CHAPTER 9:
The sound of footsteps became more and more imperious, heading quickly towards the room in which William and Alfredo were, more or less well hidden. The young detective held his breath, shaking from head to toe and heard in horror as the door flew open. It was there. One of the killers had entered...
William curled up as much as possible so that nothing of him protruded from the Blackjack table in the small room of this mansion. He heard the footsteps of the man walking slowly around the room and, although far from being out of the woods, silently thanked the sky that he has not decided to light. He had to leave the room, as he had done earlier. He would hide somewhere else and then, when the way was clear, he would return for Alfredo.
As the man slowly moved to his right – where the fireplace was – and around the Blackjack table, William began to move silently to the left. Then he heard a sudden noise. As if the killer had hurriedly ducked. William listened.
"Here you are…" the killer whispered in a hoarse voice.
Murdoch felt his heart liquefy in his chest. He had found him. He had found Alfredo… William stood frozen in place at the sound of Villari's pleas as he was violently pulled out of the fireplace, coal dust flying all over the room.
"I beg you… No… Please… No…"
William could not help but redirect himself to the right of the table and stuck his head out to watch in dread as the killer held Alfredo by the collar of his shirt and aimed his gun at him. He saw Alfredo look the killer straight in the eye. He caught a last look of terror on his face before a horrific bang rang out and the old man collapsed to the ground, propelling him backwards, a bullet through his head...
William rushed to the left of the table, returning to where the killer could not see him. He closed his eyes so tightly to keep himself from throwing up that he saw stars.
He heard the killer huff in amusement.
"Only five more…"
He quickly walked to the door of the room, opened it suddenly, went out, and closed it violently. He heard the footsteps of the man walking away and quickly descending the stairs, until he heard nothing more.
William froze. Tears flowing from his eyes, heartache taking hold of him. Alfredo… He was dead… He had told him that they would both get out of here, but he had not been able to save him.
He hit the ground hard with a cry of fear he could not hold back. He had been completely stupid. It was the same man who had looked for them in the library with Julia. He had guessed that there had been a cavity in the previous fireplace, and he had had the same idea for this small room. It seemed so logical now… William had led Alfredo Villari to certain death…
He continued to sob in dread and terror, knowing full well that the image of Alfredo collapsing to the ground would forever be etched in his memory.
He was fully aware of Villari's still warm body lying not far from where he was, a few meters away. He absolutely had to get out of this room. There were too few exits here and if the killer came back, he would be stuck. Alfredo must not have died in vain. He would get out of here and he would give him the burial he deserved. He would be buried next to his wife, as he had made him promise.
William finally managed to get up with difficulty, one hand resting on the Blackjack table. He walked slowly towards the door, his vision blurry and his head spinning. He could not help but direct his gaze to Alfredo's lifeless body. He was sprawled there… Alone… In a pool of blood… The top of his head resting on the ledge of the fireplace, soot smeared on his previously white shirt.
He looked at him one last time, his heart broken and empty. He will again Julia's ring in his right hand to give himself courage and slipped out of the room.
Note : Poor Alfredo…