Flowers Over the Inferno by Ilaria Tuti

Author:Ilaria Tuti
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orion

39

Light towers illuminated the forest with a premature, unnatural dawn. A few birds had begun to sing already, their cries ringing across the sky through sporadic flakes of snow.

The marks left by the SUV were still visible on the road. Shards of glass from the car’s broken headlights showed the exact spot where it had crashed against the rocks.

The sequence of events as the boys had described it was backed up by the footprints on the ground. Early signs suggested that they matched the prints found on the Valent crime scene.

‘It’s him,’ said Marini.

Teresa was sure of it. She nodded in greeting at the regional chief of police and deputy public prosecutor Gardini, who were standing across from the police tape that bordered the marks.

‘The boys frightened him. Why?’ she wondered.

‘He attacked in anger, because he was hit,’ said Marini.

Teresa didn’t agree. From the account the boys had given, it sounded like the stranger had stood with his arms outstretched, as if to stop the vehicle. He had wanted to protect something.

‘No. He did it to defend himself. He felt threatened,’ she replied.

‘Do you think he lives in the woods?’

‘Do you reckon that would be possible?

‘No – at least not in total isolation.’

‘I want to see the survey maps of all the mountain shelters in this area. He might be using them as bases.’

Someone from the team cried out in surprise as a herd of roe deer crossed the path right in front of them in lithe, powerful leaps. It was a spectacle of sinister allure: this was not normal behaviour for those animals.

‘Something’s scared them and driven them down to the valley,’ said Knauss, voicing what everyone was thinking.

Teresa eyed the gloom among the trees.

‘He’s here,’ she muttered. ‘He’s watching us. Again.’

The darkness and the forest were protecting him once more and there was no question of going in to look for him.

‘And who knows where he will be tomorrow.’

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