited her with the sister-in-law?
Nothing useful. She merely said of being very shocked and failing to think or speak about it.
Yeah, nodded Finocchi, Now eventually, since some time has already passed, she could do better, and be able to tell us further information. Perhaps shes been very confused in her mind due to the trauma caused by the sons death and cant help thinking of what had happened to her.
Ok then, were going to make a try once more, proposed the inspector, Lets hope things will go better than the last time... We arrived.
After they parked the car along the road, both of them moved towards the apartment where the woman was living, ringed the bell and once introduced themselves, went upstairs to the apartment at the first floor.
Hello, madam, said Zamagni, We already know each other quite well, while the person next to me is one of our colleagues. Please, let me introduce you with the agent Marco Finocchi.
Good morning, returned Marisa Lavezzoli, I guess youre here again for the investigation on my sons death, isnt it so?
Yes, exactly, admitted the inspector, Wed want to talk a little bit on what had happened to your son.
But Ive already told you, the mother of hemiplegic boy tried to cut it short.
I know, madam. Please excuse us, but were in charge to shed light on this case, said Zamagni, in attempt to avoid any sort of dispute with her.
You may perfectly understand that were here with the only scope of finding out who is the murderer of your son, added Finocchi, Weve been acknowledged on the autopsy report, results of which reveal that its been a murder.
Wed want to catch him and do justice to your son, said Zamagni.
The lady remained silent for an instant, without opening her mouth, and then said only a few words: I dont know if I can help you to do your job. I am still shocked because of what had happened to me.
We perfectly understand how you feel, returned the inspector very empathetically, and well make sure the situation appears as easy as possible to you. Were only doing our job, intending to do all that is possible, for bringing the murderer to justice. To make it happen, we also need for your help and for everything else you might know, which would make our job easier.
The woman still kept silent.
We cannot exclude a priori any version, but basically, the robbery attempt is less likely to happen due to lack of time, said Zamagni.
Have you ever thought that possibly the time has been well planned by the robber, who instead had studied all the timings in detail?, Marisa Lavezzoli asked both of them, That is, everytime I go for shopping, I use to do it pretty much at the same timings, hence the thief might have noticed that and then tried to enter the apartment forcefully.
Its likely to happen what youre saying now, admitted the inspector, even though doubts remain in this respect. However, were still at the initial phase of our inquiry. For the moment, it would be enough for us to gather as much data as possible.
Now I would like to leave me alone, said the woman, Im not in good mood and would want to have some rest, without thinking at all.
Zamagni and Finocchi stared at each other, and then looked at the mother of the hemiplegic boy.
Please.
Ok, nodded the inspector, but please be advised that well need your help to conclude this case, and, for sure, well have to get back to you again.
The woman nodded in sign of approval and saying nothing else, opened the door and kindly asked the two policemen to leave the apartment.
Unfortunately, the Forensic Science probably wont be able to find anything helpful. The fingerprints are already confusing, said Zamagni, going down the stairs.
Proceeding in such a way would lead us nowhere, captain Luzzi pointed out as soon as he learned about the unsuccessful visit to the apartment of the hemiplegic boys mother.
Zamagni and Finocchi nodded, and then the inspector added: As long as the lady seems unwilling to cooperate, it would be extremely hard for us to come to a final solution of this case.
Frankly speaking, it hasnt occurred to my mind before, said Marco Finocchi, what about her husband? The hemiplegic boy has had a father, right?
It seems that one day he has left away, as if he disappeared into thin air, explained Zamagni.
This means that hes not findable so far?, asked the agent.
It seems so, even though Id want to get in touch with him, said the inspector.
At least, he would be able to save his wife suffering from this shock, asserted Finocchi.
Would be possible to start searching for him?, proposed Zamagni, If we succeed, then we can make him meet his wife again. Even though theres bad blood between them, I believe the two spouses could become closer to each other for the sake of their son.
Yeah, we can have a try, admitted the captain, Lets spread the word then.
All right. What else can we do in the meantime?, the agent Finocchi wanted to know.
Good question, Giorgio Luzzi replied to him, We dont have yet in our hands any fact or clue that may lead us to a pertinent connection or conclusion. Although it might seem unlikely, this is the only lead to be followed at the moment.
Hence, how are we gonna proceed further on?, asked Zamagni. I dont know, was the instinctive answer of the captain, We need to squeeze our brains and come up with some idea.
Since the day in which the tragedy happened, the mother of Marco Mezzogori, had switched from the initial state of shock to a sort of nervous breakdown, and as far as appeared, she had no desire to meet or talk to anyone.
Even Carla, the aunt of hemiplegic boy, so far hadnt been in the apartment of her sister-in-law after the death of her nephew.
The nephew was indeed the true inspirational motive of her visits to that apartment, and this was also because of the cold relationships with her sister-in-law.