The naked lady

Part 2: Penn - three

Moscow is in deep mourning.

It is the funeral of Karina Sabitov.

Her corpse was quietly flown in the night before.

Most people are in black.

There are more than a hundred people.

Penn doesn't sit with the rest of the family.

Aloki is by his side.

She is also wearing a black dress.

He is watching from the back of the church.

The traditions are done slowly.

The songs are sung with great heaviness.

All Penn can think of is his large painting.

He must get out now.

Penn runs out; he cannot stay longer.

On the steps, he vomits and makes a mess.

'And you must be Penn?'

Through tears and vomit Penn is greeted.

Detective Nakia does not waste time to introduce himself.

'You must be the detective...

Rada said you went to see her.

She said you were harsh and showed no emotion.'

Nakia nods, 'So they say.

But tell me, Penn, who is guilty?'

'You want to interview me at my mother's funeral?'

Penn finds Nakia very rude.

'No, none of us killed my mother.

Even Julius would not do such a cruel thing.'

Detective Nakia sits down again.

'I have a theory... a little one...'

Penn looks around; no one else has seen them.

The funeral goes on inside.

The church filled with memories of Karina.

People crying over her life, happy for her salvation.

'What is your little theory?'

Detective Nakia hoped Penn would ask him.

'Your mother didn't go to the pool to swim.'

Penn is confused and bewildered.

He has read everything in the newspapers.

The story says the same, Karina wanted to swim.

But Nakia has other theories.

'She lied to Rada about the swimming.

Karina wanted to meet someone else on that night.'

'But who?' Penn asks innocently.

'That is what I also don't know.

You see, Annika said that your mother acted strangely.

She was not entirely herself.

That night she looked over her shoulder.

She was looking for someone else, expecting a visit.'

Penn cannot help but vomit.

Detective Nakia looks away, 'It's a mystery.'

Inside the church, people have started to sing along.

'I should probably go inside.'

Nakia lights a cigarette, 'Yes, you should.'

But Penn does not move; he looks at Nakia.

The detective is exceptionally clever.

He has no people skills or prowess.

Yet, Penn wants him to be his one friend.

'Did you see her body?'

Nakia nods, 'She was bruised and cold.

However, her face was beautiful; it didn't seem dead.'

This makes Pen cry out.

In his painting, she was like that.

A beautiful face that was timeless and almost unreal.

But her body, beaten badly.

'My father is a pig and scoundrel.

A son of a bitch that never deserved her.

But my mother loved him.

I don't know why, but she did.

Their relationship was not normal; they had many secrets.'

'I have noticed some secrets.'

Nakia looks down at all the vomit.

'Do you know a woman called Alanda, an American?'

Penn does not know her.

He shakes his head, 'No, I don't.'

'Maybe before your time... how old are you now?'

'Twenty-three,' Penn is almost proud.

Nakia starts walking away, 'I'll see you...'

Just then, the church doors open with a bang.

All the people stream out.

Penn is bewildered; he has no sense.

All he can do is go back to painting.

He leaves to go home.

'Alanda...' the name is so extremely peculiar.

Moscow is so overwhelming that Penn can barely breathe.

His mother had another secret.

The Sabitov family is rotten with secrets.

Usually, Penn could handle them; he could survive them.

This time it is different.

The secret will be found out, exposed.

Penn must now get away; he cannot be involved.