CHAPTER 6 (In the name of God the Father……)
I recognised Ian, he was so small, this had to be his Father. I took the box with me, if I could find out who Ian’s father is, I might get to understand my friend better, and save him from the chair. If they found him guilty, of murdering Marisa, they will fry him. I went back to the precinct. And asked a young officer, I could trust, to run the photo for me, the guy was a genius behind a computer.
An hour later Jose’, knocked on my door. I asked him to sit. “Carlos Alvesio, a contract worker. Married Alanzia Sousa in 1970, they got divorced in 1972. I knew you would ask. He lives in Benito, I have written down the address, he is married. So be warned, I think he washed his hands off Alanzia, years back. There are numerous reports on domestic violence, she was the culprit, not Carlos.” I thanked Jose’ and drove to the address he had given me. The house was stunning, this man wanted for nothing. I knocked, and a woman I assumed to be the wife opened the door. I asked if I could speak to Carlos Alvesio, and I showed her my badge. She took me through the house, into a stunning garden. Carlos had aged well, he was hands deep in the soil.
“Senhor Alvesio. My name is Roberto Oliveira. I wonder if I could talk to you about Alanzia Sousa?” I could see the name struck a nerve. He washed his hands, the resemblance between him and Ian was uncanny. He offered me a drink, and we sat away from the house to talk.
“What I am about to tell you, is confidential. My wife does not know is was married, neither does she know I have a son. Do we have an understanding?” I agreed.
“I met Alanzia while at school, she was the first girl to catch my eye. We both grew up dirt poor, and seemed to form a bond between us. I married her right after graduation. I went to college on a scholarship. She stayed at home, did odd jobs, like needle work or sowing. Not long after we got married her behaviour changed. It started with insults, then it turned violent, she drank too much, that’s what I told myself. Two years into the marriage, and a small boy on her hip. She got worse, and I knew if I stayed she would kill me. Alanzia, had tried it twice, I assume that is how you tracked me down. I don’t want to know about the boy. I don’t want to know about her. She is a psychopath, she would claw at my face, she abused the boy. Yes I was a coward, I ran and I left the boy behind, but detective, I was only a boy. It has taken me years to trust, to build the family, and the life I have now.”
“Senhor, Alanzia Sousa was murdered when Ian was seventeen. It’s been a cold case for many years. I know you said you don’t want to know about Ian. But he was my best friend growing up. He became a psychiatrist, and he helped me on more cases than I can honestly recall. His wife was murdered. A well respected surgeon, they would have been married for twenty-one years, next week. He doesn’t know who you are, and I will never divulge it to him. I needed to find out, what made him fear. I see it in him even now, the scares run deep. We grew up on the same street, but I would never go inside that house. I have done so twice, the day his Mother was murdered, and today. Today I found the box with your photo in it.” He took a sip of his drink.
“Ian, that was my Father’s name. Is Ian a good man?”
“Si Senhor, he is my best friend, and the kindest man I know, they had a childless marriage, I never pried, I don’t think they had time, they studied too hard, then worked even harder. So Ian has me, and that is the sum total of his family. Marisa, his late wife’s family immigrated years back.” Carlos nodded. I could see him process what I have told him.
“Senhor, I won’t trouble you or your family again. I will not tell Ian. He has too much to deal with, and I don’t think it will be healthy for either of you to reunite after all these years, so I wish you all the best.” Carlos shook my hand, and I went around the house to my car. I drove away from the house. Then I went to the nearest church, and I cried. I cried for Ian, for the father he was denied, for the witch that ruined him, for myself. I let him down, we all did. We saw him being abused, yet we all turned a blind eye. Marisa included, instead of saving him, she turned her back on him for someone better. And now he is the prime suspect in a murder I know he didn’t commit. The padre’ blessed me, it’s not a blessing I need, it’s a miracle.
Back at the precinct I asked Jose’ to delete anything he had on Carlos. I told him it’s to protect Danilo. I went to my office and closed the door. I removed all the files and arranged them on the table, then I started making notes. From Alanzia’s murder to the last UNSUB. I needed to join the dots, and fast. Alipha phoned to tell me the Wake would be tomorrow, and that Ian had not left the bedroom. He wouldn’t eat. He just sat there staring at the wall. I told her I would be late.
I tried to find a connection between the deceased, names, gender anything. I came up empty, except for what I thought were cigarette burn marks, they were from all over Bonita. I found no link. I stared at the photos wishing something would pop up and grab me. Nada. I asked Jose’ to enlarge the photos for me. The marks could be anything, it was too faint. A birthmark, a bruise, or a cigarette burn, nothing conclusive. I reread the report on Alanzia Sousa’s death. Death by strangulation. I looked at the other VIC’s, six where strangled I looked at the bruises around their necks. I asked Jose’ to enlarge the photos. “Look here, those are two ring marks, look closely, one is a wedding band and the other is on the right hand on the same finger.” Jose’ looked closer. “You are right, those are ring markings.” This was the first real break I had. “Detective, Danilo wears two rings, his wedding band and the onyx on his right hand.” I stared at Jose’ in utter disbelief. I had not noticed. I looked at the photo of Marisa. Two ring marks.
“Em nome de Deus Pai.” I was shell shocked.
“Jose’, this does not leave this room.” He nodded and left. I went home. I found Ian sitting on the bed, then I looked at his hands. Two rings. Hell anyone can wear two rings.
“Ian, I know the Wake is tomorrow, but we need to talk. Come out with me, the walls have ears.” He nodded, buttoned his jacket and I drove to the nearest pub. He ordered a beer. You know that moment a light bulb goes on. Well that was my moment, and I didn’t know what to do with it. I knew Ian was not responsible for the murders, however something in him was. My phone rang, it was the chief. I held the phone away from my ear, as he shouted for me to come to his office, and to bring Danilo Alvesio with me.
The chief was red, I swear I could see smoke coming out of his ears. “Senhor Alvesio, I apologise on behalf of the department for any emotional distress we placed on you, if you wish to take the matter further, do so. You are no longer a suspect in the murder of Marisa Alvesio, you are free to go back to your home, an officer will release your cars. My deepest apologies.” Ian said he had no grievances against the department. We shook hands and he left.
“Detective Roberto Oliveira, you are suspended until further notice. The documentation, you had left on your desk, is gone, so are all the evidence in lock-up, hand in your badge and your weapon.”
I did it all in slow motion. I thought I locked it up, evidence gone, how is that possible? And my theory on Ian, well that flew out the window, he was at my house, and in front of me when the call came. I drove back to the pub. I didn’t want to think. I drank until I was too drunk to drive, I asked the bartender to lock up my car, and to call a cab. I had messed up. I have no idea what I am going to tell Alipha. I was too drunk to explain myself to my wife, so I got into bed and slept. She woke me early, just about pushed me out of the bed. “Go wash, and go to Ian, the body will arrive at ten.”
Shit, I ran into the shower, then drove post-haste to Ian’s. I have screwed up enough for one week, leaving Ian with a body in the house, oh hell no. Ian would lose his mind. I recalled his Mother’s Wake. Ian lost it, I had to get him out of the house. I left the body to the adults, and Ian ran. I could barely keep up. I have never seen anyone run so fast. No wonder he was awarded a scholarship, the guy could out run a cheetah.
Ian opened the door before I could knock, he pale and on edge. “bom Dia, amigo.” He didn’t greet me back. The house was spotless. He pointed to the table. The casket was on top of it. “Mãe de Deus, I am so sorry. Go to the kitchen, I will take care of the rest.” I pushed Ian past the coffin. I called Alipha. “I am too late. Please go past the florist. Then come straight here.” Alipha is not a warm kind, but she steps in and gets things done. I wiped the sweat off my forehead. The doorbell rang. The people came in groups. I had not called the caterer, I don’t think Ian thought that far. Another call to Alipha, and the problem was solved. Ian closed the kitchen door, the second the Padre’ opened the coffin. Hell I wanted to bolt. My wife arranged everything. I thanked her profusely. She tended to the drones of people. I couldn’t have done this without her. At two the casket has to leave to the airport, I watched the clock like a hawk. I went into the kitchen. No Ian. His suit was folded over a chair. “Run amigo, run.”
Ian arrived after two. He looked haggard. I wonder just how far did he run. He peeked inside the house, then ran upstairs to shower. “Roberto, where are my pillows?” Oh shit. “Sorry amigo, I think you need to buy new ones.” Ian asked if I would come with him? Well, it’s not like I have anything better to do. We drove to the store in silence. First I accuse him of killing his wife, then I steal the man’s pillows. I felt worse than a jackass. He bought new bedding and curtains, I won’t know what he is feeling. He has not shown any emotion. We arrived home. I helped him strip the entire bedroom. Ian changed everything in the bathroom as well. We packed Marisa’s clothes in to boxes. I said I would drop it off at the church. Ian said very little. I can’t read him when he closes off like this. What did I expect? He can’t attend his wife’s burial. I don’t know how I would feel. Lost, hurt or angry. “Please eat, I have to leave now, Ian look at me. if you need me, just call. Look at me.” Ian looked up, the tears pooled over. I held him as the sobs rocked through his body. I sobbed. I feel guilty. I feel his loss. How could I ever suspect him, he is a lost boy, he runs to find the man he wants to be. “Call.” Ian nodded. I sat in the car for a long time. I had to talk to the chief. I can’t put my tail between my legs. That’s not my style. I drove to the church, then to the precinct, to face the music.
I think I held on to the chair, for the duration of what my chief inspector would call a lecture. I think I might be deaf for a week. He handed me my badge, and my gun. “Go work.” That was it. After what he did say, I don’t think I will ever be the same. In my office I closed the door. I started on the list. The first death. Ian’s prom date. 1. Lorena Ferreira. 2. Alanzia Sousa/ Alvesio. 3. Nina Lima, marked. 4. Pedro Cardoso, marked. 5. Luiz Dias, not marked. 6. Marcela Gomes, marked. 7. Victor Morais, marked. 8. Sabrina Aráujo, marked. 9. Caroline Eduardo, marked. I stared at the names, I need to find a link. I don’t know why I did it, but I pulled up Ian’s despatch records, for the past two years. I found the link. I wished to Deus, I had not done this. I reprinted their photos. I opened up new files. All my documentation was erased. I still need to find the mole in the office. He could be the killer for all I know, and I am pointing fingers at Ian, again. Why? Because I have no other suspects. Or do I?
I lost everything I had, time of death the works. I would have to start from scratch. Find the ME, and begin with Lorena and Alanzia’s deaths. I found my back up, it was wiped clean, just like all the bodies. Too clean. What am I missing? Besides the truth? I took my note pad, step 1, the ME.
ns 15.158.61.55da2
