The night had now spread. Outside, the wind made the branches beat against the windows, like persistent hands asking to be let in. In the living room, the atmosphere was heavy with the smell of old wood and burnt candle.
Felicia, Petunia, Augustus and Hercules were in the center of the living room, some sitting on the sofa, others in chairs and Aunt Petunia was standing and fanning the air with her hand.
Dorella, who was sitting in the quietest part of the room with the other three children, was reading her notes again. "Something that doesn't fit with Felicia's story," she said. "She said she was in the pastry shop downtown. But when I asked her who saw her there, she couldn't answer clearly. Just 'there were people, someone would have seen me.'"
Peter raised an eyebrow. "A classic response from someone who doesn't want to give names."
Gabriel had his arms crossed, his fingers tapping nervously on his arm. "It's clear she's hiding something. I can feel it. And that trembling in her hands… wasn't just sadness."
As if Felicia herself had heard his thought, she suddenly appeared before them. Her gaze was sharp, almost arrogant.
"Are you talking about me?" she asked, her voice struggling to keep calm. "Because I can tell you who you should be worried about. Hercules, for example. He was always jealous of Leo. He said he was never appreciated enough. And it's obvious he likes someone from here."
Dorella pursed her lips. "We have no evidence of that."
"And Aunt Petunia?" Felicia continued, almost passionately. "Don't let her age fool you. She's always wanted more power in the family. Leo's death might have paved the way for her."
Gabriel looked at her straight in the eye. He was seething inside. She's talking about everyone but herself. As if she wanted to confuse us.
Dorella, who understood this from his look, then responded, "You're talking about everyone but yourself, as if you're not a suspect, too, I'd ask you to go and sit down because just feeling your toxicity gives me a headache, let alone looking at you and talking to you," she said with a tired tone in her voice.
Peter, with his familiar smile, leaned back. "Interesting that you know everyone's weaknesses so well, Felicia. Almost… suspicious. But what do I know."
Felicia glared at him. "You don't know what you're talking about. If I wanted to confuse you, I wouldn't be here talking to you."
When she left, leaving a heavy silence behind her, Dorella glanced at Gabriel. "Did you see that? She was throwing suspicions right and left, but she didn't give a single clear alibi for herself."
Gabriel nodded. His gaze lingered on Dorella a little longer, and she noticed it and for the first time asked him, "Are you okay?"
God… if he understood what I was feeling… he thought. But how can I hide it? Every time he looks at me like that, I feel like I'm losing control.
Peter broke the moment with his familiar humor. "I suggest we also take notes on where everyone is looking. Sometimes that says more than words."
Gabriel felt his face burn. He turned away, out of sight. Peter hadn't mentioned any names, but everyone knew who he was referring to.
Lily, calm as ever, said, "What's certain is that Felicia is playing a game. She's trying to turn us against each other. That, in itself, is suspicious."
Dorella closed the notebook. "I agree. But she knew when she came here that we would be more suspicious of her if she tried to throw ash in our eyes. Starting tomorrow, we need to watch her more closely." What game are you playing, Felicia? What did you do to Leo? And why is my sister so afraid of you?
Gabriel didn't speak. But inside he had made the decision: he would not let Felicia out of his sight. And at the same time, he could not escape another thought that tormented him more and more often, and we all know what it is. That perhaps, in all this darkness, his only true compass was Dorella.