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. “