Chapter VI
Suspicions, part III
Not long later, the afternoon newspaper revealed the sketches of the suspects. Each version of it resembled Tintin. Even if it was considered a joke by the police, the habitants, especially the ones who went to Mr. DiLeo's party, knew it was possible for the reporter to kill both men, as they left first, then him. The time of absence was enough for killing them with a gun. The reason the law body released the sketches was because they were aware there were people who had this problem of not showing any sign of aging, known commonly as a "baby-face syndrome".
The Italian reporters were interviewing the known guests of the mentioned party, including Mr. DiLeo, and each one gave their versions. All what those had in common was the Belgian reporter angering at the British lawyer. The comment was not mentioned, as they didn't put the enough attention to remember it.
The notice was then, somehow, spread to the rest of the countries. In every channel, people were watching the same notice, given from different points of view, and a few of those were exaggerated by the anchormen.
The lieutenant in charge of the British men case was stressing herself, as people were already sentencing Tintin. The press was forcing her to talk about the case and the date of execution of the Belgian reporter, and all what they had as a response was, "So far, we are not sure if this is some kind of joke just to protect the murderer or we cannot simply believe it, as it implies the killer is a humble, respectable reporter".
Lieutenant Bertotti is a respectable female among the law body. She has worked as a judge assistant on her early years as a servant for justice. Because of her hard work, she was sent to the police, just to be an example for her now workmates. Her perseverance helped her a lot. Her boss promoted her to Lieutenant, and, coincidentally, it was the same day Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Snowy arrived to Palermo.
When she received the sketch of the artist, who, after a few hours, decided to show them to her, Bertotti thought she was just making a prank to her. The young female tried to explain to the 40-year-old woman that the murderer might have that "baby-face syndrome" everybody's talking about nowadays. She appeared to believe it, thus, making her to handle the sketches to the press.
In Italy, that syndrome's odd due to the belief of being exclusive to the Western Europe, Russia, and a great part of Asia. Females are mostly affected by this. One out of one hundred individuals affected with this syndrome, is a male. And the treatment, so far, is nonexistent. Many have learned on how to live with it, while others cannot wait to get older, and use make-up to create that effect of showing some 'maturity'. For example, young adults are often confused to be in their early teens, while, in reality, they're older than 20. It's a flattery for ones, and an insult for others.
Dmitri Sakharine is a good example. He was always jealous of his sisters, whom didn't seem to be affected by the gene causing that syndrome. At first he didn't mind about it, because he was a child. When he started to get older, his face was always the same, while Bonnie's and Anastasia's were having a few changes year within year. When he was seventeen, he thought he'd never get older. In summer vacations, he left his beard and moustache to grow, at least to feel that sensation of being old. When that period was over, he was forced to say goodbye to that feeling, as the school he attended didn't allowed facial hair.
When he learned a few arts in his school, he thought it'd be an opportunity to make a mask-like object to use it every day. Dmitri learned how to use the materials, how to create the textures, and what colours was he going to use, to match his skin. When he finished it, and let his beard to grow, he couldn't believe it at first. He now looked in his forties, and felt so happy with himself. Mr. and Mrs. Sakharine appeared to approve that modification his son did to his face, while his sisters were a little freaked out, not because of the realism that mask-like thing had, it was because of how old he looked. His artistic skills stole the attention of a collector who had contact with a lot of famous museum owners.
Tintin is possibly another example of this syndrome. Unlike Dmitri, he appears to accept it. The reason could be he wanted to show to the youth the dynamism of running, travelling, investigating... that fresh sensation everybody can feel and desires to have at least a little of it.
Now, in front of her desk, Lt. Bertotti was trying to analyze the things and the information she had on her hand. What the dim-witted detectives, who happened to be working temporarily for her because the quiff-haired reporter was implicated, reunited was not enough. It just contained the part where the guests of the party directed their sights to Tintin and Dan Rawlins a while before the latter and his assistant were murdered.
The time he was out was enough to murder them in that alley of Palermo. That area was also known because of the lack of enough light, thus, making it the perfect place to murder a person. The grudge he developed instantly against Mr. Rawlins was as strong as a rock, and had a giant, negative influence that could make anybody to get revenge, by claiming the blood as a trophy and their meat as a prize. Also, she took in mind the quiff-haired Belgian never returned to the party after taking fresh air. What a few witnesses said, he looked red, like if he regretted something he did, something... unforgivable.
The clues were making sense, and, she needed to admit it. The female lieutenant didn't want to share this information to others, because, she didn't want to cause a grudge between Italy and Belgium. United Kingdom was as angry as a lion due to the murdering of an important duo (at least for them). They wanted justice, and, if they happened to locate the guilty one, they'd then consider the "debt" as paid once the killer was executed.
Bertotti knew she wouldn't tell a word to Thomson and Thompson. Not because they knew the murderer, it was because of their stupidities. The last thing she wanted was them being the next victims.
At this time, the wanted posters were now around all Europe. Each of them had a different sketch, and the reward was big enough to make a man one of the richest people of the continent.
She didn't want to conclude, so she proceeded to study the notes and the clues carefully.
Two hours passed, and she finally admitted it.
She needed to have a talk with the bearded sailor who hanged around the Belgian reporter.
Meanwhile, in a room, possibly from the new hideout of the gangster, Gérémi was, in fact, studying a few papers before proceeding to the part two of the master plan. He was wondering now how much would it take to the police to arrest Tintin. The French-born old man was aware of the habits of the Italian police, but being that "slowly" was just exaggerated. He laughed when the Sakharine incident was suddenly spread around Palermo. How a law body could sentence somebody before proving the truth?
Suddenly, Allan returned from his last mission. He seemed a bit tired, and dehydrated.
-Boy, are you alright?- he asked.
-A bit, but my part of the mission has been accomplished.-
-Nobody has suspected, right?-
-Nobody.- he replied.- They seem to be very busy laughing at the police.-
Gérémi laughed.
-I knew those buzzards were going to be useful someday.- Bonilla continued.- Bad for them they are not realizing they're against each other, don't you think it, boy?-
-I think it's funny.- Allan replied with a smile.- And your contacts, are they in the eyes of the cops?-
-Nobody sees them, my dear one. All they perceive is the matter, not the essence.-
-What do you mean?-
-They just see what they want to see. It works the same with the politics and government. The matter protects the reputation, the essence ruins it. Do you got it?-
-I suppose.-
-Good boy. Now go, drink something, and take a rest. We'll have a lot of work to do once that nosy kid's behind the bars.-
-How about you telling your friends to do that job instead?- he suggested.- I don't want to have my hands covered with blood.-
-Are you defying me, boy?-
-No sir. It was just a suggestion... and if you excuse me...- Allan continued.- ... I'll go to take my nap.- said as he left.
Nobody said there was going to be blood involved. Gérémi said in his thoughts.
The plan he had was very well detailed, with its time counted. Allan seemed to be unaware of the rest of it, as Gérémi preferred to talk to him using a few phrases the "boy's brain was not able to decode". He wondered why Thompson couldn't understand those kinds of phases, or even metaphors. Retardation was not the answer, as he was able to obey each rule given.
Gérémi then snapped out of his mind when he heard a noise coming from another room. He went directly towards it, and closed the door.
Meanwhile, back in the Lieutenant's office, Captain Haddock's there. He seemed to be defending his friend. Bertotti, however, was using arguments, and the convincing ones, making Tintin look like the one they were searching. The psychological profile made by the psychologist working for the law had a perfect match on it.
The bearded sailor seemed not to give up as the things were getting a little shaky.
-That Rawlins man said something very offensive, blasphemous.- Haddock said with a defensive voice.- You'd react the same if someone offended you.-
-And by that you mean, very hurtful enough to kill someone?-
-Yes... I mean, no. Tintin knows how to control himself.-
-Sure? Then, why was he described to be the murderer?-
-I was there too. When I arrived, the alley was dark. I remember the police cars, and Rawlins' wife crying because of his death. Tintin is not the murderer. He was with me.-
-And how would he be with you if he was out?-
-What am I trying to say is that, after the party, I found him contemplating a lake. He looked like if he was crying. He then told me he felt bad because of telling Dan off.-
-I see. But then, why did he developed a grudge?-
-I already told you the lad got it because of that commentary.- said with a sad, yet defensive voice.- Tintin would never kill somebody. That's not him!-
-Captain Haddock,- the lieutenant continued.- the witnesses described Tintin as the murderer.-
-But what if they were scared enough not to remember the rest? I mean, there are a lot of red-heads with pale skin and medium-height.-
-Not at this time of the year, Captain.- the lieutenant said.- The airport has received just one red-hair, and that's your friend.-
-What if he's a local?-
-The last red-haired person we had around died after a prison fight a day before the murder.-
-It's a mistake! You're just searching excuses to make Tintin look like a culprit! I know him! Blistering Barnacles! He sends the criminals to justice, so why would he be one?-
-To cover himself, perhaps?- the female Italian asked.- There are many corrupted reporters nowadays, and what I know, your friend seems to be one.-
-Thundering Typhoons! Tintin's not a goddamn corrupt reporter!- the Captain cursed
-How could you know he's corrupted when you know almost nothing about him?-
-You're lying! I know Tintin very well! He's like a little brother to me!-
-At least you know where he is now?-
Suddenly, a cop entered.
-Lieutenant, here are the papers about the murder of a half-an-hour ago.- he said as he gave the reports.- All I know is that the victim was murdered in the same fashion as the Ying-Yang Boys.-
-Got a description of the killer?- she asked
-The witness' with the artist.- he replied.- The description of the killer is reddish hair, average height, pale skin, a baby-faced man, possibly from Belgium... the same as the murderer of the British men.-
The Captain's heart wanted to stop.
-Good. Now, If you excuse me...- she said
-Oh, sure!- the officer replied.- I'd be with the artist and the witness.- said as he left.
-So, you were saying?- the lieutenant asked to the sailor.
Then, the Captain recognized he was left out of arguments.
While having an internal fight, Captain Haddock was thinking on more arguments to defend his friend, but, even if he created one out of nowhere, knew the female Italian would "still be winning". He needed to admit it, the clues had sense.
The bearded sailor had to recognize it. He wanted to cry at the sudden realization of the clues. All of them were pointing Tintin: the description of the witnesses, his sudden leaving the party, the grudge, the repressed negative emotions such as sadness, anger, depression, the recent murder...
He couldn't stand it and directed his sight to the floor, showing he gave up on the arguments. Bertotti recognized it, and soon, the Captain was trying on not to cry. She saw the man was not able to believe his friend did an atrocity like that. She approached him, and the sailor directed his sight to her. His eyes were red-like, and there were signs of a few tears on his face.
-It can be...- the Captain continued.-
-I'm so sorry, Captain Haddock.- The lieutenant said.- You need to face the truth.- Tintin is the murderer of the Ying-Yang Boys.- said then with a sad voice.
And Haddock's tears left his eyes, rolling down from his now red cheeks.
-xxx-
A/N: I hope you like this!
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