Lieutenant Windle was the first one to break the silence. "Mr. Maniaca... tell us what was in that glass tank, please." But Mr. Maniaca did not answer. He was weeping as he touched the glass pieces, one by one. So another worker standing next to him started explaining. But as he started talking, Lieutenant Windle interrupted him for a simple question.
"Could you tell us your name, age, house's location, and your job at this shop?" He asked. He motioned me to write down what the worker said. The worker told us his name was Britio Fauntleroy, 34, and he lived at Adams street 49. He also told us that his job in the Zewery Jerwerly was to stand at the counter, greet people, and help them pay for the jewerlys, and bid them good-bye and thank you. "I worked here for 8 years, and I started as a moneykeeper, and is still a moneykeeper," he said, "And that guy over there"- he pointed another man who was staring at the smashed tank -"he started as a person who gives out advertisement papers to people in the street and tell them about what we sell. And now, he's a person who attends the meeting that is held every 2 weeks. The meeting is for collecting good ideas for our business, but I'm sure Jake didn't have any ideas. Mr. Maniaca made him the marketing man just because he seemed a little developed. And he has only worked for not even 3 years!" As I wrote them down, I realized that Britio was jealous at once. Then I had the sudden idea that this Britio fellow could have smashed the tank.
"I mean no offense, but by your name and accent and things... are you a mixed-blood, sir?" I asked.
Britio nodded. "My mother is from Italia. But she married an American man, as you see."
"And... well... you're an half-Italian. There are very many Italia restaurant with actual Italian cooks. I know this isn't my business... but just out of... curiosity, you know... how did you happen to work here?" I knew I looked a little suspicious asking so many questions, but Britio didn't seem to notice, and Lieutenant Windle seemed like he was wanting to know too.
"Oh, that. My father had many friends. The boss before Mr. Maniaca was one of his friends. Mr. Vinne - his the before boss - liked me and my older sister, Mariana. He told my father that he would let us in without tests, since we had met him very often, and he knew very well about us. He knew we would be good people. So, when we were old enough, we started working here. My father was pretty satisfied." Suddenly a woman with blond hair ran into the building, where the tank was, and other policeman were interviewing other workers and also Mr. Maniaca.
"Oh Mr. Maniaca, what has happened?" Then she spotted Britio and ran over to him. "Britio!"
Britio smiled sheepishly at us. "This is Mariana."
"Dear brother, what in the world happened? And why are the police here? And were you guys talking about me? Are you okay?" Mariana, or Miss Mariana asked.
What a scatterbrained woman, I thought. "Please hold on, miss," said Lieutenant Windle. He turned back to Britio. "So she is your sister. But why did you"- he nodded toward Miss Mariana -"arrive here so late? I'm sure you two got the news at the pretty same time, and you leave in the same house?"
"Oh, we don't," said Britio, rather quickly than calmly. "My sister is married." he sighed very heavily. "To a guy named Jake." I frowned. "You don't mean the Jake, right?" I asked, hoping he would say no. "I do." Britio said, letting out a sigh again. "She married the Jake. That's very annoying. So she leaves in their own house. And I leave with my parents."
"Isn't there any other workers?" I asked.
"There's Paddie, Brinton, and Falona. And there's Mr. Maniaca, of course."
I looked around and counted the workers. There were four more men, including Mr. Maniaca, and also a woman. Luckily, our parteners had already interviewed them. Even Mr. Maniaca, who had calmed down a little.
I exchanged glances with Lieutenant Windle. He had a troubled look. This was turning into a difficult mystery. Especially this Fauntleroy family.
| 이전글 | Iridessa|2019-11-23 | |
|---|---|---|
| 다음글 | OmegaLight|2019-11-12 |