The next day
Costa sat in front of the detectives.
"So, Mr. Costa… Vero told you he had solved the case. Besides him, you're the only one who knows that, isn't that right?" The agent rested his hands on the table.
"No, sir," Costa nodded.
" He never told me he had solved any case. He only said he wanted to tell me something important in person, not over the phone. So I didn't even know he had solved any case," Costa said, his voice growing soft.
"We checked the CCTV footage. Vero welcomed the killer into his home. That means he knew the man. He arrived wearing a monkey mask and later left in Vero's car. He knew exactly where the car keys were. There were two glasses inside the house....no fingerprints, no DNA. We believe he wore gloves. We found Vero's car abandoned in the forest. The moment we opened it, it caught fire. Whoever this was… he was prepared. Left no trace. We checked every camera possible. He just...… appeared out of nowhere. His walk was strange.....like a clown or a joker. After dropping the car, he simply vanished." The agent slammed his hand on the table.
"I have no words, sir. I still can't believe it. I can't forgive whoever did this....…" Costa wiped his tears.
"Did you enjoy the movie?" the agent asked.
"The movie is the reason I lost my friend. I can't....…" Costa's voice broke as tears rolled down his cheeks.
"What did you think about the part where the hero saved the heroine?" The agent crossed his arms.
"What are you talking about, sir? The hero stabbed the heroine in the chest...… to kill the henchmen behind her," Costa said, still wiping his face.
"Oh, right. Sorry. I think the case is messing with my memory. What was your favorite dialogue from the movie?" The agent stared into Costa's eyes.
"It was the villain's line. He said, 'It's not the dead I'm scared of….... it's the living.'" Costa's voice trembled.
"Only one?" The agent suddenly stood up.
Seeing this, Costa stood up too. "Another one was: 'The things you hold closest are the things that hurt the longest.'"
"Fine." The agent walked out to continue the investigation.
A day later
People gathered at Vero's funeral.
"Goodbye, my friend," Costa whispered as he placed a flower on the coffin.
Vero's child sobbed in his mother's arms. The ceremony continued in silence as they buried him with solemn respect.
Days passed
Jose scrolled through the news on his phone.
Headline: Civilians caught in crossfire between rival mafias.
"What do you think?" Francisco asked. "They could be good soldiers for us."
"Are you insane?" Jose snapped, putting his phone down. "I'm not bringing mafias into our group."
"We should. They'll be our biggest asset when the time comes." Francisco walked out of the room.
In a dimly lit room
"What do you want?" a man asked, staring at Jose across the table.
"You killed your own father while high on drugs, Janquin," Jose said calmly. "When you sobered up, it was too late. After prison, you became the co-leader of a gang marked by a snake eating its own tail."
"Bastard," Janquin growled, pulling a gun on Jose.
"I'm not done," Jose continued. "The real leader made the money. You pushed him into the river and took it all. Then you lied to your gang...said you outsmarted the cops, showed them the stolen cash, and claimed victory. Do you really think they'll follow a leader built on lies?"
Janquin slowly lowered the gun. "What do you want?"
"Nothing," Jose said. "You'll remain the leader. Just know....… from now on, you work for me." He slipped his hand into his pocket. The mirrored walls around them reflected every move from all angles.
"Fine," Dalgedo and Janquin replied at the same time.
Four months later
"Hey, Dalgedo," Angelo said, lounging on the couch. "The mayor needs property near the Porto school. Wants to build a mall."
"So what's the issue?" Dalgedo asked, sipping his coffee.
"The owner won't sell. Not for any price. It's...… a different kind of customer." Angelo took a sip from his own cup.
Dalgedo smirked. "Just wait. In a few days, he'll be begging us to take that land off his hands."
They clinked their coffee cups and finished the drink.