An Ally
Martina got to Vincenzo’s room and saw the doctor had arrived and was attending to him already.
“Vincenzo.” She called, and he turned his head to look at her. A smile divulged on his face, and he waved to her to move closer.
“You are done.”
Martina nodded as she moved closer to him. She sat on the bed and looked at the doctor. She creased her brows as she noticed he looked familiar.
“What’s wrong?” Vincenzo noticed the look on her face, and the doctor also looked at Martina. He also furrowed his brows after seeing her.
“Miss… I know you.”
“Yes. You look familiar, but I can’t remember where I have seen you.”
“Are you serious? It isn’t even up to a week. We met at the hospital, Miss. You borrowed my phone to make a phone call.”
“Yes! It is you! Thank you so much for that day. It meant so much to me. I never knew you were a doctor.” She bowed with a large smile on her face.
“I’m happy I could be of help. You looked like you needed it badly.”
Vincenzo looked at both of them in shock and fear. “You made a phone call?” Martina bounced her head, and his eyes widened.
“What? To who?... Excuse us, doctor.” Vincenzo sat up as he spoke. Once the doctor was out of the room, he turned his gaze at Martina.
“What were you thinking, Martina! Who did you call?” His terrified voice came through.
“Can you please take it easy?...”
“I can’t. You just endangered Roberto and everyone around him… even you! You are not excluded. Roberto can’t know you made a phone call.”
“I had to check up on Caterina! I was left with no choice. All you told me was that she was home already. I needed to know things myself.”
Vincenzo lowered his head and tried to calm down. He exhaled deeply and looked at Martina.
“You called only, Caterina?”
“Yes! Who else do I have to call? If I had called the cops, you would have known now.”
He nodded his head and reached for her hand. He held her hand and caressed it slowly.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you. I was scared.”
“You were scared I reported Roberto to the police, right?” Vincenzo heaved a sigh and nodded sadly.
“If you had reported and he eventually got killed or caught, my life would be in danger as we speak. He has lots of enemies, and his enemies are my enemies.”
“I am aware, Vincenzo. And I’m not going to do that to you. I’m not going to report to the cops.”
“But why? Why didn’t you call the cops? You had the chance to do it. Why didn’t you do it?”
“Some things are better not said, Vincenzo.” She rubbed his hand.
“I don’t know how to feel about that response, Martina.”
She smiled widely and moved closer to him. She planted a kiss on his forehead and stood up.
“I’ll get your breakfast served soon. You should eat.”
“Are you going to eat with me?” He looked at her face, grinning ear to ear.
“Do you want me to eat with you?”
He bounced his head, and she giggled. “I’ll eat with you then. I’ll be back soon.” She walked out of the room. She met the doctor waiting in the hallway, and she approached him.
“You can go in now.”
She turned to walk away, but he grabbed her hand. “Are you okay? You were crying the other day. You can tell me anything, Miss.” Martina smiled widely and shook her head.
“I’m fine, sir. Thank you so much for your concern.”
He let go of her hand, and she walked away. The smile on her face faded as she headed to the kitchen. She remembered what Roberto was going to do to her at night again.
***
“Are you still looking for Martina? It’s been days since she told you not to save her, right?” Lucia asked when she saw Alberto working on his laptop at the middle of the night.
“I can’t give up, Lucia.” He looked at her and waved to her. She heaved a sigh and walked to where he was seated on the couch.
She sat next to him and stared at the screen of his laptop.
“I’m trying other ways to know his locations. But all to no avail… he is too good.”
“Are you sure about that? Nobody is better than my husband. You just need to work harder.” She placed her head on his shoulder and held unto his arm.
“I’m doing that, Lucia. But she isn’t helping me in any way. She didn’t call me back after that day, and when I called the line the next day, it wasn't connecting. She left Caterina all to herself.”
“I understand you, Alberto. But you let her do what she thinks is best for herself, don’t you think?”
“This isn’t the best for her. She isn’t thinking straight, Lucia. He must have given her something or threatened her to say such stupid things.”
Lucia sighed and bounced her head. She knew she could never win against him when it came to Martina.
“So, what are you doing now?” She didn’t understand anything she saw on the screen. Maybe because she didn’t pay attention, or she didn’t want to know in the first place.
“Records from the hotels in Southampton. I have no idea if he is still in Southampton or not. All I heard was the news about gun firings in a huge mansion in Southampton.”
“What was the shooting about?”
“I have no idea. But I’m sure Roberto Galante had something to do with it. It is always never a coincidence. He went there because of that mission.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“The phone Martina used to call me the other day is in Southampton as we speak. But, I’m not sure if Roberto is still there. I’m checking the all hotel reservations in Southampton.”
“And have you found anything?”
“All are useless. He probably has a house there too.” He held his head in his hand and let out a frustrated sigh.
“Why don’t you send a spy to Southampton? To look for Roberto and keep an eye on him.”
“I’m working on that. I am trying to form an alliance with the owner of the phone Martina used to call me. I’d offer him or her something enticing, but it isn’t connecting!”
“Keep trying. Don’t give up. Try it once more.”
Alberto picked up his phone and dialed the number. He put his phone on speaker and waited to hear more disappointments. Suddenly, the phone began to ring, and Alberto’s eyes widened.
“I told you!” Lucia stated excitedly. The phone rang and rang, but no one answered. It disconnected, and Alberto clenched his jaw.
“Don’t be harsh on yourself, Alberto. You can try tomorrow morning. We are making progress, aren’t we?” Albert sighed and bounced his head reluctantly.
“I’m beginning to miss you even though I see you every day. You are close but very far away.”
Alberto looked at Lucia’s head which was on his shoulder, and he caressed her face with his hand slowly.
“I’m sorry, Lucia. Remember I was made the detective at the station, because of this man. I need to work hard. If I fail, I will be sent parking.”
“I understand, Alberto. But can you at least come to bed early today? I miss you so much.” She rubbed her head on his shoulders, and Alberto smiled.
She raised her head and looked at his face. He moved his face closer to hers and planted a soft kiss on her lips. He wanted to withdraw, but Lucia pulled him closer and deepened the kiss.
Alberto’s phone rang all of a sudden, and he broke the kiss.
He picked up his phone, and when he saw the caller, he jumped to his feet.
“It’s the line!”
He answered the phone and walked to the other side of the living room.
“Who is this?” He heard a masculine voice from the other end of his phone.
“This is detective Alberto. We need to talk.”
“Why? What have I done?”
“You have done nothing, sir. You don’t have to be scared. I want to ask you some questions, and if possible, make you an ally.”
“What are you talking about?”
“A lady called me using this phone about two days ago. Her name is Martina, and she looks young. She is curvy and has black hair. About…”
“Why do you want to know about her? She just borrowed my phone. I know nothing about her.” He lied.
“Where was she when she borrowed your phone?”
“Listen to me, detective Alberto. I am not going to give you details about someone when I don’t know who you are. I’m hanging up.”
“Wait!”
He hung up, and Alberto stared at his phone in anger. “He hung up!”
Lucia heaved a sigh and rolled her eyes.
“I wouldn’t have told you anything if I were him too. You were not official. Take it easy and slow. Make him know you are a detective and that you are not lying.”
“But, I…”
“I’m off to bed, Alberto.” She stood up from the couch and walked to the room in frustration. She hated interruptions when they were mating.
“F**k!” Alberto punched the air and fell to the ground weakly. He was beginning to lose himself because of Martina.
