Sal found herself face-to-face with the long breadth of the bridge and the vast river between its two sides. Her stomach turned at the prospect of coming so far from the Hospicio unassisted yet it also jumped from the fact that she is alone in a place no one seemed to frequent.

“Hey! We’ve been looking for you.” It was the constable.

Sal turned around quickly to apologize. She kept her head bowed, ashamed at the reckless mindlessness that overtook her for a moment that day, walking out of the gate into the entrance of the island. An untended, open gate did entice her, but the poor metal structure has nothing to do with Sal’s faults and own recklessness.

“But hey! The breeze is nice in here. Must be good to take a walk. You could have just called me, we’ll take a nice stroll. You shouldn’t be out here on your own. “ The man squatted on the ground. “Or perhaps, you want to see the Signor Ren?”

Sal nodded. Ever since she came back, everyone who interacted with her knows that she is the Signor Ren’s ward. There are more people to watch over her on Ren’s behalf. All she has to do is follow his orders. Signor. Ren It rolled strange on the tongue.

“Hey! Mom.” The constable turned to Lea who has just arrived by then. “Sneaking out in daylight? My! My. What a bold child is she. This brave constable will see that you be away from seeking trouble and-”

Lea threw a small pouch at the man. “ No sneaking out when you are in the know, right?”

The constable balked. “I’m a constable, you always want to forget that do you?”

“Not my mom, not my dad., you don’t order me around. Yeah. Anyway,” Lea cast a quick look on Sal. “I’ve stated before that I am a Lehmann, but Nay Rosa wouldn’t believe me, so I will look for another relative here in Alimpio. Perhaps someone else from the branch family who have married and moved here might still know of me.”

 The woman stood tall. In this way, Sal almost always forgets that she is older than this woman and so is the constable.

When they headed back to the hospicio, Sal waited for Lea to bring up the matter of her running out into the bridge but neither spoke a word. Sal better get the manner out of her chest.

 “Read. I will read the letter.”

Lea broke off into a wide smile. She almost squished Sal’s cheeks but she was blocked off in time by a well-prepared blanket.

Sal huffed. “I am weak. You are strong. “

“Oh, sure I am strong.”

“As such, I will only accompany you to read the letter. “

 Lea nodded, “ Of course.”

“But if it becomes too scary. I will stop.”

 Lea stared. Surprise? Bewilderment? Disappointment? Nonetheless, she leaned on the windowsill, smiling to the air.

“Alright, you will.”

Carriage rides have always been queasy for Sal, a swirling feeling in her stomach and a certain heaviness in her head at every turn of the wheel. But there were no wild bumps this time in the ride. She sat on the carriage window and occupied herself with watching the buildings whiz past her set to the rhythm of the horses’ hooves. Lea sat across her while the constable accompanied the driver.

Ro had proposed, insisted, that they should do things in a proper manner. Hence, he brought the matter with ‘Nay Rosa and also allowed them to procure a carriage.

The trip had taken them almost a few hours. It seemed that they were deep in the heart of the city as Ro insisted that they come to the state office for confirmation and a list of names to look into. Lea had insisted that they stop by a hostel. Apparently, She knew the place.

When the carriage stopped, Ro stepped off and approached the address Lea specified. A man dressed in a gaudy, yellow- checkered suit stepped off the door, nearly swaying to his side.

The constable and the man conversed but it does not seem to have been going well so Lea stepped out of the carriage and dragged Sal with her. Slowly, it became clear that the man does not seem intent on entertaining the constable until the two girls appeared.

he man straightened his gait. He was not a tall man. His hair was like a square propped on a circular head. He was also reeking of wine and a slight odor of old fish. His grin looked so much like a dog’s mouth.

The man beamed at the two women. “Heavens! I am not under arrest. Good mercy! Young man right here gave me a good scare.” The man pointed a swaying, crooked postured hand at the constable. “Guests!” He bowed as he held a bottle in one hand. The man opened the door to the hostel and invited them in.

It was a small, quaint room looking a lot like if Sal managed a Mercantile’s office for a day. A leaning tower of papers sat atop a messy desk facing a sofa with overturned sheets. And for some reason, the coat hanger was rolling on the floor.

The man sat on the a desk, overturning a name plate. He brushed it off and flung his arms wide holding a bottle in one hand. “ “Anyway, mi name y Sgr. Luca Allesandro Comaco. Make yourselves comfortable.”

Lea whispered something to the constable, the constable giving a sour expression afterwards.

Sal bowed to a curtsy, as taught to her the proper decorum for meeting someone of position. The man, though living in a hostel and wears clothes stinking of wine, looked like a mercantile or someone of stature.

Lea did not opt to sit but immediately made her demands known. “ If you would be so kind, Sgr. We ask for-”

“Ah, yes! My guests are hungry. You need food, refreshments!. Gracia!” The man sat on the desk then tapped a book on the table. He had a lot to say it seems. He went on and on about the hostel or the housekeeper named Gracia. The maid in the Casa would think this man lowly for his poor manners, stinking room and gaudy clothing. He talks many things when he has only met them. No one else has ever done that.

A little while later, a woman came to the man’s command. She must be Gracia. She was a small woman of a slight and a bit chubby build. onetheless, there seems a certain hardness in her face as she looked at the man straight on, devoid of the deference Sal expects one might see.

“Furnish these children with the best wine. Oh, and do we have the foreign desserts from last night. That will be sumptuous don’t you think?”

Sal looked at Lea where she refused to even sit until the signor hears her request. All attempts by the lady to speak were almost unheard. Sal huffed, and took it upon herself to greet the man the way she knew.

“Alti Gratis, Signor. Il of erre receivrete, sed, noso non lonos estarrevel.

There was a silence. The Signor gave a small clap

Sal wrought her eyes from the ground to see the man who smiled his dog-like smile.

He plopped himself on the desk and crossed his legs. “I see. That’s a pity. Might as well hear this favor you speak of before you leave, lil birdies.”

 Lea stepped forward. “ I believe Sgr. you know Dario Lehmann.”

“Anyone who can delight me with good food and wine. Anyone who can delight me with his words. Of course, I know them.”

Lea turned to Sal and gave a slight face before she produced the letter from her sleeve and handed it to the man in front of them. “This letter was left in my care. I was only told that that this was a corporate letter, one when he was working as a supervisor in the factories you apparently had business with.”

The Comaco barely placed a quick glance at the letter before placing it on the pile of unruly books and messy papers

At seeing the letter almost ruined by a wine spill, Sal extended her hand, pointing at the letter. At the Sgr. Comaco’s questioning stare, she responded “May I see it please?”

 The man did so. Sal heaved her breath as she glanced back to Lea. If things go south, and the man gets too close, gets too close to ascertaining any relation of hers to Cuorre, Lea will get her out. Sal hoped that she understood what her glance meant.

Sal proceeded to read the letter aloud, seemingly to herself, but truly to keep it loud enough for the Signor to hear. It felt phony to read another person’s words. It was like a different person was reading it. Sal stuttered at the last words. Mi piu alta gratis.

Sal plopped down on the seat as soon as she was finished, holding a hand to her chest. She hoped that the sofa would just swallow her.

Lea then spoke, “My brother worked for the Sgr. Cuorre, before the-” She paused and balled her fists, breathing in then out. “the incident.” She continued, “He lived to work here. He was also tasked to retrieve the heirloom of the family which was apparently taken to this place. I was just looking for people who knew him, so I could trace the heirloom.”

 The man dipped his head to one side, gazing lazily at his glass. “ Tried asking around?”

“I already tried. “

“Lil kids always try to do things the hard way. You have a constable waiting at your foot. Make use of this pretty guy right here.” He pointed at the constable.

Lea clutched at her dress, the fingers digging deeper through the fabric as they seemed to tremble ever so slightly. Lea hastened her words “I tried.” She cut off the Sgr. Comaco when he was about to speak. “Please, if you do not know where the heirloom is, at least can you just point us to another person who might’ve been close to him. The place he lived, we cannot use the place for reference, I am hoping someone could point me to it.”

“Just when I thought it would be something grand. I don’t do family drama. “

Lea pleaded, “ I can do anything, Signor. Do you need another housekeeper? Or a messenger? I can do what you ask. Just please.”

 Sal turned her head to the ground at the sight. Hearing the exchange made her squirm, even moreso coming from a woman who’d confidently lord over her and drag her everywhere she likes. She’d tried to tune out the woman’s pleas.

Then, a pair of feet were in front of Sal. She averted her eyes, but soon found herself staring at the face of Sgr. Comaco regarding Lea and the constable in an expression she cannot place. His eyes were blank, his lips, remaining a thin line across his face as he swirled the reddish liquid in his glass. Is this how the Mercantile looked like during those conversations in the Casa?

The man flashed a stare at Sal, as if arresting, caging Sal in them. It burned like a cat staring at her prey, ready to attack.

Sal turned away.

 The man placed his other foot on the desk. “So, this Dario. The same chap who died in the Cuorre case is it? And you’re looking for the heirloom. Well, the only plausible thing is if the Signor Cuorre could arrange for his murder then it is no leap he could steal that thing you’re looking for too.” He leveled another glance at Sal. “Right, child?”

 Sal stayed quiet on her seat, eyes on the ground, as if the moment she does, he could see right through her. His words raisied so much unease.

“ This thing you ask of me is quite exciting. Even common people know of his case. I’ll be a celebrity if I dip my arse into their affairs.”

 Lea raised her voice, her feet rising from the ground. “That is simply nonsense! I mean, impossible. We only need a name.”

“My only contact with this unfortunate chap would be through business. He wrote company letters and he consulted me once or maybe a few more times, but I know no one else he is affiliated with outside the Cuorre himself. Their office? Have you looked into that?”

“ I have not.”

“Oh! How unmindful of me. Either it was searched over already or guards will be over the place, but hey you could ask your constable buddy here to help you jump over.” He pointed again at the constable with a wide grin on his face. Only silence responded. “That aside, I should not like be the uncultured peasants who throw unbridled hatred on this man. After all, the case is still under trial, nothing has been proven yet despite what talks circulate. Should we give him the benefit of the doubt?”

Sal kept her eyes on the ground ignoring the footsteps echoing across the room. They came louder and louder until a pair of feet in bright checkered trousers were in front of her, the Signor Comaco.

“ What do you say about that?”

Sal twiddled her fingers. It was the same sensation as being quizzed on a mistake you did while the other waiting for you to trip on your words until you admit your foolishness and misdeed. It was the knowledge that no matter how you try to lie, the truth will be dug out from you.

Sal fumbled for an answer. “I do not know.”

“Hmm. That is?” He was not satisfied.

“People are saying he was a bad man.”

“Kid, I’m not asking you to parrot the rumors. I’ve got enough of those. I’m asking if you think he was innocent.”

The man plopped on the sofa beside Sal. “ Last night, I was reading this rather strange children’s tale about this rat and the dead lion. A rat snuck onto a lion’s den for its treasures. Not a peculiar thing, if you must. But don’t you think it must be odd for the rat to know every nook and cranny of the lion’s den? Was it even a rat?” The man turned to Sal. “ Perhaps you know the answer?”

 Sal shook her head. “I don’ know the Signor.” She gulped, spatting out the words as quick as she can.

“Truly?”

The man returned to the desk and at the shortest seconds he was not looking, Sal pulled at Lea’s skirt trail. She stared at her, looking into the same green eyes as hers, albeit stronger, bolder. But she was not.

Lea responded by muttering that her head hurt and collapsed, plopping herself on the floor.

The constable held him in his lap as he tried to rouse the woman in panic. He carried the woman on his arms, as he apologized for the intrusion and declined the Signor’s offers of a doctor.

As Sal trailed by the door behind the two, she stopped. Will she ever get the chance to drop by this place again? She has already started her end o of the deal. Will it be naught to leave it hanging like that? A sense of disappointment for time lost and a yearning to follow what was started.

 Sal turned back to give the Signor a proper bow and goodbye. She stuttered, but she managed to eke out the words. “Perhaps there was another animal inside the lion’s den. Who else would know the rat was inside?”

 The man grinned.

Sal felt his grin too dog-like, but she pressed on, the grin rousing as much both disgust and also a certain fascination. “You ask and yet you already know the answers.”

 Sal tried to look at the man, but despite him not towering so much over her and his clothing inviting so much attention, she failed. For as long as she knows, the Mercantile outside their Casa, in their furnished voices and polished, shiny conversations, their faces remain to her a blank shadow. She doesn’t truly know them. Neither has she seen his face either.

 “I do not know the Signor. “ Her chest beating at the sheer foolishness and honesty of it all. She never does truly know the Signor.

The man leaned over the desk. “A second character inside the den huh? An interesting theory. “ He stepped off the desk,straightened his gait and set aside the wine. He straightened the name plate he toppled earlier.

“ I would’ve given you some slack you foolish chaps, but you wound my pride. As you see-” He brought the name plate closer, then threw it across the floor, nearer where the three can see. “I’m not a Mercantile. I’m a man of the law.” The man continued, “ My superiors would kill me if I tampered with possible evidence.”The man flashed a wide smile. “Now, get out!”

Lea and the constable were loud in voicing their disappointment, or at least Lea was. She kicked and yelled for awhile even as the constable hoisted her on his back. The constable’s bows and apologies were almost drowned out by Lea. The two kept on bickering outside.

Sal stayed in, feeling it rude to disrupt the two but moreso resting on the feeling of being sorely mistaken. Also, how could such a shabby, indecent person be a man of the law?

The man caught her stare. “Kid, if you’d stopped staring on the floor, you would have recognized me. You’re smart. Shame you’re also stupid.” The man leaned in closer. “Aren’t you going with them? I guess not. They holding you on a leash?”

Sal twiddled her fingers as the man towered still over her. She struck a deal with Lea and the constable was loud. Only loud.

“I trust you won’t stir trouble unlike the other two. After all you’re a sheep.” The man gave Sal’s head a good long pat before leaving the room.

Sal took long look at the Signor Comaco’s messy office. She did not immediately follow the other two outside. She’s not a bold child, is she? Is she really?