The Commissioner -A Trivial Case
Detective Story : Another Chance
Short Story, By Prabir Rai Chaudhuri . All Copyright Reserved 2020.
A furtive shadow passed in examination of the room, looked at the silhouettes of the people who had crowded there, and stared at them one by one, scrutinized them until from indistinct silhouettes they became people, people with all their characteristics and continued to examine the expressions, identical expressions that reflected sadness, horror, pain and yet the shadow looked at them urgently, analyzing them with expertise, and every now and then shook his head, as if there were something strange, unusual in those expressions. Finally all that buzz in which the shadow had happened, and to which he had listened with expertise, stopped: a man taller than the others and with a harder, more severe face than the others, the shadow thought, said: – Commissioner Albertini will not come before evening. He begs us all to go back to our homes, but first - he said - we have to write down our role in the notebook that his colleague gave us - the shadow from the back of the room laughed softly to himself. And he laughed even more when another figure came forward, coming out of the group of silhouettes, that of a young woman with an angular face and cold eyes who said: - But how? There's been a murder and the commissioner isn't coming before the evening? But that's unacceptable!! - the commissioner's colleague, Luca Netti, tried to explain: - the commissioner is not in town, but when he gets back he will take care of the case! - a boy broke away from the crowd and asked how it was possible to discern situations and evidence over a period of time. Once again in difficulty Netti, running a finger through the collar of his shirt to loosen it, tried to make people understand that even in the absence of the commissioner, there was a whole team, including him, that was dealing with the matter, and that according to people, if they cared so much, he could take care of it too. He also explained that this was an exceptional case, usually the commissioner was punctual. While people rationalized and accepted his explanation, Luca Netti, who was not a policeman, asked for forgiveness for the lies and prepared to attend to his "bizarre" functions, he had each of those present write in the notebook their name and the reason why they were there, and then he made them leave the room. Now he had to close everything so that no one could enter again. Lastly he made the coroner leave, who however remained outside the door, and took some photos. Finally the shadow detached itself from the wall and slowly headed towards Netti.
-What do you make me do Nicola?-
-You know I can't trust Luca. Is Guido out?- Luca looked at his friend and nodded yes Guido Guidi, the coroner, was out. Nicola took a few more steps forward and walked around the body. A man in his sixties, he was lying prone with a letter opener stuck in his shoulders, Commissioner Albertini looked more closely there was something that didn't add up, he wasn't sure but it was too easy, too simple, too stupid. He made the mistake of saying his consideration out loud and immediately Luca was behind him.
-What is stupid? – Nicola looked at him.
-This murder, there's something strange about it.-
-What? It's just a trivial case.-
-That's exactly what worries me.- he paused and added,- let Guido come in.-
-at your command, sir!- he saluted and went out accompanied by a 'cut it off!' from the commissioner. When the coroner entered he wrinkled his nose.
-What do you make us do Nicola?- Nicola didn't bother to answer, he simply asked
-How did he die? -Guido looked at him and then at the dead man. The man was the manager of a large hotel chain. He looked closer and noticed something strange.
-I don't know,- he said finally. Luca, also looking at the dead man, replied
-You don't know? Is it the dagger? No let me understand is it decorative or was he born with it?-
-There's something that doesn't seem right, for starters it's not stuck in completely and then I don't see any blood around!-
-The killer must have cleaned it up!- Netti reasoned again.
-Have you ever seen a murderer who cleans the floor to leave no traces, but accidentally forgets the corpse with the dagger? In plain sight in the center of the room?- Luca sighed, he was basically ascertaining what he saw, a dead man with a dagger stuck in his shoulders.
Nicola began to wander around the room, he had been observing the place for a long time before, certain that curious people and employees had immediately rushed in, as well as some of the people present. Nicola took the notebook where Luca had written down the names of those present and quickly memorized them. Then he closed the notebook and handed it to Luca. When it came to deciphering handwriting, he was the expert. Then he turned and went towards the window. He seemed absorbed, almost absent. Luca and Guido looked at each other and then Guido said:
-Luca and I are taking the body away.-
-And what do I have to do with it? - Luca asked. Guido looked at him grimly
-Do you see others around genius?- Luca sighed. That was not his day! Since Nicola had called him that morning it had been a nightmare for him! He shook his head and got ready to help Guido. Nicola remained in the office of Sebastiano Arsti, a well-known industrial entrepreneur and director of a hotel chain. He continued to look around, trying to visualize what had happened before, when the room was still crowded. Gestures, voices, murmurs, faces, expressions, manners he tried not to leave anything out. He concentrated better on the figure left on the ground after the body had been taken away. The position was strange, then the chair overturned next to the victim, the dynamics did not make sense. What was Arsti doing standing leaning on the desk, with his back to the door? And why was the desk facing the window? Albertini wondered who was crazy enough to sit at the desk with his back to the door. He looked out the window and noticed that he could see everyone passing by, but also those inside, since the glass was very clear. There was a museum in front of Arsti's office. The murder had happened at night but no one had noticed anything. There was something strange but he couldn't see it. He took a quick last turn around the room and went out.
Outside the air was cold and the day was passing. He looked at the clock and as always was amazed at how quickly the winter darkness was falling. It was just six o'clock and it already seemed late. He put his hands in his pockets and looked up at the sky. Then he lowered his gaze and started walking down the main avenue again, he had left the car a little further ahead but he didn't feel like staying locked in there and maybe ending up stuck in traffic. Since Guido lived not far from there, he got in the car without thinking and reached his friend's house. He knew he would find him, he was too much of a creature of habit to stay out any longer, and then he always said that he only thought about cases carefully in the morning.
He rang. Guido answered almost immediately and he asked if he could come up. Guido opened the door and Nicola went up.
-What's up? - asked Guido as soon as he saw the commissioner.
-These are the car keys. I don't feel like driving.- he handed them to her. Guido took them, saying:
-Shall I come by tomorrow?- Nicola looked at him.
-Yes. At eight.- Guido smiled.
-As you wish! -Nicola nodded and left.
It was late at night and Nicola couldn't sleep a wink. Too many strange things all at once. The more he thought about the dynamics of the facts, the more disconcerted he became. He went to the kitchen and got a coffee. He was going out onto the balcony when his phone rang. Who could it be at that hour? Albertini picked up the receiver and almost shouted at the unfortunate person on the other end of the line.
-Thank goodness I called! - was Luca's thin voice.
-What do you want?- Nicola barked again.
-I'm not a cop…-
-I know that, go on- Nicola interrupted him.
-…two things made me suspicious- Luca replied calmly.
-Which?-
-Looking back at the photos I took of Arsti, while I was downloading them to my PC I noticed an unnatural position of the fingers on my left hand, they are as if they are clinging to something that isn't there.-
-Are you crazy?-
-No, I explain it as if he had something in his hand before he died. Ask Guido.-
-Good. The other one?-
-A guy who wanted to talk to you contacted me.-
-Who is this guy, why did he contact you?- asked Nicola with an apprehensive tone.
-The museum guard who stands in front of Arsti's office.-
-I don't understand why he contacted you.-Nicola replied, when Luca explained:
-I was there-
-Where? - asked Nicola.
-Something told me to go there, to Arsti's office, tonight.-
-So you were there when?-
-Just before, I'm actually calling you from my cell phone. I'm in the car-
-Can you come?-Luca looked at the time
-If you care. I'm coming-
-I care.- replied the other and then added- It's all too strange.-
-Half an hour and I'm there- He hung up. Nicola remained looking at the receiver, as if it could reveal something more to him. He was about to head back towards the kitchenette, but changed his mind and grabbed the phone. He began to dial the numbers with frantic gestures and called Guido, revealing the detail of the hand. One more element, unfortunately one more oddity. He ended the call with Guido and went to the balcony. Slowly in the silence of the night he began to take stock of the situation. A man was dead. He was about sixty years old. He was a well-known industrialist and owner of a hotel chain. He had been found by his daughter that morning, lying at the foot of the desk with his face to the floor and a dagger stuck in his shoulders. Assuming that he had been standing at the time of the murder, why hadn't he collapsed on the desk? Why was the chair far from the body and overturned? Why the detail of the hand? Guido had noticed it too. But the point wasn’t whether he was holding something, it was what he was holding and why he had been taken away. Of course it was all so absurd, that he had a damned desire to take the easy way out. After all, his job was to investigate the facts but the facts were so confusing that who could blame him for taking one detail into consideration instead of another? He shook his head, his job was to investigate and he would do it as best he could as always. He breathed in the night air deeply… but who had said it brought advice? It was only bringing him a terrible migraine. He looked up at the sky. Luca hadn’t arrived yet. He lowered his head, resting his hands on the balcony railing, slightly bent forward and tried again to put his thoughts in order. Why had Sebastiano Arsti been killed? Who could have had an interest in his death? He felt like he had ended up in a simulation game, it was all so unreal… he was interrupted in the middle of his thoughts by a sharp trill, which tore the silence of the night. It was the door. Luca had arrived. Well, maybe something would come out. Luca entered, let his gaze wander briefly, as if to feel the furniture, but said nothing. He sat down on the sofa and put the notebook on the table. He had a tired face, and the absorbed air of someone who was desperately trying to get to the bottom of his own thoughts.
-I was wondering…- he blurted out, speaking mostly to himself- why the things that seem simple are actually the most complicated in the world-
-You're referring to Arsti, right Luca?- asked Nicola who understood his friend's torment well or at least he thought so.
-Not only that. Let's say that Arsti is the most pressing problem.-he looked at Nicola and then continued – I went to check if the area where Arsti's office faces was lit at night or not, something told me so. You could see the inside very well if the light had been on. Even so, you could see something.-
-And then? -Nicola asked?
-And then,- Luca replied- I almost had a stroke. I thought he was the murderer and instead he was just the hotel caretaker. He asked me who I was and what I was doing there, and I told him that I was one of your collaborators.
-Well done. What else?- asked Nicola.
-He told me an interesting habit about Mr. Arsti. But that complicates everything. But it gives us a clue to start with.-
-Did he seem sincere to you?-
-I made him write down his name and surname and, just to be sure, the story he told me.-
-Did you have him write it?-
-Inside Arsti's office, I still had the keys, it's a useful trick. I told him that before meeting him you would have liked to know exactly how things were and to be sure I preferred to have him write it down.-
-Did you find it strange?-
-I found it strange-
-Why?-
-He seemed very sad about the loss of a friend. Much more than some family members.-
-It doesn't surprise me that much. True affections are also and above all found outside the social context. Let's start examining what we have in hand. -Luca nodded and they began to frame all those present at the scene of the morning, focusing especially on what the museum custodian, Giovanni Ugoli, had declared. That morning there were many present, but mostly curious people who had come immediately after Sandra Arsti's screams. They took a look at the notebook. Nicola slowly read the first name out loud:
-«Gianluca Sebastiani, partner of Arsti». What can you tell me about him- Luca, who was a graphologist by profession, inspected Sebastiani's handwriting.
-It's a writing, quite strange, that indicates a variable person, but also a good observer and it's quite angular, so it indicates that he is a tireless worker.- Albertini looked at him
-Is that all he says? - he asked.
-No, at least it doesn't give me any particular insights.-
-I understand-. Actually he didn't understand but the expert was Luca, not him.
-Let's move on. "Sandra Arsti, daughter." What can you tell me about her?-
-Only from the way he writes he seems to live a placid and serene existence, he has a rounded handwriting. But it also tends towards the bottom.-
-And what does this mean? -Albertini wanted to know.
-Not much of a pessimistic character, but generally it could also be a symptom of melancholy due to the moment.-
-Does this also apply to the wife? "Linda Arsti, wife of the deceased" he read.
-Yes, it could also be true for her, although overall I don't know. The heavy line also indicates strength of purpose and sensuality, however it is also present in Sebastiani, the same characteristic.-
-but the pessimistic tendency is missing, if one can say so-
-Yes. Listen, I analyzed the other writings, normal and perfectly extraneous, like this one you see: «Lorenzo Resa, employee» indicates sincerity, clarity, reliability and extraneousness to the facts.-
-Who would you listen to?-
-The wife, the daughter, the partner, the friend Ugoli, and the brother of the victim who was not present. Oh, and also the nephew.-
-Can you help me visualize these figures?- Albertini asked again.
-Ugoli and Roberto Arsti, were not present. The daughter was that girl clearly shaken, blonde with light eyes, the mother was that woman who spoke immediately after that tall man-
“Who was the tall man who spoke first?” Nicola interrupted.
-Sebastiani, while the boy who spoke last, Giacomo, is the brother's son.-
-I understand.- after a short pause he added- Let's examine what Ugoli said-
-Yes, maybe that's better. As you can read, he said he was a friend of Arsti, and that every time he passed by his office, to start work at the museum, he saw Arsti standing near the desk, sipping a glass of liquor. He said he moved the desk every evening, so he could look outside, and that she always greeted him. - Luca looked Nicola in the eyes.
-I see. But he says he noticed two strange things.- Nicola read.
-Yes- Luca replied and then added- That there was no sign of the glass he usually drank and that he didn't greet him.- Nicola looked at him and said- It would be better to listen to him. Find Arsti's brother.-
-Do I have to have him write and sign too?- Nicola stared at him
-It's no use. It's not getting us very far.-
-Thank you for your trust-
-You're welcome, friend-Nicola replied ironically.
-Wait, Giacomo's handwriting indicates insecurity and instability.-
-We have a picture. Let's hear what they tell us, and the autopsy. Unfortunately, we have nothing else in hand.
-Apart from that.- he handed a piece of paper to Nicola
-Things?-
-Read- Nicola read and was stunned:
-Arsti's will.-
-Yes. It was in a desk drawer.-
-Do you think the killer knew about it?-
-Maybe.- Luca stood up- Let's put it off until tomorrow, I don't understand anything anymore. If you pass me the notebook tomorrow I'll work on it better calmly.-
-Here, as you wish. Good work.-
-Don't spend the night awake!!-.
-I'll try Luca, I'll try.
Nicola spent a sleepless night, asking himself a thousand questions. He felt like a rag so he ran a hand through his hair, as if to ease the tension, and called Guido. He told him that there was no point in him coming by, he needed to clear his thoughts. He also told him to work on the autopsy as quickly as possible. As soon as he finished with Guidi, he called Netti to tell him to gather everyone who wanted to hear in Arsti's office by eleven. He went for a run. While he was running he tried to take stock of the situation, but he always had the strange feeling that the dagger was too much and that the key was in Ugoli's words, but he didn't know where to start. He started running at eight, but at nine thirty he had to stop and go home. He took a quick shower, put on jeans and a shirt and left the house with his hair still damp.
When he arrived, they were all already there. He observed their expressions, reviewing them one by one. Sebastiani was calm, as was Resa. They shouldn't have heard the latter, but Albertini had wanted to include it to avoid conjectures. The wife and daughter were distressed, or so it seemed, he thought cynically. Ugoli was also distressed and also appeared very sincere. Roberto and Giovanni Arsti, respectively the brother and nephew of the victim, on the other hand, were worried, almost agitated. When Nicola entered the room, everyone turned to look at him, he seemed sure of himself as if he had already solved the case. However, no expression changed. Nicola called Luca, who was already there aside, and asked him to get everyone out except Ugoli. He would start from there, he ran a hand through his hair... he took two chairs and offered one to Ugoli. He looked straight into his face, on which the signs of age were clearly visible, he had dull eyes and a sad smile. He looked shabby overall, yet at the same time dignified. He looked at him for a long time to get an idea of who he had before him. Then he began to question him. From the interrogation it came out that every evening at ten o'clock Arsti turned his desk and drank a glass of almond liqueur. Ugoli often joined him. Ugoli also said that he had noticed some oddities, such as the light being off, and Arsti's almost hunched figure as she stood near the desk, and the fact that she had not greeted him. Nicola interjected that perhaps he had not seen him, but Ugoli replied that he should at least have responded to his greeting. Then he said that he had gone into the museum and then at eight, he had finished and gone home. Nicola looked at him and seemed sincerely saddened. Before letting him go, Nicola asked:
-How did you meet?- Ugoli looked at him and made a gesture with his hands as if to say that too much time had passed and replied-In the military, then our paths diverged, but not us.- Nicola took the opportunity to ask
-What was the relationship between the wife and Arsti?-
-From what I know- he replied- good, sure they argued from time to time, but I don't know anything else- Nicola didn't abandon the idea that had formed in his mind.
-And with the daughter?-
-He adored her, but she wasn't his daughter. Sebastian couldn't have one. And Linda was already pregnant when he met her.-
-Does the daughter know?-
-I do not believe-
-I understand. You can go.- Luca called and had Ugoli escorted out. The second to be questioned was the employee Lorenzo Resa. Resa appeared calm from the beginning, answering the questions with the greatest possible precision. His gestures and way of relating were those of a person who was sure of himself, but who had nothing to hide or so it seemed. Nicola analyzed his way of doing things for a long time. The first question Resa answered was about the relationship between him and the victim, which Resa assured was excellent. Nicola wanted to get to the bottom of this story and for this reason he emotionally asked
-Who could have had it in for the victim?- Resa looked at him a little perplexed then answered
-A good person like him could hardly have enemies- Nicola insisted
-Was there no episode of animosity towards Arsti?- Resa looked him in the eye.
-No animosity, an argument between him and his wife but things of no importance-
-When?-Albertini wanted to know.
-A few days before the murder- Albertini looked at Resa
-Where were you when the murder happened?-
-At home it was my daughter's birthday and there was a little party- Albertini smiled.
-Did she know Arsti's evening habits?-
-No, I know he sometimes stopped by the office, because I heard him say that on a couple of occasions while he was talking to his wife on the phone-
-Thanks, you can go.-
Nicola paced the room thinking about what he had heard and the will that Luca had found. His suspicions were turning to Arsti's wife and daughter, the only ones who could have had a motive, the daughter could have felt betrayed, by the fact that Arsti was not her real father, and Linda, could have felt excluded, or... the phone rang. Luca answered, but immediately passed it to Nicola saying -It's Guido-
-Thank you- he said to Netti, then added-Guido tell me everything!-
-I have the autopsy results. I found significant traces of cyanide. –
-What time did he die?-
-About half past nine.-
-I understand. And the dagger?-
-He had been dead for a while when they stuck it in him, whoever did it got there second-
-I understand.-
He ended the call and let the victim's wife in.
-Madam, were you and your daughter aware of the will?-
-Will? My husband was superstitious, what will?- Nicola looked at her
-Without a will, who would have owned the company?-
-Probably my husband's brother, even though Sebastiani has always had designs on the company.-
-I see. You and your daughter were out, then.- Linda Arsti shook her head.
-No, I still have a share of the shares and so does my daughter, but what is this story about the will?-
-Your husband left everything exclusively to his daughter.- Mrs. Arsti's face showed surprise. Nicola was not impressed and asked
-Sandra, do you know that you are not Arsti's daughter?-
-No. He never knew, there was no reason for him to know.-
-Where were you when your husband died?-
-At a charity event. I was there from eight to midnight.-
-Well, that's fine.- As the lady left the room, Nicola looked at the list and said: -Luca, let Arsti's nephew in!-
-Immediately- he replied.
Arsti's nephew was a young man who was clearly uncomfortable and who, although he worked in the family business, did not understand much about business. He was clearly agitated and often got confused when answering and was unable to give clear and coherent explanations. What he did for the entire duration of the interrogation was to declare his innocence. Then it was the turn of Arsti's daughter who, faced with the will, had the same reaction as her mother, only more anguished. When asked who could have it in for her father, she replied:
-I can't imagine! My father was a good man!- Nicola stared at her, she had pleasant features, but you couldn't call her beautiful. She certainly wasn't the type to attract attention right away. Nicola stared at her for a long time before asking:
-Did anything strange happen?-
-Lately he was arguing a lot with his partner- she shuddered- he had certain ideas about the management of the company and about me that my father didn't like and I didn't either.- Nicola looked at her and she was sincere, but what she had told him didn't help him solve the case. But why did all these things happen to him lately?
“You can go,” he said simply.
He continued to pace the room. Cyanide. Arsti had been poisoned with cyanide. That was certainly a strange choice. He looked at Luca.
-What do you tell me about Sebastiani?-
-He's Arsti's partner and his brother has an optician. I don't know anything else, he's a strange guy anyway-
-Strange how?-
-Too normal- Nicola became curious:
“Let him in,” he said.
Gianluca Sebastiani was a man in his thirties, tall, serious, cold and impassive; for every question he had an answer, a dry answer that lacked the spontaneity of Resa's.
-Did he know the victim's habits?-
-Like everyone in the office. In the evening he stayed in the office to drink a glass of almond liqueur-
-Almonds? You know that cyanide smells like bitter almonds? - Sebastiani's expression changed imperceptibly, but Albertini couldn't tell if she was surprised or something else.
-No. I didn't know that- he replied, and then added -but what does it have to do with the murder? Sebastiano was stabbed.- Albertini looked at him
-Nothing, it just came to me. Where was he when Arsti died?-
-I was coming back from London. I left on Thursday. You can check.-
-That's what we'll do. One last thing, what's going on between you and Sandra?
-A tender friendship-
- You can go.-
“Good,” Sebastiani said, and left.
Nicola thought back to the meeting with Arsti's partner, but he didn't have time to draw his conclusions when Roberto Arsti entered the room. He began by saying
-I can't pretend nothing happened, I killed my brother. I had learned about the Will. Without that, the company that belonged to our father would have passed to me, because Sandra is not Sebastiano's real daughter. I don't even know what struck me. I wanted to talk to him, but an instinct pushed me to bring that dagger with me. It was cold, and I had gloves for that. I entered the room and saw him, his back was turned. We had talked in the morning too, but he said I wasn't worthy, that I was crazy, and my attempts to make him desist had failed. When I saw him I remembered everything and I stabbed him, he fell and I ran away, scared.-
-You didn't kill him, for what it's worth. He was already dead. - Surprise painted Arsti's face. Then Nicola continued - that doesn't change the fact that it's attempted murder. You're under arrest. - he called a patrol car and had Arsti escorted to the police station.
After a couple of hours he was still trying to get to the bottom of the matter. After pacing frantically he said:
-Luca? Find out everything I need to know about Sebastiani and check all his alibis.-
-It will be done- Luca went out and got to work. Of course it wasn't easy. While he was doing his research Nicola was busy trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle in place.
While Nicola had a flash of inspiration, the phone rang. It was Netti.
-Nicola, here we are. They all have ironclad alibis, except Sebastiani, who actually booked a return flight from London for Thursday, but never boarded any plane to London, much less one that came from the aforementioned city.-
-Very good. I checked some reports, Sebastiani's brother, Andrea Sebastiani, reported a theft two days before the murder. Some money and cyanide tablets disappeared. And then there were also some reports for stalking. –
-I discovered another thing, Sebastiani studied Chemistry before moving on to Economics and Commerce-
-well we have no choice but to arrest him. I'll call a patrol.-
-Yes, I'm almost under the office, come down so we don't waste time.-
-Okay but hurry up-
-I arrive-
Not even twenty minutes later Luca was there. Nicola got in the car and they drove at full speed to Sebastiani's house. They rang the bell but he didn't answer. So Luca made an excuse and had another resident open the door for him. They went up to the floor where Sebastiani lived and since he didn't open the door, at their incessant knocking, they broke down the door. They entered. They found him packing his bags.
-Hurry? - Albertini said ironically.
-What do you want? This is trespassing! - Sebastiani shouted
“You are under arrest for the murder of Arsti,” Albertini shouted back.
-You have no proof!- Luca appeared behind Nicola with a glass in a plastic bag.
-And this? Aside from the typical smell, isn't it strange that in the house of a teetotaler there is a glass of liquor, which as if on purpose is the exact copy of Arsti's?- he paused and then explained- the other one was on display in a glass cabinet and usually these glasses exist at least in pairs.- Sebastiani looked at them
-How did you find out?-
-The plane- said Albertini. Sebastini nodded as if to say that he had to pay attention to that detail. At that moment the patrol car arrived:
-Take him away- Said Nicola. Guido arrived immediately after.
-Is everyone okay?-
-Yes. Why?-
-Typical. I'm here to tell you he's a psychopath, but you've already solved-
-Yes- was Albertini's dry comment. Luca Netti ran a finger through his shirt collar.
-Psychopath, huh? Luckily it was a trivial case!- they laughed and went down together, as usual.