On the Run

7 - Proof

Night had fallen upon Montalbano Jonico; the gorgeous moon shone bright across the sleeping city, as if watching over them, protecting them with its rays of light to fend away the darkness.

Daniela's home was silent and still. Daniela was sound asleep, sprawled out over bed, indulging in the knitted blanket that she had wrapped herself in. Mia lay asleep in the guest room; she was more contained, and a lot less messily spread than Daniela.

The creaking of a floorboard broke the silence. Lorenzo froze in his spot, listening out carefully to hear if he had woken the women. A moment passed and there wasn't any sign of anyone else being awake. He let out a breath of relief and continued into the kitchen. Switching on the light, he wandered over to the sink and poured himself a glass of water, gulping down quietly.

He turned around, ready to leave with the glass when he saw a file on top of one of the cabinets. Curiosity got the better of him and Lorenzo set down the water before reaching up, grabbing the file. He held it close, trying to make out what exactly it was.

Lorenzo squinted as a logo seemed to make itself more noticeable with each second. He was finally able to see what it was – it was the KGB logo.

Lorenzo paused; he didn't know what to think of it, a new set of questions flooding into his already clouded mind.

"Why would Daniela have this?" Lorenzo muttered to himself.

He turned the page and was able to read the name Nikolina Petrovna. Just as he started peeling back the page, another set of hands quickly found themselves on the file and yanked it away from him before he could see anymore.

Startled, he jumped back, narrowly missing the glass of water on the side of the counter. He saw Daniela stood before him with tense, angry eyes. She clutched the file tightly, pulling it into her chest.

"Why do you have an old KGB file?" Lorenzo dared to ask. He could feel his heart racing, not knowing why he even decided it was a clever idea to start asking.

"My superior gave it to me for a case," Daniela said coldly, clearly not about to give any more information, "now don't go snooping again."

Daniela then walked out of the kitchen with the file and stalked off back to her bedroom, leaving Lorenzo alone to think of more reasons not to trust her. His brain was already pumping out wild theories, most of which made no sense. But he wasn't going to let it slide. He was going to tell Mia first thing in the morning. With his plan set in motion, he hurried off back to the couch and curled up on it, letting the lull of darkness entice him into a quiet slumber.

*

The screeching of a kettle yanked Lorenzo from the sweet release of sleep, dragging him back into his now more than hectic life. He jolted upwards, completely alert. But everything was normal; he could see the back of Daniela moving around in the kitchen, the sound of a spoon dinging against of a cup bouncing out into the living room. He then suddenly remembered the file he came across just hours before and pondered about saying something to her.

"Good morning, campagno," came Mia's voice from behind as she entered the open space, already in her clothes for the day.

She was sporting dress pants and a light blue button up shirt with her ID for the agency clipped into the shirt pocket. Mia purposely wore the chosen clothes because she knows she'd blend in with the other agents at the DIS. After all, she wasn't going back to resume her job – she was going back to get proof that Caterina was in fact assassinated.

"Are you sure it's a good idea for you to go back?" Lorenzo asked groggily.

"Enzo, I have to go back," Mia said as she brushed herself down.