Free The Discordant Note by Claudio Ruggeri Page B

that means, if any of those guys has made his way, it was because he had been working hard and firmly believing in his own art, not for the teachings that Brandenburg gave to him; he himself used to say that all he did for those guys was to let them know that there was another way in life, another possibility, but that it was only their task to embrace it or not, and then they’re the only one to deserve credit for doing it”.
    “Of course ... may I ask you one last question, Mother?”.
    “Yes”.
    “Have you ever become suspicious for this extravagant behavior of the Master? I mean ...”.
    “I know what you mean ... at the beginning, many years ago, I was a bit undecided whether to let guys work with Brandenburg or not ... but then I realized that the Master had something to be forgiven, a strange feeling I have to admit, though ...you are the detective, Commissioner, perhaps in this case it may be you to clarify some of my doubts”.
    Germano’s answer was a half-heartedly smile, after which Mother Alberta understood that the commissioner had already discovered what the teacher had to make amends for.
    A few moments later, the two said goodbye, with the promise to see as soon as possible for the list of students and former students on which the nun would have been working in the days to come.
    Before heading to the last destination of that long afternoon, Germano preferred to make a phone call to the office, to ask how they were doing and if there were any developments.
    “Hello”.
    “Angelo, it’s me”.
    “Hello Vincent, then?”.
    “I just went out from the orphanage and now I am going to the Young Artists Club; I did actually understand something more about Brandenburg, what about you, instead?”.
    “We're still working on it, we’ll have some news tonight”.
    “Well, then let's see around nineteen in my office, tell the others as well”.
    “Alright Vincent, later”.
    “See you later, thanks”.
    The Young Artists Club, as also reported on the brochure, had the task to promote both literary and musical works of boys under the age of twenty-five.
    On his arrival, the commissioner was greeted by a young woman dressed in skimpy clothes, who invited him to follow her; in this case as well, there was a director who Germano would have to talk with.
    The room where he spent his time working, was actually more like a small apartment, with quite modern furniture and, judging from the type of wood, they must be also very expensive.
    The director introduced himself as Augusto Rossi, forty-seven years and with two degrees in plain sight on the wall just behind his desk.
    He received the commissioner with stupid jokes that would not sound funny to a ten year old boy, either; Germano immediately began to wonder if the person in front of him was seriously a perfect fool or if he was just playing the part.
    “Please, sit here, Commissioner”.
    Germano sat down on one of the three chairs on the opposite side of the desk behind which Rossi had already took his place.
    “I'll try to be brief Mr. Rossi ...”.
    “Call me Director ...”.
    “Um ... if you like ... I'll try to be brief, Director”.
    “Tell me”.
    “As I already told you on the phone, I'm conducting an investigation on Ralf Brandenburg’s murder ...”.
    “That crazy man!”.
    “Why are calling him like that?”.
    “Because he was really crazy, he used to live in his own world”.
    “Okay ... but beyond that, is there something that has somehow strengthened this conviction of yours, Director?”.
    “What do you mean?”.
    “I mean ... just tell me about one of his crazy behaviors”.
    “Well ... actually, there have never been problems between us, it’s just that ... he was a bit strange, that's all”.
    “I see, did Brandenburg use to come here often?”.
    “Yes, it was two or three times a year, it was one of our honorary member and always wanted to be informed if there were any young talent in music”.
    “It's never happened