Blood and Beads
1248 Words
Luca looked at the family rosary, which now had bloodstains on the once ivory beads.
He held it hard, yearning to feel something-sadness, anger, fright, but his feelings just remained locked just under the surface. Someone that had left this behind was not merely intending to frighten him.
They were stating something.
This was personalized.
The rosary of his mother had disappeared at the funeral of his mother. No one, in the parish, knew where it was gone. Even the nun who embalmed her body. Here, however, it was--a specter back again, dipped in a new warning.
Somebody aimed at making him realize that he could be contacted.
Even in God s house.
Even here.
He gazed at the black hall. The stone walls seemed to be marked by claws of the shadows. Outside the monastery slept, innocent and unknowing.
Luca placed the bloody rosary in a drawer, and locked it. The others were not to see it--not yet.
He wanted an explanation.
and he knew where to begin.
Next morning Luca returned to the Moretti property. He is taken in at the gate by the guards without asking a question. He did not know whether that was a sign of his acceptance- or greater surveillance.
The bedroom of Alessandro reeked of medicine and sweat.
The ancient man was seated on a pile of pillows, and his skin was papery and his eyes were ablaze.
You brought it, however, he said before Luca spoke.
Luca c****d a glance. What do you mean?
“The rosary.”
Luca felt disgust in his stomach. You know we were going to get it.
Alessandro nodded. I told you that this would be a war. Enzo desires to put you on edge. It is just the start.”
you said he had not even suspected about me.
I had said he would not come for you yet.
Luca walked up. Why the games, old man? Why not come out straight at once and tell me all?”
And that is why I cannot give you all the secrets at once, you will drown in them. Alessandro was gazing up at him. You must be angry, I need your anger. I want you to be awake.”
Luca pursed his jaws. “Why? that I turn to be like you?”
No, said Alessandro. So you live through it.
He made a cough, deep rattle in his chest. When he came to himself he was once more keen-eyed. The next truth you want? Fine. Your mother--she was not a victim only.”
Luca stiffened.
She understood what I was. She was aware of how much it cost to love me. And she had enemies of her own. Not ones that were dressed in Romano colors.”
What do you mean?
What I am trying to say is that Enzo was not the only one that wanted her to be gone. A man there was. A politician. She uncovered him. Shamed him. he had reason and means.”
Luca gasped to breathe. Do you know what his name is?
Alessandro rolled his lips. “I do. I will not give it to you yet.”
“Why not?!”
I want to see what you will do with the first name because.
“Enzo.”
Alessandro nodded. You want justice, Luca? Then you can use more than prayers.”
The remainder of the day went away in an effervescence of cogitations and wounds of the past. Luca went back to his little apartment close to the monastery,--not yet quite prepared to take up his quarters once more with the brothers. The quietness was too clean at that place. He was not clean enough anymore.
He gazed at the rosary in the drawer, eased the key into it. He reached it again, rubbed his fingers on the dried blood.
This had been possessed by his mother. Had breathed low Hail Marys on the same beads.
Her faith had been used against her.
And he would discover who.
The following morning, there was a call which was made by a number that he could not recognize.
He paused then to reply.
A woman voice replied: Luca Moretti?
“Yes. Who is this?
Hello, it is Elena, of Sant Helen Hospital. Two weeks ago you were here in our chapel.”
Lucas felt his heart leap. “Yes… I remember.”
I want you to see something.
He frowned. “About what?”
Yesterday there was a lady in who inquired about you. She said that she was your sister.”
Luca almost dropped the phone. This is impossible.
She left something. A letter. And… a caution.”
A sister?
He thanked the lady, and hung up, taking his coat.
The sun had just begun to set by the time that he reached the hospital.
Elena was standing at the reception desk, and she had a pale face.
Her name was Sofia, she said. Brown eyes, dark hair. She was troubled-looking.”
Luca choked. What did she leave?
Elena gave him a closed envelope. On the front, in a clear cursive hand it read, Luca.
There was one note there, there was no signature.
We are not the only people. They observe us everywhere. The truth is grounded under several corpses. Be cautious of the people you trust.
Locate the girl who wore the necklace of the dragon. She has the knowledge of where the first body had been buried.”
Two times Luca read it and his hands trembled.
A sister. A necklace with dragons. A dead person under the ground.
It was too much. Too fast.
But there was one name which fell to his mind immediately.
Isabella.
In the chapel of the hospital she had been wearing a very small pendant--a silver dragon, coiled up as though in defensive attitude.
Was she?
Did she know it?
She was in a jazz-bar in Trastevere between two old book-shops He saw her that night. She sat alone by the rear, drinking wine and gazing with hooded eyes at the stage.
He was walking toward her when she observed, as he came, saying, You followed me.
You left a trace.”
She had raised an eyebrow. You are more adventurous than I supposed.”
I received a letter, he sat by her. From someone claiming to be my sister.
Her lips opened in surprise,--yet not long.
“And?”
It referred to a girl who had a dragon necklace.
Instinctively Isabel touched the pendant upon her throat. “A coincidence.”
There is nothing like that any more.
She heaved a sigh, and leaned forward. What would you like to know, Luca?
Where is the first body buried? You know?
She did not blink. “Yes.”
Luca sat forward with beating heart. “Whose body?”
Her eyes gazed down and she gripped her wineglass. “My brother.”
Luca froze.
I had been thinking he was hiding.
“No.” She broke out in voice. He was assassinated.”
“By who?”
Slowly she looked up, and her eyes were wet with fury.
Your father,”
Bullets split the front window of the bar suddenly.
Glass exploded. Screams erupted.
Luca pulled Isabella by the shoulder surging her under the table.
More shots.
Then silence.
Luca heard the ringing of his ears.
and, looking up, he saw a man in black standing a little way within the doorway.
He was holding his gun at Isabella.
- Writer
