The Rome Prophecy

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.’ Caesario steps aside and motions to the door.

‘Sure.’ Tom reluctantly leaves.

The major turns back to Assante. ‘Why was he in this briefing room?’

‘Captain Morassi thought he could help.’

‘Dear God, what is the force coming to?’ Caesario lets out a long sigh. ‘I never thought I’d see the day when we had women captains, let alone a situation where one might think her ex-priest lover could be of use to an investigation.’

Federico finds himself compelled to defend her. ‘He did find the body by the river, sir. And he did overpower the prisoner, Angelis, when he assaulted Captain Morassi. And being an ex-priest, he may have something to offer on interpreting some of the biblical links to the case.’

‘Oh, really? Well then, maybe he’d make a better officer than her.’ Caesario looks over to the door. ‘Before we were rudely interrupted by the captain’s lover, I was asking you about her behaviour towards Fratelli. You didn’t answer me.’

‘I’m sorry, what exactly was the question again, sir?’

‘Was Morassi violent towards the prisoner? There was that incident in the cell block; did she provoke it?’

‘No, sir.’

Caesario’s not getting the answers he wants.

‘Think again, Lieutenant. Perhaps it wasn’t quite as you and she wrote it up. Did Morassi provoke the prisoner the night she was arrested? Was the patient just defending herself?’

Federico sees what the major is driving at. ‘It wasn’t like that, sir.’

‘Think harder, Assante. Because if it had been like that, it would also be consistent with the story told by this man we released, Angelis. Maybe Morassi didn’t clearly identify herself as a police officer. Maybe she did make a wrongful entry into Fratelli’s apartment and this man was just reacting like a protective friend.’

‘I wasn’t there at that incident, sir.’

Caesario gets himself up close to Federico. ‘This is one of those moments when you have to make a decision. Decide whose side you are on. You need to work out whether you want to be a witness or a defendant.’

Federico tries to play dumb. ‘How do you mean, sir?’

‘Well, let’s look at your own behaviour towards Anna Fratelli. Were you acting that way of your own volition, or were you simply following Morassi’s orders?’

He hesitates.

‘Were you following orders, Lieutenant, or were you disobeying them?’

‘Following them, sir.’

‘I thought so.’

Federico can’t leave it there. ‘But Major, neither of us did anything wrong. We respected every demand by the medics to back off as soon as the patient looked even remotely stressed.’

‘Save it, Lieutenant! If that’s your approach, then I can listen to the rest of what you have to say at your disciplinary hearing.’

Federico looks down at his shoes.

Caesario puts a fatherly hand on his officer’s shoulder. ‘What I imagine, Federico, is that you were put in a difficult – no, not difficult – an impossible position.’ He pats his shoulder. ‘You were given instructions by your captain, and because you respect rank, you followed them as best you could. However – and this is a very important however – I am also sure you voiced your concerns to the captain about her ethics in pursuing such actions.’ He gives him a knowing look. ‘I am equally sure that you may now be able to recall those concerns and list them in a witness statement that you could write out for use in a case against the captain.’

Federico doesn’t respond.

‘It would be greatly to your benefit – both immediately and subsequently – should you be blessed with full recall about Captain Morassi’s unbefitting and unethical behaviour. If such a statement were made now, I would be able to allow you to continue as the lead officer in this case and promise that charges are not brought against you. After all, you will be a key witness for the prosecution in the court martial that is bound to follow.’