Monday, April 12th
Luke Brown’s home, 8:20 am
Daisy got up a little later, because she knew that the Trattoria was closed on Monday. She wanted to ask Anna if she needed help with her cooking lesson for children, but she thought she was too upset, and she needed some time to talk to her dad and to reveal what she had heard and seen. It would be a blow for her father, but she wanted to finally have it out. She was sure there was a logical explanation, and everything would go back to normal, or, at least, she could find her peace of mind.
She saw her grandmother in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She wasn’t surprised not to see her father, because he had told her he would have a few days off, and he was used to sleeping late when he was on vacation.
Her grandmother’s serious countenance alarmed her, however, and she asked anxiously:
“Grandma, is dad still asleep?”
She was trying hard to smile and to think positive, even if the remembrance of the previous day’s drama was still vivid in her mind.
Her grandmother poured coffee into two cups and sat down. She looked worriedly at her granddaughter, she sighed deeply and she said:
“Your father didn't come home last night!”
“What?” A sense of impending danger pervaded her, and she had to sit down, because her legs were trembling beneath her. She tried to think, and not to give in to panic, when she said, making a great effort to sound calmer than in reality she was:
“He is certainly with his friends. You know that he sometimes goes away for a few days with them when he is on vacation!”
Her grandmother couldn’t help saying:
“But he has always told you before leaving, Daisy!” She knew that she didn’t sound comforting or encouraging, but she was too worried. They were both worried and desperate, because they had perceived something different and even frightening in Luke Brown’s behavior in the last period. He was nervous, he was always distracted, the only thing that seemed to matter to him was that imposed lie, which was becoming a nightmare and a constant torment.
Daisy took out her mobile phone and dialed her father’s number. The call went to voicemail immediately. Daisy left a message, trying to keep her voice steady: “Dad, why aren’t you at home? Call me soon, I am worried sick!”
She buried her head in her hands, and she started sobbing. Her grandmother came to sit next to her, and put a hand around the girl’s shoulders. After Daisy had calmed down a little, Louise said carefully:
“Daisy, let’s wait for a few hours, then we will call your policemen friends, ok?”
Daisy nodded slowly. She didn’t want to think that it would be necessary to call them, she still hoped her dad would show up before lunch…
***
Rosary hospital, 8:45 am
“Hi, Billy, what’s up?”
“Hi, Neil, I wanted to tell you that they called us to the hospital here in town this morning. A young girl has been brought here. She is unconscious with a bad concussion on her head. She didn’t have any documents on her…”
“Where was she found?”
“She was found just outside Rosary, on the motorway, that’s why they have brought her here!...” He paused, but Neil perceived there was something more that Billy hadn’t told him yet, something more important. “Neil, when I saw her, for a moment… Oh, my God, for a moment I was sure she was Daisy… Same hair color, same nose shape, I don’t know. John said he had the same first impression.” Neil was listening intently, but he didn’t say anything. Billy went on: “We were so worried that I called Daisy a few minutes ago. I didn’t tell her anything about this girl at the hospital. I just wanted to know if she is fine. She is at home with her grandmother, but she is scared, because her father didn’t go home last night. She has tried to call him, but he hasn’t answered so far…”
Neil said: “You have to find out who that poor girl is. And we have to find Daisy’s father, because he is completely out of control, and I have a hunch that there is much more at stake than that kidnapping he refuses to talk about. Let me know what the doctors tell you, ok? I will be in Rosary in the afternoon, and I will go straight to the hospital.”
“Ok, Neil. I will call Lisa to tell her about Daisy. I think she needs all the support she can get, and today the Trattoria is closed.”
“If you need anything, call me, Billy… See you!”
***
While Billy and John were waiting to talk to a doctor, David called from the police station.
“Hi, John.”
“Hi, David, any news about the identity of the girl?”
“Yes, they have just called from the police station in St. John. This morning the grandfather and the mother of a 20-year-old girl called to report the girl has been missing since yesterday afternoon, a certain Rachel Murray. They sent us a photo. I am forwarding it to Billy’s phone.” Billy's mobile phone vibrated, he opened his email, and the image of a pretty girl with soft brown hair appeared. She could have been Daisy’s sister, because they had similar traits. The only different thing was the color of their eyes, because the girl in the photo had gray eyes, while Daisy had light brown eyes. Anyway, she was certainly the girl who had been taken to hospital.
John asked: “Do you know anything about the girl? We confirm that the girl here in the hospital is the one in the photo, but … who is she?”
“Her name is Rachel Murray. She is twenty years old. She lives just outside St. John, in a villa that belongs to her mother’s family. Her grandfather is Vincent Clancy, the owner and manager of a big building firm, maybe one of the largest and most important in New Brunswick. She lives with her parents, Brian and Olivia Murray, and her grandfather. I will call immediately to confirm the identification. Have you talked to the doctors?”
“Not yet! We are waiting for them, also because we want to learn if she just lost her balance and fell, or if there was foul play… But, where are her documents? And how did she arrive there? Did she walk on the motorway? It is not believable…”
“Ok, keep me posted! I will ask to talk to the parents!”
***
Anna’s apartment, 11:30 am
Since the Trattoria was closed, Anna was taking the opportunity to tidy up her apartment. She was dusting the furniture in the living room, when the phone rang. She sat down on the sofa, and she answered:
“Hello!”
She immediately recognized the anguished voice at the other end of the line, who was talking so softly, that, at the beginning, she wasn’t able to understand clearly.
“Louise, what’s the matter? Why are you so upset?”
“Oh, Anna, I don’t know what to do. Lisa and Denise are here with Daisy, but she keeps on crying… Anna, do you know if something has happened? Billy called this morning to ask if Daisy is alright. He sounded worried…”
“Louise, I don’t know anything, but why is Daisy crying?”
“Yesterday afternoon … Oh, by the way, I am sorry for my son-in-law’s behavior yesterday…” Anna wanted to intervene, but she realized that it was difficult for her friend to gather her thoughts, and she decided not to interrupt. “Yesterday afternoon they came home. Luke was incredibly nervous. He went to his room, and, after a while, he took his car and drove away without a word, without any explanation. We thought he would come back, and Daisy was waiting for him to talk about his behavior in the last period.” She had to pause, and Anna could see that the agitation was taking hold.
She said soothingly:
“Louise, please calm down. I am here whenever you need to talk, and I am sure that your son-in-law has problems at work, that he has discussed with someone. He will soon go back to his usual self, and Daisy will be able to talk to him…”
“But he hasn’t come back home since yesterday!”
Now Anna was alarmed, and she was sure something was wrong.
“What did Billy say when he called?”
“He simply asked Daisy if she was ok. He sounded relieved to be able to talk to her. That’s why I thought something has happened, and they don’t want to tell us.”
“I don’t know anything, Louise. Neil is at the training center on Monday morning, and I haven’t heard from him or his colleagues. Shall I come to you?”
“No, now the girls are here, and they are doing their best to comfort Daisy… We wanted to wait until lunch time to call the police, but, when he called, Daisy couldn’t help telling Billy about Luke. He told her to wait for a few hours and, if he still isn’t home, to call him or Neil.”
“Follow his advice, Louise. Try not to worry. Neil and his friends are good policemen. They will get to the bottom of this, and they will find Luke, don’t worry…”
“But what’s going on in his head? He has never had an easy personality, but he has never behaved like this. He has always been loving and caring with his daughter… And now? What’s going on, Anna?”
“He certainly has problems or something that worries him. I wish he had opened up to you or to Daisy… But he loves his daughter, and I am sure he will never make her suffer voluntarily…” Anna thought for a few moments and said in an encouraging tone: “Louise, if you need me, you know I can come to you at any time! And don’t worry, Billy knows about Luke. He will certainly be looking for him…”
When she ended the phone call, Anna turned to look at the photo of a smiling young priest on her credenza.
“Please, Luca! You have always helped families in need. Help Louise and Daisy. Guide Neil towards the truth about their predicament…” She always felt comforted by the certainty that her son was beside her and was listening to her prayers.
***
Rosary hospital, 2:30 pm
Neil went straight to the hospital from the training center. Billy had informed him about the identity of the girl, and about the fact that she was still unconscious. She was undergoing an operation to reset her ankle that she had broken in her fall. The police of St. John had found the girl's car parked in a layby on the road a few miles before the place where she was found. In the car they had found her bag and her documents.
When the elevator stopped and the sliding doors opened, he saw a long corridor ahead of him, with rooms on the right and on the left. Everything was still, and only a few nurses were going in and out of the rooms, with medical records in their hands. He walked to the end of the corridor, where he had already seen John and Steve with a tall elderly man and a beautiful woman. The woman was visibly upset, and the old man was supporting her, holding an arm around her waist. A doctor was talking to them. They all turned when they saw Neil approach them.
Steve told the old man:
“Mr Clancy, this is Inspector McKinley.”
The man shook hands with the tall policeman, who asked immediately, turning to the doctor.
“How is she?”
“We have reset her ankle. She suffered a severe concussion, and unfortunately she was not found immediately. There is a large hematoma on the back of her head.”
“Is the concussion compatible with the fall?”
The old man interrupted:
“What are you trying to say, Inspector? That it was not an accident? That someone wanted to hurt Rachel?”
Neil tried to choose his words carefully, when he answered:
“Mr. Clancy, we have to consider all the possibilities. Why had she parked her car and left her bag? Why was she alone on the motorway?” She noticed that the woman’s discomfort was increasing, and that she was looking more and more frightened. He took her by the arm and led her to a chair. He crouched down in front of her, and he told her calmly:
“Mrs Murray, I am sorry, but we have to be sure there isn’t anyone out there who wants to hurt your daughter. Now she is here, and the doctors will take care of her. I am sure she will regain consciousness, and she will be able to tell us what happened…” He smiled encouragingly, even if the poor woman kept on shaking her head.
“The doctor has just told us that she is in a coma and the next hours will be crucial. She is not out of danger, is she, Doctor?”
The doctor smiled feebly and answered, choosing his words carefully:
“At the moment she isn’t out of danger, but, as I have told you, she is young and in good health, and we hope the hematoma will absorb on its own, and will relieve the pressure on her brain.”
Neil stood up and asked the man:
“Mr Clancy, they have told me that Mr Murray lives with you…” The worried glance father and daughter exchanged was more eloquent than words.
Mr Clancy recovered his composure and said:
“We are trying to reach him, but he is a traveling salesman and …. Maybe he is on a plane or somewhere where there is no signal…” Neil perceived that mentioning Murray had increased the tension. He decided to let it go for the moment.
“Mrs Murray,” he asked kindly. His soothing deep voice had been able to calm the woman a little. She turned to him, and he asked, as gently as he could: “Can you think of someone who may want to harm your daughter?” He noticed the startled gaze, and he hastened to add: “I know it sounds absurd, but I have to ask, Madam…”
He saw that Mr Clancy sat down and took a deep breath. His daughter looked at him apprehensively and took his hand: “Dad, are you alright?” He nodded, and she turned back to the policeman. “I can’t think of anyone who could do such a horrible thing, and you, dad?”
Mr Clancy shook his head slowly, but Neil was sure that he knew something he couldn’t or didn’t want to tell them. He thought he would talk to the old man later, maybe without the presence of Mrs Murray.
At that moment, a nurse came to tell them that they had brought Rachel to a room, and that they could see her. Father and daughter followed the nurse. Neil remained with his colleagues and, when they were alone, he said:
“What do you think, guys?”
Steve said: “They are certainly worried for the girl. That is understandable, but, when we mentioned Rachel’s father earlier, and when you asked about him a few moments ago, they got visibly nervous.”
The doctor approached them, and he said:
“Inspector, you have asked if the concussion is compatible with the fall.”
Neil raised an eyebrow and waited for the answer:
“I didn’t know if I could talk about it in front of the girl’s family, but the concussion is very serious, and on her arms there are bruises, as if someone had held her tight … But, to answer your question, no, in my opinion, she must have been pushed…”
The policemen exchanged a glance, and Neil told the doctor:
“For the time being, don’t stress this possibility with the relatives of the girl. They are frightened, and it is useless to increase their concern, until we have investigated further.”
When the doctor had left, Neil said:
“I must go to take a shower and to drive Amy to Anna’s. Please, Steve, try to find out everything you can about Brian Murray and … and Luke Brown.”
John’s eyes widened, and he asked:
“Why Luke Brown, Neil? Do you think there is a connection?”
“Yes, I think there is a strong connection! He disappeared yesterday, and I want to find him soon…”
***
Anna’s Trattoria, 4:30 pm
Sixteen boys and girls were sitting in the spacious kitchen of the Trattoria in front of a map of Italy, pasted on a board. Anna indicated a point on the map in the North of the peninsula, and started to explain:
“Today we are going to prepare a cake typical of this famous town, Verona. Verona is popular, not only because it is a beautiful town, but also for the story of Romeo and Juliet. Have any of you heard about this story?”
A little girl called Alice said:
“Our teacher told us that they were a boy and a girl, they were young, and they wanted to get married but their families didn’t want them to, because they were enemies. In the end Romeo and Juliet married in secret, but then they died, because they couldn’t live together…”
Alan intervened:
“But our teacher told us that their parents understood that it was all their fault and made peace!”
Anna smiled and said:
“Yes, we don’t know if the story was true, but the disagreements between families, the rivalries because of money, greed and revenge were frequent, and they often caused useless tragedies and suffering. Verona is the town of one of the typical Christmas cakes, pandoro, but today we are going to prepare another very popular cake, la torta russa di Verona, The Russian Cake of Verona.”
Jim asked immediately:
“Why Russian? Do Russian people live in Italy?”
“No, Jim. I mean, some Russian people come to live in my country, in the same way I have come to live here. But this is not the reason for the name of the cake. There are two explanations for this strange name. According to tradition, the form of the cake reminds of the typical bearskin hat worn by Russian people in winter. Some people prefer another more romantic explanation: a pastry cook from Verona, who worked on cruise ships, dedicated this cake to a beautiful girl he had met in Odessa, a town that was, at that time, in Russian territory. Which explanation do you prefer?”
Giulia answered: “The second. Did the chef marry the girl?”
“We don’t know, Giulia, but I think she must have certainly appreciated her admirer’s gift…”
She gestured towards the large table where the cooking stations had already been carefully prepared. The children saw a sheet of puff pastry wrapped in baking paper. They scrutinized the contents of the various glass bowls. Jennifer and Silvia had filled them with flour, sugar, butter, salt, icing sugar, eggs. Almonds had already been grinded and macaroons had already been crumbled by the women and mixed in a bowl. Anna explained what the children had to do, and they got to work.
Amy had gained a little confidence. She was always at Giulia’s side, and she worked with great attention. Giulia was the right cooking mate for her, because she never touched her, and she spoke to her friend with a gentle voice. The little orphan never smiled, but it was evident that she liked the idea of cooking, and she visibly cherished the moment of the tasting, when she could sit next to Neil.
While the children were decorating their cakes and cleaning their cooking stations, Anna went to welcome their relatives, who were sitting at the various tables. Since Amy and other orphans had started to cook with the children of the community, Neil had got used to accompanying her and to sitting next to his colleague John and Silvia’s husband Mark.
Anna came into the dining room and announced to everyone:
“Thank you for coming and for your enthusiasm. I wanted to tell you that next Monday we will be at the orphanage for our cooking lesson. Every month a lesson will be held there, as I had already told you…”
She went from table to table to say hello to everyone. Then she went to sit with John, Neil and Mark. Neil smiled warmly at the woman, and asked:
“How are you, Anna? You look worried.”
Anna put a hand on his arm, and she wasn’t able to talk immediately. When Neil was beside her, she had a strange feeling. It was as if a part of her son Luca came back to her, the part that was so similar to Neil: his generosity, his kindness, his ability to perceive other people’s emotions and concerns. Neil had had a completely different life, he was a policeman, and there was nothing in his physical traits that reminded her of her son, but he was so considerate, so calm and soothing, exactly the characteristics she had admired most in Luca.
She turned to him and asked:
“Have you found Daisy’s father, Neil? Louise called me this morning, and she was so scared. Lisa and Denise were with Daisy to comfort her, but… What is that man doing? I can’t help thinking about it…”
Neil squeezed her hand and said: “We are looking for him. Daisy called Billy again after lunch to tell him that he hadn’t come back. He told me that she is really scared…”
John asked Anna:
“Do you know if Luke Brown has a brother?”
Anna was startled by the question, and she answered:
“I don’t know, I have never heard about a brother, and Daisy has never mentioned an uncle or an aunt…Why do you ask? Do you think he has gone to visit a relative?”
John shook his head but didn’t answer. Anna didn’t ask anything, because she knew that during an investigation, the police couldn’t reveal details.
John and Neil exchanged a glance, and they preferred not to mention what had happened in the morning and the strange resemblance between that girl and Daisy.
Neil reassured the woman:
“Don’t worry, Anna. We are trying to find Luke Brown, but, most of all, we are trying to discover what is making him so nervous…”
Anna nodded and turned to the children, who were coming into the dining room with their cakes. Mario and Jim prepared a cake to share with Mark, while Giulia and Amy shared their cake with Neil. Neil had begun to appreciate these moments, because he felt part of a family, the family he had never had. All the relatives sitting at the tables seemed to cherish the cozy atmosphere that Anna, Jennifer and Silvia were able to create, and they usually remained there for a while, not only to eat the cake, but also to chat and laugh with their children and the little orphans.
***
Rosary Police Station, 6 pm
Neil was reading the reports of his agents, when Steve knocked on the door of his office. Neil raised his eyes and smiled at his friend.
“Hi, Steve, news? Have you heard from Rachel’s father?”
“No, Neil. Mr Clancy called us an hour ago to say that he hasn’t been able to reach him yet. I think he is worried, not only about his granddaughter, but also about his son-in-law. And he is also understandably embarrassed about his behavior. A father who, even if he is away on business, can’t be reached and doesn’t call his wife or his daughter to ask how they are doing? I call my daughter every day, Neil…”
Neil smiled at his colleague, and he asked:
“By the way, how is Gloria? And your mum?”
“They are fine, thanks, and Gloria always asks about you. She would like to come here with me, but my mother doesn’t feel like moving from Toronto, and I don’t want her to be alone, so…”
“I hope you will be able to convince your mother, because it would be better for your daughter to live with you… I told you, when I asked you if you were willing to come here, that I didn’t want you to leave your family, Steve!”
“I would never have given up this possibility of working with you and training recruits. I will convince my mother, don’t worry…”
“Going back to the case, I will have to talk to Mr Clancy alone, without his daughter, because I think he knows something he doesn’t want to tell her, maybe about Rachel’s father. And how is the girl?”
“Bob called the hospital a few minutes ago, but there have been no improvements.”
Neil noticed that Steve was fumbling with a sheet of paper. He asked him:
“Did you want to tell me something else, Steve?”
“Oh, yes, Neil. I have been able to identify the man in the photo you gave me this morning. It was out of focus, but my facial recognition program was able to give me a name.”
He handed the sheet of paper to Neil. There was a name: Malcolm Jarvis and a mug shot.
Neil thought for a few minutes, then he said:
“I can’t recall this name or link it to one of my investigations or police operations. Any information about him?”
Steve said:
“Actually, he is not a model citizen, because he has been in prison for almost three months now for bank robbery. He is in Dorchester penitentiary. He has a record for drug dealing and theft. He is thirty, he comes from Victoria, but he has been living in New Brunswick for a few years now. I have found nothing else about him, and nothing connected to children, he doesn’t have a stable relationship or a wife, no sons or daughters are mentioned…”
“Ok, thank you, Steve. I will try to talk to him, because I want to understand why a person like him became a volunteer in an orphanage. I don’t think altruism and philanthropy are among his characteristics…”
Steve smiled and said:
“Tomorrow I will try to find out something more about him.” He was going out, but he turned and said in an imploring tone:
“Neil, if Gloria comes here to live, you have to promise…” Neil raised an eyebrow, and a mischievous smile appeared on his lips. He leaned against the backrest of his chair, he crossed his arms on his chest and said jokingly:
“Let me guess, Steve. No more parachuting with your daughter? Is that the promise?”
“Yes, she has already told me that it would be wonderful… No, those few minutes watching you and her falling from a helicopter before the parachute opened… No, I thought I was going to die…”
Neil laughed heartily, and he said:
“But she enjoyed it so much, Steve, and so did I. If she insists, I don’t know…”
“No, Neil. Promise, please…”
Neil smiled and said simply:
“You are her father. If you forbid her to do it, I will stick to your decision, don’t worry!”
Steve shook his head and went back to his desk.
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