Chapter IV
Suspicions, part I
Tintin couldn't believe it.
He was not as shocked as when his father died in his arms. A long while ago, he and Rawlins were talking like if they were the best friends forever. At the next minute, Tintin gets angered by his unforgivable comment, and now, the lawyer and his assistant, who had nothing to do in that, "helped to pay the price of offense".
Suddenly, the rest of the group appeared.
-What happened here?- Mr. Sakharine asked.
-Mr. Sakharine, I think it's the best to leave the scene before it's...- Tintin answered, but was then interrupted by a female's scream.
-DAN! NO!- Bonnelyn exclaimed after she recognized her husband.
-... too late.- Tintin finished
After hearing the name of the victim, Mr. Sakharine felt the shock of her daughter. He saw how the police was trying to calm her down. Annia was then surrounded by fear, and found refuge on her husband, who happened to be hugging her, still with his shocked expression.
There were a few witnesses and the police took them, just to make them to describe the murderer, or at least what they remember from it.
The crime scene was being studied by the forensics that were arriving, and a group of them started to take the bodies for further studies.
Chaos, insecurity, and many other negative feelings were surrounding that alley in Palermo.
-Sir, I found something useful!- a forensic said
-Let me see that!- the officer said.
It was a note.
For their bad luck, the content of it was now non-understandable, as it was covered with blood.
-Take it to the lab, and decode it.- the officer said.
The forensic obeyed orders and went with the rest of the men.
-xxx-
At the morning, the notice was being spread to Italy. It appeared in the TV news, the newspaper, the radio, in the people's conversations...
"Ying-Yang Boys murdered"
"Famous British duo met horrible fate"
"Complot between United Kingdom and Italy?"
The street where he leaves was being marked as full of bad luck.
Dmitri Ivanovich Sakharine was hearing everything, and wanted to show a smile of victory. But, in his deep inside, he knew it was not the moment. His older sister drowned herself into depression, and wanted to follow Dan to the afterlife.
The 24-year-old man rarely left his house, as he was working in his masterpieces. His last, so far unfinished, piece was about a few Ancient Egyptian Spirits who appeared in a vision, or weird dream-sequence, of those who were in a severe danger while they were inhaling some kind of mysterious drug in gas form: The Cub and Father, the Guards, the Usurper, the Servant, and finally, the High Priest. The first one usually represented the victim, the second, some kind of evil person known by the first one, the third, the law and its servants, the fourth, the one who wants to get rid of the Cub, the fifth, was the most loyal follower or friend of the first one, and finally, the High Priest, represented sometimes by Anubis, meant the fate of the Cub.
Dmitri reunited and investigated the information, but all he painted didn't have "the thing". He was now in his desk, making doodles of the composition of the masterpiece.
After a few minutes, he was about to give up, until he heard his falcon trying to cheer him up.
-Not now, Guido. I don't have that sensation.- he said to his pet.
-What is it? Don't you see I'm having a fight between the emotions and composition? I want this to be sublime, soul-touching, and even being exhibited in the Russian Museums.-
The falcon then flew to him.
-Look, I'm sorry if I was rude to you.- said to his pet as he gave him a cookie.- I promise not to do it again.- and then, rubbed his head.
-I need also to finish the "you-know-what". Want to help?-
The falcon nodded.
-Excellent. Now, bring me the...-
He couldn't finish his sentence.
The police entered to the house and circled him, making Guido to leave.
-Dmitri Ivanovich Sakharine, you are under arrest with two charges of murder.- The Chief said.
-What?- He asked surprised.- Is this some kind of joke?-
-Don't make yourself the funny guy. We know you killed that duo with the ridiculous name.-
-I didn't kill anybody!- Dmitri said in his defence.- I swear!-
-And then what's that?- An officer pointed to the unfinished masterpiece.
-That's a masterpiece I haven't finished yet.- he said.
-Chief.- an officer said coming from another room.- I found this gun. The bullets found inside this one are the same kind of the ones we found in the bodies. And guess what? It was used recently, four bullets are missing.-
-What? That's not even mine!- Dmitri angered.- This is an insolence!-
-What in the name of Alexander Nevsky is going on here?- Mr. Sakharine, who was in company of his wife, entered to Dmitri's house.
-What happened here was, Mr. Sakharine, we discovered your son is the murderer of the Ying-Yang Boys.- The Chief said.
-Father, don't believe them!- Dmitri said.- I didn't kill anybody! I swear! I hated Dan, I confess, but not enough to kill him!-
-And so why did you send him a note last night?- A police officer asking with his gun pointing to Dmitri's head.
-I wanted to start the things all-over again. I wanted to know Dan better, because I cannot live with this grudge, not anymore.- he said.- You also know the guy's like a stone in your shoe... I... I just wanted to give him an opportunity.-
-Very touching story, but I don't believe you.- The Chief said.- You will come with us and confess you're the murderer.-
-Mother! Father! Help me!- Dmitri begged to his progenitors.- Please!-
The man then saw his father's eyes. Those were full of rage. He started to think his dad believed the police rather than him, and, due to that thought, he wanted to cry.
-You can take my son to prison or execution.- Mr. Sakharine said.- But first, I need you to answer me something.-
-Fine.- the Chief said.
-How could my son be the murderer if he has arthritis... AND HE'S IN A WHEELCHAIR?- Mr. Sakharine asked, full of rage.
After hearing the "wheelchair" part, the police saw Dmitri's seat.
It indeed was a wheelchair.
The officers and Chief were now feeling like fools.
-I seriously thought the Italian Police was better than the Russian one, but now... I think even the Mexican ones are ten times better than you.- Mr. Sakharine said.- They at least know how to investigate a person before scaring the hell out of it.-
The police then left, not even saying "sorry".
Dmitri then started to cry as Guido returned to his shoulder. Mrs. Sakharine approached her son, and hugged him.
-It's okay, Dmitri.- she said.- Nothing happened. You're safe.-
Suddenly, Tintin, Snowy, and Captain Haddock entered to the house.
-What happened?- Tintin asked
-The police thought Dmitri was the murderer of Dan and Lloyd, and he could have faced an injustice if we didn't arrive.- Mr. Sakharine said with a calmed voice.
-I'm sorry about hearing that, Mr. Sakharine.- Tintin said.- But, what made them think he was the culprit?-
-Probably the misinterpretation of what Bonnelyn said to the police.- he continued.- She might have commented about the grudge he had against Dan, and the police immediately thought he was the killer.-
-I just hope your son doesn't happen to need psychological help.- Haddock commented
-He won't.- Ivan said.- He's an artist. He loves art. I mean, look at that work in progress of him.- Said as he pointed to the unfinished piece.- A masterpiece, isn't it?-
Tintin then, recognized the spirits, and trembled.
-Is something wrong?- Mr. Sakharine asked.
-Not at all.- Tintin said.- It's just... a little scary.-
-That was one of the few reasons I declined the invitation.- Dmitri said as he was recovering his sanity.
-What are you talking about?- his mother asked
-I preferred to work on something father has searched in every corner of the world.- he continued.- Guido, please, reveal what's under the white cloth.-
The falcon obeyed his master's orders and removed the cloth.
-Impossible!- Mr. Sakharine said as he saw what Dmitri was talking about.
-I investigated in every library, talked with almost every sailor from these places, and I even talked with naval historians, just to have the exact image of the "Agora" in my mind.- Dmitri continued.- Father, I knew you couldn't find the model, so I tried to make an exact replica of it.-
-But how?- he asked.- You have arthritis.-
-I have special instruments, invented by me, that can allow me to build a replica without getting hurt.- he said.- I'm sorry if that was not enough...-
-I love it!- Mr. Sakharine said.- It looks exactly as the one I had in mind.-
-It's not even finished.- he said.
-I know that.- his father replied.- I love what you're doing, boy.-
-Thank you... I'll send you a note with Guido when I happen to finish it.-
-Take your time, son. There's no hurry.- Mr. Sakharine said.- Well, we need to go. We wanted to know how were you feeling, but I think it's better for you to take a rest.-
-I will.- Dmitri said.- And take care.-
After that, the men, dog, and woman went on their own ways.
Meanwhile, at the police station, the few witnesses were describing the murderer. They were trying to make memory due to their fear. The artist was working, creating the face of the possible murderer. After she finished reconstructing it, she was shocked.
-Are you sure you're not playing us a prank?- The artist asked
-We're sure.- They responded.
-What's the problem?- One of the two officers asked.
-This.- she handled the picture to both men.
As the artist, they were shocked.
-I seriously don't want to handle that to the lieutenant.- the artist said.- This must be some kind of joke.-
-I know.- One of the law servants said.- Plus, I don't think she won't believe a word, not after the Sakharine incident a while ago.-
-Can we see the sketch?- One of the witnesses asked.
-Sure.- The artist answered with a very insecure voice.
As she showed the sketch to them, their heart wanted to stop.
-It can't be.- One of them said.
The sketch had a strong resemblance to Tintin, just with a messy hair.
-xxx-
A/N: I hope you like this. I need to work on the next chapters and other fanfics I'm planning to submit. Please don't be impatient, as I have RL issues :( (School, family, work, personal problems...)
In case you didn't note it, Spielberg's Sakharine makes a cameo. I re-imagined him as (the original) Sakharine's son.
Please READ AND REVIEW!