The next day was no different from its predecessors in Valentera… the sun does not rise here but seeps timidly between buildings as if afraid to touch the city. As for the people? They pass by crimes the same way they pass by shop windows; they've grown used to murder being part of the scenery.
In his small office atop a cracked building in the "Santiaro" district, Roberto Marini stood before a massive map of Valentera, marked with red and black symbols — each dot representing a crime.
But tonight, he wasn't searching for the killer.
He was trying to understand: Why Leo?
Soft knocks on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
Verano entered holding a file in his hand, his face pale as if burdened by something he didn't want to say.
"Report on the alley movements, sir."
Roberto took the file silently, sat behind his desk, and began flipping through the pages.
– "An hour before the crime, a fight was reported in a nearby tavern."
– "An unidentified individual was seen exiting the alley, wearing a gray coat and a wide-brimmed hat, his face unseen."
– "A delivery boy saw this man leave something on the ground… but when he returned, it was gone."
Roberto closed the file.
"Gray coat… wide-brimmed hat… this isn't new, Verano."
Verano took a step back: "But this time, sir, there's something else."
He pulled out another small paper — a hand-drawn sketch… a strange symbol made of interlocking circles, resembling the signature found at previous crime scenes.
"This symbol was carved into one of the alley walls… it was covered in paint, but it was there."
Roberto took the sketch, his eyes fixed on it, but he wasn't just looking at the symbol… he was focused on the place where it was placed: high on the wall, at an angle not easily reachable.
"Verano, someone who puts something where it can't be seen… doesn't want it to be discovered."
Verano looked puzzled: "But it's the Masked Killer's signature, sir."
Roberto rose from his chair, approached his office window, and looked down at Valentera from above. The city appeared like a giant spider web, every street a thread leading to nothingness.
"Maybe… or maybe it's a signature just for us. A signature that means nothing, but we'll chase after it because we love riddles."
Verano remained silent, not knowing how to respond.
Roberto wasn't speaking to anyone… but to himself.
⸻
That evening, Roberto was walking through "Cortili" alley, a district known for black market dealers.
Verano had told him about a man named "Daniele Fortini" — a name that kept appearing in investigations but was never caught.
It was said that he smuggled weapons, but today… whispers hinted he was linked to the Masked Killer.
Roberto entered a small metal shop, where Fortini hid behind a cracked glass storefront.
"Marini… what an honor."
Fortini was thin, a sticky smile on his face, toying with a steel chain in his hand.
"Listen carefully, Fortini…"
"Oh, don't start with that tone, Detective. We're men who love the truth."
Roberto didn't smile, he pulled out the picture of the symbol.
"Have you seen this before?"
Fortini looked at it, his eyes narrowing.
"That's the Masked Killer's symbol… isn't it?"
Roberto didn't respond.
Fortini leaned in, his voice lowered:
"You're chasing a shadow, Marini… this symbol? Just bait. Someone wants you to see it. The real killer… isn't who you read about in the papers."
"And who is he?"
Fortini smiled, but this time it was a meaningless smile.
"It's you, Marini… or maybe it's me… or maybe it's Valentera itself."
Roberto was used to nonsense. But this time, he felt something different.
Fortini's words weren't a confession… they echoed a stray thought in his own head.
But he didn't have time for fantasies.
"Who put the symbol on the wall, Fortini?"
The man leaned forward, whispered:
"I'll tell you this only… the symbol isn't a mark of ownership, it's a question. And the only question you should ask yourself, Marini, is: who remembers you when you're gone?"
Roberto left the shop, his steps slower than usual.
Something in those words was knocking on an old door in his memory… a door he didn't want to open.
But Valentera never keeps its doors closed for long.