Pablo De Santis - The Paris Enigma

“Craig was my mentor, and I owe everything to him. He would never do something like that.”

“You didn’t, at any time, think that not having an assistant could cause him to get lost in the method, lose his mind?”

“It is true that Craig worked for many years without an assistant. But some time ago he established an academy devoted to investigation. We students said that he had created it just so he could groom the finest of us to become his assistant…”

“Or a detective.”

“He didn’t say anything about detectives or assistants. We just wanted to believe it could happen.”

“And who was chosen to be his assistant?”

“No one. The finest of us was murdered. Everyone knows that.”

“Weren’t you the best?”

“No.”

“Then how did you end up here?”

“Because I was loyal to the end. Because I stayed with Craig when all the others abandoned him.”

My words raised a murmur of approval. While all the detectives were well known in their field, they had been through many difficult moments: press scandals, unsolvable murders, traps set by criminals. An assistant’s faithfulness was never more valued than when a detective had been discredited.

“And you came here as a messenger.”

“Yes. To bring the cane.”

“Isn’t it possible that Craig’s message was more complex than just bringing an artifact? Isn’t it possible that the infection that has taken over Craig’s mind has spread to you?”

“What infection?”

“The attraction to crime. The temptation to cross the line. We’re all tempted sometimes.”

“I’m drawn to investigation. Ever since I was a kid I read the adventures that you detectives starred in and I dreamed of doing the same one day.”

“But kids grow up. And when they do their dreams change, fade, or become sullied.”

“I still long for the same things,” I replied, without knowing for sure if I was lying or telling the truth.

“Acolytes are quiet and stay in the corners, and you, the newest one, are the most invisible of all. Which is why I wanted to get to know you better, before asking you this question: did you visit Paloma Leska the night of the crime?”

“Who?” I asked, even though I knew very well who he was talking about.

“The Mermaid. Did you think she was a real mermaid? Her name was Paloma Leska.”

“I won’t deny it. I went to return a stolen object.”

“What was that object? And who had stolen it?”

“It was a photograph. And I stole it. I thought it might be useful for the investigation.”

“And you found the body and didn’t say anything?”

“The body? No, the Mermaid was alive. She still wore her green costume. I’ve never seen a woman as alive as she was.”

“And can you prove that you didn’t kill her?”

“No! But why would I kill her?”

Caleb Lawson stopped looking at me and addressed his public.

“I want this young man to be suspended immediately and denied entrance to our meetings from now on.”

“He’s Arzaky’s assistant. Arzaky is the one who should decide that,” said Magrelli.

“Arzaky isn’t here, so we’ll be the ones who decide. This young man was at the scene of the crime at the moment it was committed. We’ll have to inform the chief of police as well…”

That jarred me. I wouldn’t fare well with Bazeldin, who would do anything to get rid of Arzaky.

“I’m innocent. It would only take Arzaky a second to prove my innocence.”

“But he’s not here, and you have no witness to confirm that, when you left, the Mermaid was still alive.”

Not only was my membership in the circle of assistants about to be taken away, but it also looked like I was headed to jail. I had entered the world I had read about as a child, but my storyline had unexpectedly digressed. I spoke without thinking, “Yes, I do have a witness.”

“Who?”

Was I slow to speak? It seemed like there was an incredibly long silence, but time passes differently in dreams.

“Castelvetia’s assistant.”

Castelvetia stood up. I didn’t look at him. He came toward me, to shut me up.

“She’ll tell you the truth. Greta-”

There was a murmur of surprise. Caleb Lawson smiled. His tense body seemed to relax, his public prosecutor stance disappeared. In that moment I understood that I had been tricked, that they didn’t care about the accusations against Craig. Lawson was just waiting for that word, the proof that he needed against Castelvetia.

“She. Greta,” repeated Lawson triumphantly.

Castelvetia looked around him. There were no longer any traces of affectation in him. He had abandoned his posture, and his elegant mannerisms had fallen away like a cape descending to the ground. His hands, which had seemed to be mere objects of contemplation, were now claws. His voice had deepened.

“She isn’t an assistant in the strict sense of the word. Besides, I was about to inform The Twelve Detectives about the presence of my collaborator, once the problems we are currently dealing with were resolved.”

“Having a woman as your assistant breaks all our rules,” said Caleb Lawson. “I propose that Castelvetia be suspended. I’ll remind you that the voting is by simple majority…”

Lawson raised his hand. So did Madorakis and Hatter.

“I support the motion,” said Magrelli, “but only as a precautionary measure.”

There were nine detectives present; only one more vote would ensure his suspension. Rojo hesitated, but eventually raised his hand.

“And now I call for a vote on the precautionary separation of Arzaky, and his assistant as well…”

Would The Twelve Detectives have voted against Arzaky? I don’t think so. They wouldn’t have dared go that far. Before anyone had the chance to make that mistake, his voice was heard.

“What are you doing, Lawson?”

The Englishman jumped.

“Arzaky! Where were you?”

“I’ve been in a lot of bad places these past few days, and throughout my life. But this is the worst place of all. In every dive there are rules of conduct; here it seems that the only norm is humiliation and dishonor. You wanted your revenge against Castelvetia? Well now you have it. Why go after my assistant too?”

“Because he didn’t have anyone to assist. Besides, he knew Castelvetia’s secret and he didn’t say anything.”

“He’s an assistant, not a stool pigeon.”

“But our code of honor…”

“I demand that Salvatrio be cleared of all guilt and charges, and that he continue to help me with this case.”

Lawson had turned pale. He wanted to challenge Arzaky’s words, but he couldn’t. Yet he didn’t want to give up center stage, so he said to the Pole, “We have already realized what you’ve known for some time: that the killer is following a plan based on The Four Elements . We only have to decide whether the first murder was earth or air, and based on that…”

Arzaky raised his eyebrows in an exaggerated look of surprise. He had lost weight during his absence, and now all his features were more prominent, as if he was wearing a mask of himself.

“ The Four Elements ? Who told you that had anything to do with the case?”

“That is what you were trying to hide from us.”

“You’re missing either earth or air? Then we’ll have to keep a close watch on the entire planet, because there’s air and earth everywhere.”

I withdrew to the back of the room, ashamed. No one was looking at me anymore, because all eyes were fixed on Arzaky. Magrelli had approached to effusively shake his hand and Zagala was waiting for his turn. Novarius was consulting the wall clock, as if the only thing he was worried about was how many days, hours, and minutes were left before he could f lee these European complications.