January 11 - Milano - The Voice

[robertod]

As the investigators return to their hotel rooms and prepare for bed, they hear a singing female voice echoing through the halls of the Galleria. The voice is powerful, emotional and cathartic. As the listeners pays more attention to the beautiful sound, they recognize Caterina Cavollaro´s voice. She´s singing “Ritorna Vincitor,” the same aria from Aida that she performed on the train. Immidiately, people follow the sound out of the Galleria. Police and groups of people run down the narrow streets and into piazzas.

[Mr. Handy]

Felicity quickly throws on her fur coat over her nightgown, slips on her shoes, and runs to her friends' rooms. "That's Caterina!" she exclaims, knocking on their doors. "I'd recognise her voice anywhere! We need to go outside and find her!"

[SaintMeerkat]

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It took a moment for the sound to register, but one it did, there was no mistaking that distinctive golden voice. Even though Archie only met her once, he would recognize her anywhere. He hurriedly slipped on his shoes and dashed outside, looking for the missing woman as he joined the crowd.

[Mephistophilis]

Still out of sorts, Andrew grumpily answers the door. 'What the blazes...' Hearing the unmistakable voice he fetches his dressing gown and slips his revolver into a pocket. 'What on earth is going on?' he wonders, and follows the others outside.

[robertod]

At first, the tall buildings and cobbled streets make it difficult to discern from where the sound comes, though everyone hears it. Then, as the voice keeps singing, some identify the provenience. It seems to come from a particular alley. As the mob moves down the dim, narrow street, the music stops. The aria is heard a few more times that night, singing from different points within the neightbourhood, but always stops after a while. Despite people try to reach the singer, when the first persons arrive no one is found around.

Rumors begin to spread. Nobody knows what to think. Someone says that the mysterious singer is an imitator, but the most deny that. No one can sing like Caterina. Someone says that Caterina's disappearance may be a farce. Others spread the rumor that mysterious singing voice was actually recorded, a publicity stunt of the theater to save the opening night. Nobody believes it. The voice that everyone heard was too real, pure and strong.

[Mr. Handy]

"She has to be around this alley somewhere," says Felicity. "We need to search it."

[Mephistophilis]

'Perhaps if we take different quarters of the city we can work our way towards the singing, triangulate our searches,' says Andrew. 'Whatever is going on I think Miss Cavollaro is in trouble. Mixed up with that Turk and his cronies.'

[SaintMeerkat]

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Archie patted his jacket pocket and felt the hard outline of the gun metal, cold through the fabric. He shook his head, praying that he wouldn't have to use it. He nodded at Felicity. "Yes, this sounds promising."

"I would prefer not splitting up, if it's all the same to you, friends."

[robertod]

The voice is heard several times during the night, but with the darker hours it attracts fewer and fewer people. The Milanese citizens of the historic center listen to her at home, someone looking out the windows. The investigators manage to limit the origin to an alley that is a few blocks from the Galleria. At one point, when the voice has just stopped singing, the group turn to the alley and see a woman in a cloth cap and dark coat. She is about to hastily open a door of a building,

[Mr. Handy]

"Caterina, it's me, Felicity!" calls Felicity in Italian, already running toward her.

[Mephistophilis]

Andrew sprints over and reaches for her arm, 'Miss Cavollaro...'

[aine]

“Is anyone else reminded of the Pied Piper of Hamlyn?” Clarence mutters as he hurries after the others.

Sorry, I’ve been sitting in the wings waiting to rejoin and didn’t realise I should have done this and the previous thread.
Clarence has related what he discovered in the scroll to the others in the bar (in the last thread) - can we assume he was there and did this?

[robertod]

The woman whips around as if taken by surprise. At that moment, the investigators see her face. She is not Caterina Cavollaro. The woman replies harshly.
"You are mistaken. I'm not Caterina. Good night"

She moves back to enter the door.

Archie has the impression that the woman is very inconvenienced by the brief questions of Felicity and Andrews. A grimace on her face suggests there´s something more than just being disturbed late at night.

Looking into her face, Felicity notices that the woman has the same cut of dark eyes Caterina has.

[Mr. Handy]

"But you've got her eyes!" says Felicity.

[SaintMeerkat]

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Archie could hardly believe his eyes when the woman turned around and it wasn't the woman they were expecting. This mystery was getting deeper and deeper by the moment, and his head swam dangerously as he panted from all of the exertion. Silently, he thought to himself, what the hell...

He shuddered at Felicity's observation. Surely enough, it had been awhile, but those eyes...

"Signora..." then he continued in English. "We are so sorry to disturb you." Then softer, sotto voce, he said just loudly enough for the group to hear. "Do you need some assistance?" Then waited for Felicity to translate, if needed.

[aine]

Clarence is surprised at Felicity’s observation and looks at the woman closely himself, without being too impertinent.

[Mephistophilis]

Realising it isn't Caterina, Andrew drops his hand. 'My apologies Signorina...'

OOC:   Is that woman old or young? Could she be related to Caterina?

[Mr. Handy]

Felicity translates as necessary.

[robertod]

The woman is disturbed by Felicity's observation about her eyes. Then, her face relaxes and shows a glimmer of curiosity when she perceives that the strangers are English.
Speaking quite fluent English she replies.
"My name is Virginia. I don´t mean to be rude, but I would like to retire to sleep. Can I do anything for you?"

As she answers, Felicity notices the woman make a hasty movement to hide her chest under her coat. Felicity glimpses a scar at the base of her neck.

The woman is older than Caterina by a few years. As far as Andrew is able to notice, she also has a Mediterranean complexion, but he can't deduce whether she could be a close relative.

[Mr. Handy]

"I think we can help you," says Felicity. "You've been hurt! What happened to your neck?"