It had been months since the last time he acted like a jealous boyfriend, and she was sure he started to go on with his life. The death of Claudio caused an endless sense of pain in her heart, but more painful was to know that the one who did this to her was her own daughter.
Maurizio remained silent, sharing her pain. He thought about his daughter, Giovanna, and wondered whether there could ever have been the chance that she would have ruined her life with a similar crime.
Certainly, Madlen couldn’t expect something like that could have happened to her. She would have thought Igor was the one who killed her boyfriend, and he might have had a real reason to do so, but what could have been Irina’s reason for it? Why her father and Claudio? Maurizio thought as a lump formed in his throat.
Slowly he raised a hand to Madlen’s shoulder. “I’m truly sorry. I wish it wasn’t me who had to deliver such terrible news.”
She went on sobbing for a few minutes before she could find the strength to raise her head back to Maurizio. “I tried my best, I sent her away from Italy because I didn’t want her to be bullied at school for being the daughter of a stripper. I wanted her to grow up in a normal family environment, and my sister was able to offer that.” She searched her purse for a tissue to dry her tears. “I did everything I could, detective. Igor was a terrible husband, but he also had been present in her life, like a father should. Irina didn’t have any reason to kill him nor Claudio.”
“The only person who can answer those questions is Irina herself,” Maurizio whined. “I also have a daughter, and I would be devastated if something like that would happen in my family. I know nobody is safe from errors and troubles. I want you to know I feel your pain, and I’m sorry.”
A weak smile appeared on Madlen face. “Thank you, detective. I appreciate your sympathy, and the fact that you don’t judge me for my choices. I don’t know whether it’s also my fault; I wanted to give her what I thought was best.”
Shaking his head, Maurizio stood from the couch. “It’s not your fault; as parents we can simply do our best, hoping it’s going to be enough. We can’t see the future, unfortunately, so we can’t be sure we’re preparing our children for a life in a world that’s constantly changing. We’ve learned to live it at our time, and what was twenty years ago, is no more the same nowadays, nor will it be in another twenty years. I hope you will take the chance and talk to her and try to understand her reason and perhaps find a way to forgive her and be at her side.”
“I will talk to her, but though I can forgive her, I will never forget, because she took away from me the only chance to be happy. She hurt me, when all I offered her was love.” Averting her gaze from Maurizio, she swallowed the tears that returned one more time as she wiped the wet pools from her eyes. “I need to be alone...”
Without saying another word, Maurizio turned and walked away from her apartment. He was heartbroken; that was one of the things he hated about his job.
Wiping the tears from his eyes, he glanced at the sky, with a nod, he strolled back to his car, ready to return to the Department and prepare all the reports ready for archiving the case.
“The judge will decide whether the case is closed. As for us, we don’t have any reason to pursue the investigation. We have a culprit, we have the proof, and for the motives we will need to wait until the final sentence... maybe,” he said, entering his car.
***
The trial went on for other three months, and the result, as everyone was expecting, was that the court considered Irina guilty for both murders.
The outcome of the psychiatric examination confirmed that the reason for the murder of her father was connected to a type of obsessive desire to protect her mother and to avoid having her hurt anymore. According to the psychiatrist, her possible reason to murder also Claudio was to avoid her mother another disappointment. He believed she elevated herself to the position of being her mother’s guardian, who should have protected her from the abuses of men, which she learned not to trust. Her relationship with Luciano was probably aimed to use him to reach Mr. Calvani and get access to the garage area, obtain information restricted to the inhabitants of the building, like the time of the maintenance of the camera system. In this optic, Luciano was a victim of her clever plan.
Despite the efforts of the attorney to mitigate the sentence, Irina was finally sentenced to thirty-five years. The sentence wasn’t mild for the crew of the Sea Rider either, although it was the captain who was condemned more severely with twenty-five years.
“So, it seems like we’ve reached the end of this case,” Leonardo glanced at Maurizio, who thoughtfully, in the common room, was immersed in his own thoughts.
Startling at his comment, Maurizio raised his gaze at Leonardo, almost surprised to find him close to him. “Uh… well, yes— I guess this is the case...”
“You don’t sound convinced. I think there’s no doubt on the reasons for Irina to kill Mr. Calvani and her father. She made a few
