at the Policlinico, has obtained a court order protecting Anna Fratelli and restraining you – or us – from seeing her or contacting her in any way. That includes telephone calls or anything else you could dream up.’
Valentina is stunned. It’s not Angelis after all.
‘The hospital claims that you and Lieutenant Assante personally put the mental health of their patient at risk. They say you did this on several different occasions, and in spite of warnings and pleas from the head of their psychiatric unit.’
She knows what’s coming next.
Suspension.
What a weasel. Caesario is even prepared to take down his lap dog Federico if that’s what it takes to get at her.
‘With respect, sir, all interviews with the prisoner have been carried out under medical supervision, and whenever we were asked to back off, we did. Straight away. No hesitation.’
‘Do you have any evidence – forensic or circumstantial – that proves she is involved in any criminal activity?’
Valentina thinks twice about trying to explain rationally how Anna manifested dissociated personalities from centuries ago who seemingly had knowledge of current crime scenes. ‘No, sir.’
‘A lot of work, money and time, and you’ve really made no progress?’
‘Sir…’
He halts her with his hand. ‘Don’t try to defend it, Captain. This woman patient is now out of bounds to you and your inquiry team. She’s off limits, do you understand?’
‘Yes, sir.’
He turns his head towards the briefing room, well aware that it’s full of officers awaiting her return. ‘Where are we on the rest of this case?’
She hesitates.
‘Aside from this lunatic woman, are you close to giving me any clear explanation for why we have a dead, ball-less man under a bridge on the Tiber and a severed hand in a church in Cosmedin?’
The look on her face says she isn’t. ‘No, sir. It’s extremely complicated.’
‘Then let me simplify things. Have we identified the murder victim?’
Valentina looks pained. ‘We lifted prints from the corpse, but they don’t give us anything.’
‘And the dismembered hand?’
‘The same.’
‘So nothing?’
‘I wouldn’t go as far-’
He cuts her off again. ‘No identities on the dead or injured. No suspect to interrogate. No forensic evidence to land a charge on anyone, and as far as I can see, not even a hint of a motive. How much closer to nothing can you get than that?’
Valentina can’t help but colour a little. ‘We have leads and theories, sir. Given time, we-’
‘May well get someone else killed?’
She bites her tongue.
Major and captain just stand and stare at each other.
He says nothing.
She says nothing.
The conversation’s over. Now is the moment when he’s going to suspend her.
Caesario smiles.
He’s going to let her stew in her own juice. Marinate in her anticipation of his next action. ‘Do you know what I’m going to say to you now, Captain?’
She swallows hard.
‘I’m sure you do.’ Another smile. ‘As of this moment, you are suspended from duty. You will receive written confirmation of your suspension before you leave this building. This suspension implies no guilt or pre-judgement; it is merely necessary to remove you from the process that will now unfold. On receipt of the suspension notice, you will surrender your firearm, any Carabinieri equipment, identification and authorisation. You will not instigate, nor receive, any contact from colleagues, at either this workplace or any other within the force. You will be notified in due course of any charges brought against you. You are entitled to representation at any future hearing should one be convened. Do you understand what I’ve told you?’
She stays strong. ‘Yes, sir.’
‘Good. Do you have any questions about the process I’ve just outlined to you?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Then please go and wait outside my office while the appropriate documentation is prepared and where you will be formally relieved of your command.’
Valentina starts to turn away.
He puts a hand on her arm and whispers in her ear, ‘You really should have taken up my offer, Morassi.’
70
Tom Shaman sits silently in the briefing room and watches.
Gossip about Valentina spreads like a virus.
A poisonous whisper here joins with speculation there. Within minutes, everyone is infected by suggestions that she’s being sacked, suspended or reprimanded. The cause seems to be anything from insubordination to fraud or even corruption.
At first Federico does nothing to stop the outbreak. Finally he steps in.
‘Can I have some quiet, please?’ He walks to the chair where Valentina sat and stands behind it. ‘Captain Morassi is busy with the major, so let’s make use of your precious time and begin the briefing in her absence. I want to run through house-to-house enquiries and medical, employment and social services searches on both Anna Fratelli and the prisoner we released this afternoon, Guilio Angelis. After that, I want a team chasing the forensic lab for progress on all their reports. I want an update on the translation analysis being done on the biblical text pasted on the walls of Anna’s apartment…’
Federico stops.
His attention switches to the back of the hall.
Major Armando Caesario is standing there. ‘Lieutenant, due to unseen and serious circumstances, you need to adjourn this meeting immediately.’
Chairs start to scrape back on the old wooden floor, but there’s no accompanying chatter.
Tom fades into a corner behind a whiteboard as the room empties.
He hears the door shut.
‘Lieutenant, I have just suspended Captain Morassi pending an investigation into a very serious matter.’
‘Sir?’
‘The administrator at the Policlinico has made allegations of serious misconduct against both you and her. As a consequence, he has obtained a protection order stopping us interviewing or interfering in any way with the treatment of their patient, Anna… Anna…’ He wriggles his fingers as he fumbles for her name.
‘Fratelli, sir.’
‘Fratelli.’ Caesario takes a beat, then asks his next question. ‘How do you view Captain Morassi’s actions in relation to Fratelli, Lieutenant?’
‘In what way, sir?’
‘In reference to how she conducted herself with the patient. Did she bully her? Was she aggressive with her? Physically violent?’ Before Federico can answer, Caesario spots Tom by the whiteboard.
‘Who are you? What are you doing here?’
Tom answers calmly, ‘I’m waiting for Captain Morassi. I’m a friend.’
The penny drops. ‘Oh, the friend. I understand. Well, friends should wait downstairs in reception, not in here.’
