far away upon the snow. “It is just a piece of cloth, Claudio, nothing more. This is what you saw! Let’s go…I am starving.”
The episode slid away, while Claudio started doubting his own troubled mind.
Reverend Armando Suarez was a notorious cleric in the Vatican. He was a walking library…he knew a lot. The cleric returned to Rome and met Laura a few days later. She was dying to tell Claudio about her meeting with him. “Uncle Tony contacted me a few days ago. Did you know that?” An ashamed Claudio toned, “No, really! It’s been a long time since I heard from him. Is he OK?” Laura in a reproaching mode, countered, “Tony sounded a little bit disappointed with you. He complained about your absence in his house. He is the only relative we have in Canada.”
“Yes, I admit it, but it was not done intentionally. Michael lately changed his attitude toward me. I think he’s jealous of Isabel.” An ignited sister said, “No, come on! He is your best friend and only cousin in Vancouver. Do not say that, please. Promise me you will pay a visit to our uncle as soon as possible. Extend your apology, OK?” Claudio whistled silently, “OK, I promise! I have to leave now…there is Inspector Kevin on the TV news, ciao bella!”
“Wait a moment, you fool! Let me tell you about my meeting with Armando.” “OK, shoot, but be quick, please,” exclaimed her brother.
Meantime, Detective Kevin released worrying updates: “We are very disturbed to announce the finding of additional human remains in the North Shore forest. Forensic have established that a few of the bone samples date back to 1999. It seems they were all murdered between March and September, in an interval of six months. We used the same method we adopted with Father Larry’s bones, extracting DNA from the teeth pulp and bone powder. Specialists filtered and purified the DNA at room tem- perature of 20-23 degrees Celsius, thereby reducing further degradation of the already damaged DNA.”
A common misconception assumed that those months were the favorite seasons of the killer, striking almost every year.
The inspector managed, “A public profile of the maniac was made by the expert profilers, less ostentatious than the previous one.”
Mesotti showed his rigid facial muscles, glinting, “The slayer could be a young strong person with a good education, who perhaps has had a past trauma in his childhood. He is a local because he can move on all the mountain trails without losing orientation. Conceivably he could be a hunter, or an expert hiker with a military background, bewildered by his macabre chronicles of sadistic pleasures. The alert is at a high level.”
The officer was questioned, answering with his expertise to all the inquiries. “The Provincial Integrated Homicide Team will officially step on the case, supporting us. My assistant, Agent Robert Jones, will liaise with whoever has information related to this specific case,” concluded him while pointing at Robert, who was smoothing his mustache.
Claudio was still on the phone with Laura, “It all started when Armando and Larry discovered some historical Spanish manuscripts related to colonialism and Catholicism in modern Vancouver. The period was the seventeenth century. Several documents were found in Rome.”
Laura calmly continued: “At the beginning Larry was only curious, but after a trip the two made in Spain, the conservative cleric became obsessed about this topic, using all the time he had to research and investigate. Larry visited Spain, England and France, stressing insistently the clergy to be transferred to Vancouver.”
Claudio enquired in a rush, “Where did he go, precisely, and why?”
She managed, “In his coherent stringent research, Larry spent time in the northern region of Spain, the province of Navarre, precisely. He reached the border of France.”
Claudio was completely absorbed by this inquest. Too many coincidences were followed by the outlandish feeling that something was trying to whisper words of mysterious time.
In a moment of exaltation, he remarked, “I suspected that Larry’s death was connected to Rome, and moreover…”
Laura abruptly said, “Hold your horses, Colombo! Do not fantasize. We have to wait and investigate on our own. Patience is a refined quality.”
PART II
In February, Claudio bravely attempted several times to contact Inspector Kevin. The boy was denied, deciding instead to speak with his friend Ryan. Claudio left a message on his phone: “Ryan—how are you my friend? Long time. I was wondering if we could meet sometime and have a beer. I need to talk to you about the murder case, call me back when you can, please. Thanks.”
Ryan received the message while driving…and decided to pull over. Claudio, reading Ryan’s name on the phone’s screen, eagerly fetched the device, and with a smirk of enthusiastic joy said, “Hey! Are you still alive, Ryan? I am so happy to hear from you again, what are you up to?”
Ryan replied, surprised, “Wait a moment, Cloudy! Sorry, I meant Claudio, or perhaps I was right the first time. You are the one who vanished for weeks, like a cloud in the sky. You missed all our music jam sessions this month and we had to use some random guitarists.”
Verallo felt guilty for the second time, “I am sorry, I admit it. I was busy with Isabel and the university. I should have at least called you, even if I am not that type of guy. I will be back soon, I promise.”
Ryan Swann was nodding his head while listening to the speaker, rotating a drumstick with the fingers of his left hand. He was timing Claudio’s voice. “What the hell are you doing, Ryan? Playing music? I need you, big guy!” Sentenced the Italian.
“Do you need me for real, Claudio? I am all yours, what can I do for you, my crazy friend? Speak, please.” A moment of uncertainty followed a flattering voice: “I need you to introduce me to Inspector Kevin! I have to talk to him.”
Ryan silenced, after a hiccup surfaced him. “Are you out of your mind? You will never be able to meet him…unless you possess the keystone of the crime scene. Everybody wants to talk to that man. He is too busy dealing with the Provincial Integrated Homicide Team…”
Claudio cut off Ryan: “Yes, I know. I am following this case very closely and I know lots. I just need a chance, and you are studying to join the police, aren’t you, Ryan?”
“Remember that I am just a cadet. I know lots of policemen, of course. Mesotti is important right now…and is highly quoted because of the investigation. He is coming to our police academy next week, at the justice institute of B.C. in New Westminster.”
Claudio hesitantly said, “Are you for real? Could you invite me?”
Ryan countered, “It is not possible…it’s a session about crime scenes and serial murderers’ behavior. Wait a moment, boy! Perhaps there is a chance for you outside the institute, after the assembly is concluded.”
“Please, Ryan, make it real. I will offer you lunch and dinner, I swear to God! I could join the police department if my father agrees. I wish to do what you are doing right now.”
Ryan surveyed, “It is a lengthy process. Before being a detective, you will spend years on patrol chasing criminals. If your father can support you at the university, stay there. It is better.” Claudio was twisting his front hairs, while caressing his head.
Having healed the wounds with Ryan, he decided to pay a visit to his uncle, calling Michael to see if he was at home. Claudio parked along the street, advancing with a hint of contentment, gazing at Michael standing on the balcony. Tony bent over the balcony displaying stretched opened arms: “The return of the prodigal son, we thank you God!” Exclaimed enthusiastically. A second wound was mended when Giacomo embraced Claudio like a son. The two entertained an interesting, long conversation, whereas Michael stayed aloof on his computer, surfing the internet. “You guys must be careful from now on in approaching the trails. There is a serial killer in the area, and this is a bad omen for all of us. This community has never witnessed something like this before. I heard that forensics found remains