Chapter XVII
It all Ends
Meanwhile, Joshua, Luciano, and Gérémi appear to have paralyzed because of the sound of the Manhattan revolver.
-They're already here!- Joshua sort of panicked.
-Don't make a single noise and they won't find out we're still here.- Luciano hissed
-I cannot take this pressure anymore!- the young man said
-Stop acting like that!- Gérémi ordered.- Trust me, you'll no longer feel guilty once we arrive to the submarine.-
-Is that true?- Joshua asked
-I'm a man of word.- the old French nodded.
Joshua smiles a bit.
-Thank you.- he said
-Now you're fine, let's keep moving. I don't know how much time Dorian will need to get rid of everyone.- the old Italian said
They keep moving forward.
-xxx-
Skinner gets up and tries to wake Doppler up.
He saddens and tries not to cry once he realizes Harold Doppler is no longer with them.
-That should teach him to mind his own business, Commissioner.- Dorian said.- Now, talking about business...- he says as he points his revolver to Skinner
He's about to pull his trigger, until a familiar white dog appears and bites his arm.
-GAAAAH! Stupid dog!- Dorian yelled
The gangster shakes his arm and Snowy falls. At the same time, both gangsters and officers start to engage in a fight. The Captain is still protecting Tintin, who is now awake, and less "lifeless" than before.
-Captain?- He asked
-Lad! You're alive!- The old sailor said as he hugged this best fried
-Be careful, Captain.- he said.- It hurts.-
Snowy starts to bark and approaches his owner.
-Snowy!- Tintin greeted him and hugs him.- I missed you so much! Where were you?-
-Captain Haddock used me as a diversion if that's enough for you. -Snowy 'said'.- Believe me; you won't like to hear the rest of the story...-
-Captain, how did you recognize me?- Tintin wondered
-The denim clothes, Tintin.- He replied.- You bought them for a future disguise before leaving to Palermo.-
-But the hair...-
-I saw a small piece of hair near the washstand. And the bottle of hair-dye had signs of being recently used. You're smart, lad. But not the enough to fool me.- Captain Haddock said with pride
-Oh, Captain!- Tintin said as he hugged the sailor
A while later, more officers appear and start to shoot M99 tranquilizers to Gérémi's men and officers. They start to fall one by one to the floor. Skinner and Anderson turn their heads to see Detective Keenan and the rest of the Commissioners standing in front of them.
-How did you know?- Anderson wondered
-I made a call earlier to the station. I thought one team wouldn't be enough for 'taking care of the pests'.- Keenan said.- And I think I was right.- He turns his head to the floor and sees he's stepping on blood. He then sees where it's coming.- What the hell happened here?-
-He saved me.- Commissioner Skinner said with a breaking voice.- One of the corrupt officers was going to shoot me, and Harold pushed me. He ended being killed in my place.-
-I'm sorry.- an empathic Keenan said.
-He's fine.- The approaching Captain said.- Tintin's still alive.-
-That's good to know.- Detective Keenan said.- Mr. Tintin, I have the right to inform you that you're...-
Suddenly, a shot is heard.
-What was that?- one of the commissioners asked
Then, another shot sound followed.
-Right this way!- Another commissioner said.
Everybody left but one Commissioner and the cops.
-Let's send these bastards behind the bars.- Rossi ordered.- We don't know how much time we have before the effects start to fade.-
-What about the dead detective?- one of them asked
Another shot is heard.
-I'll take him.- the Commissioner said
The officers take the unconscious men and the Commissioner takes Doppler's corpse and leaves the silver room.
-xxx-
The group finally arrive and horrify when they see Joshua Vlamynck and Luciano DiLeo were shot dead. Gérémi sees he's cornered. No escape this time.
-Hands up, Bonilla.-Detective Keenan said at the same time he points his gun.- It's over.-
-It's not over, Detective.- he replied with a smile at the same time he took a gun from Luciano's pocket.- It's hardly beginning.-
-Put the gun down!- Detective Keenan ordered.- This is no time to fool out!-
-Who said I was going to fool around? Everything went as planned.- he said as he aimed his gun to his head.
-Don't even think of it!- Commissioner Anderson said.
Gérémi chuckles.
-Silly detectives. Don't you see it? My plan was not sending myself to America. The products are already on their way.- he replied
-What do you mean with that?- one of the commissioners asked
-This is another diversion. And you can't do anything. I won.- Gérémi chuckled at the same time he moved his gun a bit lower, down his ear.- The Ying-Yang Boys were the only ones who discovered my plan. Allan managed to help Joshua escape from prison, using a few papers Dorian stole from the Lieutenant's office. Since I also had the urge to avenge "The Circle of Paris", the group you killed, I convinced Luciano to join forces with me and to invite you to his birthday party. Earlier that day, Dorian talked with Dan Rawlins, and you know what he said to him.- he grinned
-That's why Dan didn't appear to know what he said was a blasphemy! An insult to Belgium!- Tintin exclaimed in anger.- Dorian told him to tell me that!-
-You got angry enough to kill.- Gérémi smirked
-But I didn't kill anybody.- Tintin defended himself
-That's why Joshua left earlier and killed the Ying-Yang Boys. There's a resemblance between him and you.- The old French replied.- That was a good advantage.-
-How did you know he did his job?- Tintin asked
-He used the reflections of the lights to send me a signal. Pretty smart, huh?- Gérémi replied
Tintin has a sudden flashback. He remembers Joshua had a mirror with him the same day he tried to use a trick to confuse him with the 'resemblance' thing.
-Wait, why was Dmitri Sakharine involved with this?- Captain Haddock asked
-Luciano is a family friend, you know. He told me Dmitri was the only one in his family who loathed Dan Rawlins with a passion. I planned to frame him first to distract the police, then, the witnesses came later. They were all Luciano's henchmen.- Gérémi replied
-You knew there were more witnesses, right? Angela Black? Daniella Ferrero?- Commissioner Skinner asked to him
-Those women are no longer a problem, Commissioner.- He said as he aimed his gun to his head.- I said no one was going to get me alive. And since the plan succeeded, and the narcotics are in their way to the Americas, I have to leave this place, with victory.-
-Wait! Don't!- Detective Keenan said as Gérémi pulled the trigger.
-xxx-
Five hours later, the white house was seized by the police. One by one, the officers are taking out the bodies inside black, plastic bags and the narcotics. The police cars were leaving in groups, the detectives and commissioners were being interviewed by different reporters, and Ms. Black is waiting inside Detective Keenan's car, along with Detective Cambridge, who was interviewed earlier.
-xxx-
Tintin is in the hospital. Captain Haddock is in his side. He's reading the newspaper and chewing tobacco.
A couple of minutes later, Ivan and Annia Sakharine arrive.
-Hello, Mr. Tintin.- Mr. Sakharine greets.- How are you feeling?-
-Better.- he replied
-I always knew you were innocent.- Mrs. Sakharine said as she gave the reporter a bunch of white flowers.- All in the family knew you were innocent.-
-Thanks a lot, Mrs. Sakharine.- he said as he sniffed the flowers.- And thanks for the flowers. They smell very nice.-
Mrs. Sakharine giggles.
-I'm sorry to ask this, but, how's Bonnelyn?- Tintin asked
-She's progressing.- Mr. Sakharine replied.- We sent her to stay with her grandparents in Russia for a time. We think that can help. She loves them, anyways. Losing a beloved one is something they have experienced before. Bonnie's in good hands.-
-I see.- Tintin replied.- Did you receive a letter from Dmitri or something?-
-So far no.- he replied.- But I think I know what he's doing: pursuing his dream of becoming a famous painter.-
-I think he can become more than a painter, you know, like a sculptor or a model maker. I've seen his work.- Tintin said.- He has a talent.-
-It's strange, but I don't know why I have the feeling that you two already met.- Mr. Sakharine said
-Well, let's say I did met him once, ready to begin his own journey.- Tintin giggled
Suddenly, Bianca Castafiore stormed into the room and hugged the recovering reporter.
-Oh, Tenten! I was so worried! I heard everything in the news!- she said as she was bear-hugging him.
-Madame...- Tintin said.-... I think you're breaking one of my bones or more!-
-Sorry, Tintan!- She apologized as she stopped hugging him and then turned to Captain Haddock.- Oh, Captain Bardock! You were so brave! You helped to save Tintin!- She said as she started to bear-hug him.
-Signora, I think you're going to break my ribs if you continue bear-hugging me!- The Captain protested
-Sorry, Captain Mamok!- She apologized again.- It's just I'm flooded with emotions! I'm so happy you two are okay! Not literally, but okay!- she then kisses him in the cheek like a crazy fangirl at the same time the sailor urges her to stop the embarrassing moment.
The Sakharines see this and start to giggle.
The Thom(p)sons finally arrive with a few papers. Noting by their expressions, it seems they're here to bring good news.
-Hi detectives.- Tintin greeted.- Is there something you want to tell me?-
-Technically, yes.- Thomson said
-To be precise...- Thompson added.- Yes, technically.-
-In the name of Interpol, we apologize for all the problems we caused you.- one of them said
-And the fact we added you to the fingerprint and criminal records.- the another said
-What?!- he exclaimed
-But, given that the situation, you were erased from the database...- Thompson said
-...Since you were framed by a crime you didn't commit.- Thomson continued.
-In other words...-
-...It's like we never added you to Interpol's database.-
-So, I can leave Italy, right?- Tintin asked
-Yes, and no.- the dim-witted detectives said
-No? Why?- he wondered
-You cannot leave. Not in that condition, young man!- Thomson said
Everybody laughs.
The next afternoon, the local newspapers, the TV news, the radio, and the people's conversations were about how they were accusing him as a murderer.
"Ying-Yang Boys murder solved. Tintin is innocent."
"United Kingdom apologizes to Belgian Reporter"
"Gérémi Bonilla commits suicide"
"Italian businessman Luciano DiLeo was involved with the mobs"
"Cecilia DiLeo: Italy's richest woman."
"I was not aware of what he was really doing: Cecilia DiLeo"
Because Tintin is a fast-healer, he was released from the hospital earlier that day. He, Captain Haddock, and Snowy were ready to return to Marlinspike.
They go to the Sakharine Manor to pack their things, and they spend the rest of the day exploring the surroundings.
Around 8:00 p.m., they wave to the Sakharines one more time and take a taxi to go to the airport.
Two hours later, the plane leaves Palermo.
While everyone's sleeping, including the Captain, Tintin takes the black book and starts to read it one more time.
A smile is drawn in his face once he realizes he finished his father's work. However, having something like Remy's book is dangerous. He preferred not to imagine what would happen if it lands in the hands of another mobster, since it also included tips on how to evade the police, protecting the identity, and faking very important documents.
Why did he have that information written? It's quite simple. He was helping the police how to tell if a document, like a passport, is false. In case of the evasion, it was for his own good. Many cops were not aware of his existence as an informant infiltrated in the mafia. The identity protection was obvious. He had to handle 3 identities at the same time: Remy van Kuifje with his family, Remy van Kieckens with the police, and Georges van Prosper with the gangsters.
Tintin starts to think what to do with the book. He puts it away and falls asleep.
-xxx-
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter!
First of all, sorry I'm taking long about updating this fanfic. I haven't got reviews and I'm sort of leaving the fandom. It's getting over-populated.
If there was something OOC, please tell me so I can fix it!
If I have grammatical mistakes please tell me (and where are they xD)!
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