Chapter X
Tintin Fugitive, part III
At the Sakharine Manor, Mr. and Mrs. Sakharine were playing chess, while the Captain was walking from a side to another and Snowy was taking a nap behind the couch, as Ivan forbid him to have contact with the furniture.
Haddock, instead of cursing a lot, he was starting to get worried, as he had not known about Tintin since the latter one slapped him. He now felt like garbage because he told the police where the lad was "hiding" moments before he, alongside the mansion owners, were put on house arrest, with five officers in each corner.
He couldn't stand being prisoner inside a place that made him think he was in the Renaissance. He was getting sick of it. The old sailor wanted to breathe the fresh air, have a walk, and buy more tobacco. The portions he brought were already over. He had the idea of staying in Italy for about four days, but, since the British men murderer was still on loose, and that happened to be Tintin (or at least for a great percent of the Europeans), neither he or Snowy, who appeared to have left the room, could leave from Italy, as it was under a red alert.
The work for the law body got heavier when Lt. Bertotti left, possibly to United Kingdom, to talk with the involved people in the case. The search of Tintin was getting annoying. The police started to mumble and curse the lad. At first, before seeing him as the culprit, they praised his talent on hiding and using disguises when being undercover, but now... they wish the Belgian reporter just appeared in front of them.
Just when the Captain was about to retire to the guest's room, he noted Snowy was no longer there.
-Has anyone seen Snowy?- the sailor asked.
-He's having a nap behind the couch.- Mrs. Sakharine replied as she moved a pawn
-He's not there.- the Captain replied.
-Don't stress yourself, Mr. Haddock.- Mr. Sakharine said as he moved his bishop to eat his wife's tower.- The dog cannot leave the place, remember?-
-In fact, none of us can.- Annia commented.- Maybe he's just stretching his legs in another room or something.-
-I just hope he doesn't leave those "gifts" in the house.- Ivan said as he returned his sight to the game.
Meanwhile, Snowy was near a backdoor, watching the officers. They looked so concentrated, yet, at the same time, bored of their work. The white dog was wondering how to escape. Not only because he was tired. He missed Tintin a lot.
Nobody knows where he is now.
Snowy started to think Tintin was either kidnapped by baddies, murdered and put in black-coloured plastic bags and thrown to the ocean, or committed suicide.
While thinking in even worse possibilities, the dog started to whimper until he felt asleep.
Like an hour later, while still in the same place where he fell asleep, Snowy was awaken by the sound of the garbage truck.
Then, a familiar smell stroked his nose.
-That smell...- Snowy said.- Could it be?-
The dog then concentrated in the scent.
-I knew it! It was Tintin's odour!-
But now, there was a problem: the officers.
The dog then saw his opportunity to escape when he spotted one of the trash cans was being taken by the men.
The dog then jumped into it and stood there while he was being taken to the truck.
After a while later, Snowy then left the garbage truck before he was spotted, and managed to finally escape from that area.
-Now I'll search Tintin.-
The white dog tried to locate his master's odour with the hopes to be reunited with him once again.
-xxx-
Two days later, the ship finally arrived to Florida.
The people were leaving the S.S. Elizabeth. They were breathing the American air. Some of them had a giant smile on their faces.
-Thanks a lot for the things you did for me back in the ship.- Tintin said
-It was an honour to meet you, Jean-Pierre.- Dmitri said.- I hope you could find your place.-
-I wish that, too.-
-Oh, there's something I want you to have!.-
-What is it?-
Dmitri then opened one of his suitcases, and took from it an exact replica of the Agora ship in scale, inside the classic glass bottle.
-A ship?-
-It's a replica of one of Europe's most famous ships.- Dmitri replied.- I made it myself.-
-It looks so... professional. Tintin said very surprised as he examined the model.- It looks like it was made from a machine... are you sure you want me to keep it?-
-Go ahead. I can make another. It's my favourite hobby.-
-Thank you.- said as he was putting the model in his suitcase.- And thanks for all.-
-You're welcome. See you next time!- Dmitri said as he left.
Tintin did the same, but, to the offices of migration/immigration.
-xxx-
At the same time, back in Palermo, Thomson and Thompson were still in Lt. Bertotti's office, thinking about where in the world Tintin could be. Nobody has seen him in days.
-Any idea of where Tintin is?- one of them asked
-He might not have escaped from Italy. The entire nation is on red alert.-
-To be precise, he's around us. But, where?-
Then, they heard someone knocked the door.
-Come in.- both said at unison.
It was an officer.
-Sirs, there's this female who wants to see you.- the male in uniform said.- She says it has to do with the case.-
-Send her in.- Thompson said.
The female entered then to the office as the cop left to his work. She was a female in her late teens. She had short, dark-coloured hair, hazel eyes, and her skin had a tone similar to the detectives.
-Good evening, young miss.- one of them greeted her.
-As the officer said, you have something to tell us.- Is that true?-
-Well...- she said in a shy-like voice.- My name is Diane, and there's something you forgot.-
-And what is that, can we know?- Thompson asked
-Is it something real or something false?- Thomson added
-A lie or the truth?- the other continued
-It's the truth.- Diane continued.- It happens there's one witness more.-
The Thom(p)sons then stood with a confused expression, as there was no evidence of another witness. Wanting to know if whatever Diane was going to say was either a lie or not, they continued asking her questions.
-And that witness...- Thomson said.-... happens to be you?-
-Oh, no.- Diane replied.- It's my grandmother.-
-And why were we not told about this?- they asked at unison with a wondering-like voice
-I didn't want to make a fool of myself.- She explained.- You see, after that horrendous event of the murder of the Ying-Yang Boys happened, my grandmother slipped and then I was told she was in the hospital. I waited for a long while until she finally recovered her memory. She has a photographic one, and, an hour ago, I checked her and asked her if she still remembers the last thing she saw before having that accident. She told me about it and... the way she described the murder was... she thinks they were shot in an strategic point... the murderer left them agonizing...- then, tears started to leave her eyes.
-I think that's enough.- Thomson said.- Try to calm yourself down and clean those tears.-
-Take us where your grandmother is.- Thompson said.- We'd like to talk with her.-
-Thank you so much.- Diane said.- And take the artist with you. My grandma also claims to have seen the murderer's face.-
-Let's go.- Thomson said.
-To be precise, let's go.- the other one added.
And everybody left the office.
-xxx-
The place was not as crowded as he pictured it in his mind.
After a few minutes, he found a line, with few people, and, because of hearing what were they saying, figured out it was where he will get his American name and citizenship.
-Name?- the man wearing a uniform asked to the man.-
-Benedict Radcliffe.-
-Roger Wright.- replied as he stamped a bunch of papers and gave it to the now Mr. Wright.- Welcome to America.- then, he left, and the next came.- Name?-
-Robert Fish.-
-Richard Tracy. Welcome to America. Name?-
-Anna Fibonacci.-
-Elizabeth Virgin. Welcome to America. Name?-
-Joseph Harrington.-
-Desmond Quinn. Welcome to America. Name?-
It was finally Tintin's turn.
-Jean-Pierre Talbot.-
-Salomon Goldstein. Welcome to America.-
And Tintin couldn't believe it.
He was just a few "signatures and photos" away from being an American, but, he couldn't feel what he wanted.
He sighed and walked away to where he needed to complete the movements to be another person.
Is this what everybody calls "The American Dream"? Running away from your family, from who you are, from your past, your origins? The lad said in his mind while trying to "recover a smile"... but...
Now, he really regretted what he did.
Running away was not the solution.
This is not really what I want. He continued. My family has sacrificed a lot for me, and they might be worried now. What might the Captain be doing now? Searching me? Is he really worried? Is my father right about him?
The guilt feeling started to bug him once again. Tintin started to think it once again. He was not aware Snowy ran away from the Manor to search him, and, possibly, there was somebody else out there who was going to clear his name.
In the first place, why did he let that negative state to take over him? Was just because of the fight he had with his human best friend? Or because nobody believes him?
Whatever the reason was, he had the fault on letting that in.
To disappear or not?
The reporter was always proud of whom he was, and all what he did to be what he is (or was). He wanted to start over again, to evade the mistakes, but, in a sense, it was impossible. Bad things happen, and so good the good ones. The life has its mysterious ways. He remembers hearing once that letting negative emotions made people to do regretful things.
He recognizes he was failing as a "role model". The people who still admired him will be disappointed when they happen to learn the reporter they loved turned into a coward, a loser who failed to prove his innocence.
A failure.
Tintin then remembered his parents' talk with him back in the boat. Even if they were dead, they "appeared in front of him" to help him recognize what he was really doing: repeating the cycle all-over again.
Who was he?
Augustin van Kuifje.
Not Salomon Goldstein, not Jean-Pierre Talbot, and, absolutely not a Mennonite.
After having an inner war, Tintin recovered his smile, his determination and, realizing he was still on time to go back, the Belgian reporter threw the papers to the trash can and searched for an airport, knowing a plane was way faster than a ship.
-xxx-
The detectives, the artist, and Diane finally arrived to the latter's grandmother's house.
It was just a few meters from the crime scene.
While on their way, Thomson and Thompson were starting to make connections with the British men case. It started to make sense, and, a lot. They were now not really sure why the papers, clues, and witnesses were pointing Tintin as the murderer.
But, for now, they were not able to take a conclusion, as they needed to confirm the old lady's version. If it had sense and coincided with what Diane said to them, it then meant that they will need to study the papers carefully. If it resulted in a lie, they weren't sure what to do. Possibly a month or more in jail for both females because of lying to the system.
-We're here.- Diane said as she opened the door.
-You have keys for it?- one of them asked
-Of course!- she replied.- My parents are in their business trip and I decided to take care of my grandmother in the meantime.- she continued.- I don't like to be alone.-
-Oh, we understand.- Thomson said as he, Thompson, and the artist were entering to the house.
They were now in, and the house seemed to be "minimalist". There were a few decorations in the white surroundings. The couches were brown-coloured, and there was a little table in the middle of the living room.
-Grandma!- Diane said.- We're here!-
Suddenly, an old lady, probably around her late seventies, appeared in the living room. She had white hair, glasses, and was using a walking cane.
-Oh, you're finally here!- the old female greeted and then she turned her sight to the detectives and artist.- And you must be the detectives.-
-Precisely.- Thompson said.- And this is Angela Black, the reconstruction artist.-
-My name is Daniella Ferrero, and it's nice to meet you.- the old lady said
-Your granddaughter has told us you remember the events of the murder of the British men.- Thomson said.
-Oh, yes, it's true.- Said as she was sitting down.
-Do you want a cup of tea?- Diane asked to the detectives and artist.
-No, thank you.- the three replied
-Well, about that event...- said Daniella as she cleared her throat.- It was a fresh night. I left the store with two bags of meat I bought to make my granddaughter her favourite dish. Suddenly, a man, probably a butler because of the clothes he was wearing, offered himself to help be with the bags, as he thought those were a little heavy. I couldn't say no to that. No one before has offered to help me when Diane's not around.- she continued.- Then, when we reached the house, one of the bags was starting to drip, and that red liquid was staining the man's pants. I told him to go back to his house immediately, after I thanked him for the help, of course, because the streets get dangerous and people will think he killed somebody if they appeared to see his pants.-
-And what happened later?- Thompson asked.
-Hmm... oh, yes!- the old lady continued.- As I saw him going to the store instead of going home, the lights started to get weaker. At the same time, the British duo with the most ridiculous name ever, appeared, and discussing about something. The brown-haired one looked very scared, and was trying to convince his friend to return. After their discussion continued, I saw him. The murderer. I plucked up some courage and followed them, with the idea of offering them a shelter. The murderer then stopped in, and so do I, because, the light let me to watch his face. I decided to run with caution, as I still had my meat bags. But, the first thing I heard, were shots. I don't know why, but I looked and...- she then tried to control herself.- I saw it. The men were left agonizing, suffering from the pain that despicable red-head did to them. The first one to abandon the world was the raven-haired one. The other was trying to get into his feet to search for help, but, then...- Daniella was starting to cry.- ... he instantly fell, and tried to go back to his friend. The last thing the poor man did was taking his deceased pal's hand. I saw then two officers, and I ran as fast as I could, but then, I fell.- she continued.- I woke up at the hospital, and Diane was at my side.- said as she took her granddaughter's hand.- She told me what happened, and I ended telling her all what I told you.-
The dim-witted detectives realized the story fit perfectly with the clues and reports of the officers involved in the case.
-One more question.- Angela said.- Is this man the murderer?- asked as she showed a sketch of Tintin.
-Hmm...- Daniella replied.- He has a little resemblance to your man, but... I was wondering...-
-Yes?- the artist asked
-May I make a few modifications to the drawing?- the kindly old lady asked to Angela.
-Sure.- she replied as she gave her Tintin's portrait, the eraser, and the pencil.
-Thank you.- Daniella replied and proceeded to alter the portrait.
She then looked once again to Tintin's face, and started to give the modifications as she was describing him.
-The eyes of your man are brown, not greyish blue. The "tone of the red hair" is correct, but, the man had around an inch more of hair, light-coloured, small sideburns, the head's shape is not that round, it's also a little square-ish... he also possesses a a not so pronounced chin... the colour of the skin is fine... the nose is a little rough...- she said.
As she continued altering the drawing, everybody was amazed. Maybe because she was an old, fragile lady, the police thought Daniella was not going to remember what happened that night, resulting in not being counted as a witness. Too bad she resulted to be "the one".
After a few minutes, she finally finished.
-There's your murderer.- She said as she showed the murderer's portrait.
The detectives were surprised, as they were not expecting that man to be the murderer.
-It's impossible!- Thompson exclaimed.
-To be precise...- Thomson continued.- It can't be!-
- It really can be, detectives.- Daniella continued with a serious-like voice.- This man is your murderer. Joshua Vlamynck, the "Tiger of Brussels".-
-xxx-
A/N: I hope you liked this. And I also hope the winners (Daniella the muggle and Commander Pinkie Pie) have enjoyed their cameos.
Maybe in the remaining chapters you might make another appearance, I'm not sure, to be precise xD
I'd be into a medical treatment for a few days and I won't be able to write the next chapter. So, stay tuned if something happens c: If there's a chance, I'd be replying the comments via iPhone.
If there's something OOC, please tell me so I can fix it!
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