Mercy

Alliances

You have to build with someone who wants it just as much as you do.- Thee Reina.

Alliance - noun
A union formed for mutual benefits.
                           Chapter 5

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My journey back to the hotel was one of silent reflection, a mental struggle to maintain composure as I pieced together a troubling hypothesis. How did Beatrice know Alex? Leonard had told me he wasn't in contact with any of his family members. How could he have had a child with Beatrice? I needed evidence before presenting my suspicions to Matteo. A sudden rush of inspiration struck me—I needed to visit the morgue where my husband’s body was held. Perhaps they had photos or reports that could help connect the dots.

Arriving at the hospital, I greeted Martha, the examiner who had processed Leonard’s body. “What a surprise! How can I help you?” she asked with a toothy smile, which I tried to return.

“I’m hoping to get the autopsy results of my husband,” I replied.

“Oh? All right, but why? He’s already been buried, and it was ruled a homicide.”

“I just want to see,” I insisted.

“Okie dokie,” she said, disappearing into a back room. A while later, she returned, handing me the file with a curious smile. I opened it and began to read:

**NAME OF VICTIM**: LEONARD CONTI 
**AGE**: 31

**HEIGHT AND BODY WEIGHT**: 169 lbs 5"10

**MANNER OF DEATH**: Homicide.

**CAUSE OF DEATH**: Exsanguination due to multiple stab and incised wounds (head, neck, trunk, upper extremities).

**FINDINGS**: 
1. Generalized pallor and evidence of exsanguination. 
2. Multiple stab and incised wounds of head, neck, trunk, and upper extremities with one (1) stab wound penetrating left skull into brain; three (3) stab wounds penetrating right back into chest cavity and right lung; another stab wound at lateral right chest penetrating into right lung; and multiple wounds of upper extremities consistent with defensive injuries. 
3. Left lower lateral chest-wall abrasions and contusions with overlying rib fractures of left ribs #6, #7, and #8. 
4. Subarachnoid hemorrhage of right cerebrum underlying one of the large, undermined right scalp incised wounds. 
5. A few other minor blunt-force injuries of head and trunk. 

**OBSERVATIONS**: KILLER MOST LIKELY TO BE LEFT-HANDED.

Tears threatened as I read the gruesome details. Whoever killed Leonard had done so with brutal precision. My chest tightened as I looked at the pictures, his once lively eyes now vacant and hollow. Just then, I heard Detective Matteo’s voice behind me.

“Hello, ma’am. What brings you here?” His voice was much gentler than during our first encounter three weeks ago.

“Desperation, Detective. All roads lead nowhere,” I confessed, my voice thick with emotion. He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

Matteo had been watching from a distance. He knew this case was taking a toll on her, the weight of her sorrow unmistakable in her eyes. Despite his professional detachment, he felt a surge of empathy. He was about to inform her of the new lead.

“I was actually about to inform you that I’ll be visiting Alex’s house to get a written statement and a DNA sample,” he said.

“Why do you need DNA? Did you find something?”

“Yes, we discovered hair at the scene that didn’t belong to your husband,” Matteo explained.

“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” she asked, her voice a mix of frustration and hope.

“I just got the information today. Are you done with those?” He gestured to the files in her hands. He watched as she took one last glance at the photos.

His eyes followed hers as she studied the images. That’s when they both saw it—something at the back of Leonard’s neck. Initials: “Mm.”

Matteo felt a chill run down his spine. He had combed through the photos, analyzed every detail, yet he had missed this mark. It wasn’t just a tattoo. It was a message, a signature left by the killer.

She quickly pointed it out to him, her realization mirroring his own. The pieces of the puzzle shifted yet again, but the picture they formed was still shrouded in darkness. Matteo knew they had to move fast—this clue might be the key to unraveling everything.

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Alessandra turned to him, her eyes reflecting a mix of determination and uncertainty. "Matteo," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "we can't do this alone. If we're going to solve this, we need to combine our strengths."He hesitated, knowing the dangers they faced. Trust was a rare currency in their world, and partnerships often came at a steep price. Yet, as he looked into her eyes, he sensed an unspoken understanding, a shared urgency that transcended words."What do you propose?" he asked, careful not to betray the flicker of hope her offer sparked."Let's be partners," Alessandra replied, her voice steady despite the chaos swirling around them. "We follow the clues, uncover the truth, and see where this path takes us. Together."For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of her proposal hanging in the air. Matteo knew the risks, but the prospect of facing the shadows alone felt even more daunting.He nodded slowly, accepting the alliance. "Partners," he agreed, aware that their journey had only just begun—and the true mystery lay ahead, waiting to be uncovered.

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As the evening shadows lengthened, Matteo and Alessandra parked discreetly outside Alex Romanov’s house. The tension in the car was palpable. Alessandra adjusted her seat, watching Matteo as he prepared to confront Alex. “I’ll be listening,” she reminded him, tapping the small microphone he had left with her.Matteo nodded, a silent promise passing between them. He knew the risk of walking into Alex's den alone, but Alessandra’s presence on the other end of the line gave him confidence. “I trust you,” he said simply before exiting the car.Once Matteo disappeared inside, Alessandra settled back in her seat, her fingers hovering over the notepad on her lap. As she listened to the conversation unfold, Alex's voice came through the receiver, smooth and practiced.“So, Alex, where were you on the night in question?” Matteo asked, his voice steady and probing.Alessandra listened intently as Alex spun a tale about attending a business dinner, his words flowing with a rehearsed ease that set off alarms in her mind. She jotted down his every word, her pen flying across the page. A smile tugged at her lips—a deceptive facade was beginning to crumble. If Alex were truly innocent, he wouldn't need to lie.The conversation continued, and Alessandra’s focus sharpened. Matteo’s voice cut through the airwaves with a subtle shift in tone. “Here’s the paper, please write your statement,” he instructed. There was a pause, then Matteo’s voice again, casual yet pointed, “Are you left-handed, sir?”

“Oh yes,” Alex replied without hesitation.

A chill ran down Alessandra’s spine. She remembered the detail from the autopsy—the wounds inflicted by a left-handed assailant. This revelation sent a jolt through her, connecting dots that had previously seemed disparate.She scribbled furiously, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Matteo’s simple question had unearthed a crucial piece of evidence, and Alessandra’s mind raced with possibilities. The implications were staggering, and the path forward was fraught with danger, but for the first time, a glimmer of truth pierced the darkness surrounding their investigation.As she listened to the remainder of the conversation, Alessandra’s resolve solidified. Matteo’s trust in her had opened a door, and she knew she would share everything she had uncovered with him. Together, they could finally unravel the web of lies that had ensnared them.

                         Authors note:
Almost at a 100 reads, I'm so happy guys thank  you let's keep growing.