The last sentence was almost a whisper, mostly intended to Claudio, whose absence started to feel unbearable.
“You can contact the insurance company and try to come to a compromise. I understand perhaps they are going to wait for a statement from the Police, but they might be interested in having the chance to pay less than the agreed amount and pay immediately, ignoring the Police order of blocking the funds, if you are willing to bargain the compensation. Thirty million is a big sum, but so is twenty, for example,” she cunningly suggested, glancing at her image on the mirror.
“I…I don’t know,” Madlen replied, hesitating, the soft leather of the couch gently crinkling as she caressed it with her hand. “I will have to call them, but first, I need to make sure I’m not suspected of the murder. There must be a way to make the Police understand that I had nothing to do with Claudio’s death. I loved him.”
Irina understood the situation wasn’t going to be easy, particularly for her mother. As for me, it would be impossible to connect me to the crime scene; the only two people the Police are investigating are Luciano and my mother. I need to act very carefully, perhaps leaving the country... I need to make sure my departure is as confidential as my entrance.
The silence between the two women seemed to last for an eternity. “Is there anything wrong?” Madlen asked. It was rare for Irina to remain silent for such a long time. Generally, she had a lot of things to tell her. However, on that occasion, it was like the world stopped turning around and everything was on hold, waiting for a response from the Police or from the insurance company.
“No, why?” a nervous giggle betrayed her state of mind.
“Because you’re never so silent,” Madlen admitted. “But maybe it’s just me? I’m still so shaken. The possibility of being accused of Claudio’s murder is driving me crazy...”
Glancing around herself, Irina pondered carefully what to say. Certainly, she needed to regain her composure, or she might have ended up in trouble. For the first time, she understood the implications of dating Luciano, she was risking losing control of the messed-up situation she put herself into.
Well, I guess it’s too late to regret, now I need to go on and make sure to get out of this story. Then, perhaps Luciano and I could live our lives in peace and wealth.
She grinned, thinking about the possibilities that her relationship opened to her. “You think about getting the money, once you get it you can secure them abroad, so whatever will happen, you won’t lose them.”
“But I don’t want anything to happen to me! I haven’t killed Claudio!” Her voice raised, trembling in exasperation.
“Mom, you need to solve one problem at a time. At this precise moment, nobody has come to arrest you. They have no proof of your involvement. Therefore, the best thing is to secure the funds. Once this is taken care of, we will see what our next move will be.” Irina clenched her fist, clutching the sheets of the bed as if to grab her only hope before falling into an abyss.
Indeed, Irina was right, and Madlen couldn’t take care of everything at once; she had to think about what was the most immediate thing that came across her. In that case, it was the prize of the insurance. “You might be right; I’ll contact the insurance company and see whether there’s a way to get the money. Without Claudio, I am afraid I won’t be able to keep up the expenses, and finding a job, after not having been a nightclub dancer for such a long time, won’t be easy.”
“True, but you don’t have to worry about it right now, and if you need me there, you know you only have to ask.” Irina didn’t want to be recorded officially by the authorities in the National territory, but she felt she needed to be close to her mother.
“No, you stay away from this mess. I’ll manage on my own, and besides, I need some time to reorganize my life and to secure my position with the Police. Although it’s clear I was the last person who saw Claudio alive, it doesn’t mean I am the assassin.” She tried to convince herself about the strength of her position, but she could see the weak points in it. The only evidence in her defense was that she wasn’t in possession of any firearm.
“I need some time to think about what my next move will be, but I want you to know I love you very much, and . . . well . . . I’m also sorry if I made you feel left aside,” Madlen said. She wasn’t sure why, but she considered it of importance to explain once again her position to Irina. For her entire life, she tried to protect her daughter. “I was afraid that if you had grown and had gone to school here, people would have harassed because of my job. All I wanted was to give you a good life, one far from the judgment of those who have nothing else to do but stick their noses in business that doesn’t concern them at all.”
“Mom, you don’t owe me any explanation. I know it would have been challenging for you to have me there, and I perfectly understand your reasons. I also think everything would have been far more difficult, if I had been there.” For a long time, Irina thought about her mother, and considered her sacrifice.
For the rest of the world, she was only a stripper in a night club, but none of them ever considered that sometimes you don’t have any choice. Her decision was, after all, better than begging
