A Poacher in Venice

by Gabe Nelson

In January a tragedy occurred. It was seen with many a’cursing and pondering over what had happened. The great Leopard of So Stories Hall had been murdered! Word spread far and wide within hours. Everybody kept their beloved companions indoors. Pet stores started closing. All people who loved animals stared out their windows in shock. So many, in fact, that the Venice Police were called in to investigate.

Young Detective Romeo of the Venice Police, out of step with the city that he served, was sitting at his desk snoozing. Romeo, who was a man of twenty-two and married to his long-time love, Juliet, was soft of brain and a touch clumsy. However, he had extraordinary luck (like that time he found a $100US in the street). No man had luck like him. But because of his foibles, his success was minor.

His partner knocked on the heavy old wooden door of Romeo’s office. “Wake up, you tomfool Romeo! We have a new case!”

Romeo opened one eye. And then closed it again. “I hath better things than cases, Richard,” he responded, “Can’t it wait but a while?”

“Time waits for no man. It is about that darned leopard.” retorted Richard.

Romeo started and fell backward out of his chair.

“The Leopard Case, you say, I hath wanted to work on such a thing,” admitted Romeo after he had regained his feet.

“I know, that’s why we got it!” answered Richard. “Get your coat.”

Forgetting his coat, Romeo hurried after Richard.

Speedily, Richard got into the gondola parked outside and started telling Romeo what he knew about the case. “At three am, leopard went for his midnight walk, for of course a leopard must have a midnight walk to change his spots. If they do not have one, they get very mean. While walking, leopard was seen by a friend, an Ethiopian named Malik. They talked. Later, they went separate ways. The last people to see the leopard was a party of four; Rainsford, a hunter; a certain General Zaroff, who is visiting Rainsford; and two brothers, one named Tybalt and the other Mercutio. No clues have been found, but all the people who saw the leopard are detained for questioning.”

Romeo thanked him for the information. “Where art the body of the slain beast?” asked Romeo.

“Down this lane. Remember Romeo, the boss is not so happy about the coffee incident,” warned Richard.

Romeo gulped. His boss hated him because of his clumsiness. Recently, Romeo had botched a case by spilling coffee on a blood sample. Before that he let a kidnapping happen because he missed a word on a sheet of paper.

When the gondola had finally reached the end of the lane, Romeo jumped onto the street, or tried to. Instead, he missed the dock and fell face first into the canal. He was embarrassed. He shivered, shook himself off, and started walking down the lane, determined not to be distracted.

Then he saw it: the dead body of the leopard of So Stories Hall.

Romeo hurried over and started searching for clues. He found bruises around the neck area which showed that the leopard had been strangled by a formidable man’s bare hands.

“It must have taken considerable might to do such a thing to the agile leopard,” exclaimed Romeo.

In the fur were clearly seen handprints. But Romeo, being who he was, missed the handprints and smoothed them over while he was searching.

Richard came over and looked over Romeo’s shoulder.

“Find anything yet?” Richard asked.

“This leopard hath been strangled. See the bruising on the beast’s neck?” shared Romeo.

“Good work. Did you see any other marks?” queried Richard.

Romeo looked up “I… Did…”

“Of what kind,” Richard pressed.

“Hand marks.” Romeo mumbled.

“Did you…? You smoothed them over didn’t you?” Richard responded.

Romeo looked sheepish and replied “Yes.”

Richard sighed “Let us leave the body for the medical team and get back to the station. The other officers have rounded up the suspects for the session.”

When they arrived, Romeo went in to question the subjects.

First, Malik, the Ethiopian friend of deceased walked in. After a few introductions, Romeo asked, “Would you please tell me what happened that night?”

“Well, Leopard and I met while he was taking his midnight walk. Leopards, of course, need to change their spots at night.”

“Would you please tell me what you talked about?”

“We talked about changing of one’s skin, Baviaan’s (for they are such a very strange folk), and about flora and fauna indigenous to Africa.”

“Was Leopard acting strangely?”

“Yes, he regularly sniffed the wind and muttered to himself.”

“Do you think he could have known he was hunted?”

“I think the winds told him. For several times he stopped and said, ‘A evil man, we should stay away from him.’”

That to Romeo was strange. The leopard had known somewhat of what would happen.

“Anything else?” inquired Romeo.

“None, now only the winds know.”

Romeo left the room and haled Richard “Ho, Richard! Could you be so kind to get the brothers now?”

“Sure. I’ll send them in right away!”

The rival brothers, Tybalt the Aggressor and Mercutio the Retaliator maintained a conflict that was well known in Venice.

“Hello there,” said Romeo when he walked in.

Tybalt immediately spoke. “You’re going to ask us questions? Ha! I did not do it. But I think my brother did!” spat out Tybalt.

“LIAR. You did it yourself. You slipped off with that devil Rainsford,” yelled Mercutio.

“So what? He only wanted a light!” argued Tybalt.

“Sure,” drawled Mercutio “He, ‘wanted a light,’ what balderdash!”

“YOU’RE SO SURE! YOU’RE LOONEY!” shouted the red-faced Tybalt.

The brothers then broke down to fighting. Literal fighting with blows! At that, and an elbow to the chin from Tybalt, Romeo beat a hasty retreat. Calling Richard to remove the pair and send in the next suspects, Romeo grabbed some tissue for his bleeding chin.

After the brothers had been removed to continue their senseless brawling on the sidewalk outside, Rainsford and his guest Zaroff joined Romeo. Rainsford, a small man, moved slowly with the grace of the hunter. Every move of the delicate Rainsford was made with a purpose. Romeo thought perchance Rainsford was a likely suspect. Then in strode Zaroff, a tall, lean, large, and powerful man stroking a thick mustache. Romeo missed a glint in Zaroff’s eyes.

“Noble gentlemen, what hath you to say about this case?” inquired Romeo, flipping to a clean sheet of paper.

Rainsford replied gruffly, “An unfortunate turn of events it seems. I would not kill an animal like that noble leopard! How was he murdered?”

Romeo thought Rainsford was trying to throw him off track. He replied, “I am not allowed to say for the time being. Zaroff, what do you say?”

Zaroff’s sun-darked face smiled a clean white toothed smile. “Well,” he said in his oily voice, “The leopard was valuable hunting! He deserved a wild hunt, not a death on the street in Venice.”

“Mr. Rainsford, what were you doing at the time of the murder?” queried Romeo.

“I was with a man named Tybalt, who gave me a light for my cigar,” responded Rainsford.

“I see,” said Romeo, not convinced. “General, would you mind telling me as well?”

“Oh! I was with that fellow Mercutio. Just so you know, I heard Rainsford ask for a light.” Zaroff said patting Rainsford on the back. Romeo was still suspicious.

“Mr. Rainsford, how long did you stay with Tybalt?” Romeo pressed.

“Oh, about five minutes. His brother does not like smoke, so Tybalt came with me away from the others, hoping to avoid Mercutio flying into a rage. Or that’s at least what Tybalt said. Then Tybalt left and I smoked for a bit,” stated Rainsford helpfully.

Romeo thought about this perfect time frame. He might have gotten his killer, “Can you vouch for Mr. Rainsford, General?”

“No. I really can’t,” was the answer from Zaroff.

“Thank you, gentlemen, you have been a help,” thanked Romeo.

The pair wished him luck and then walked out. Romeo sat back and thought about the clues and the interviews. He then leapt to his feet and tripped out of the room. He also forgot to put his chair back from where it had fallen. He had to have a little spot of dinner with Juliet to rest his mind. Embroiled in thought he ran into a street poll. After about fifteen minutes of stumbling around and holding his head, he finally reached his destination.

“Ah, my graceful Juliet. How art thee?” he asked after coming in the door.

“Good thou Romeo! How was thy work?” replied Juliet.

“Tiring, I hath the leopard case,” stated Romeo as he slumped into his chair.

“Oh?” cooed Juliet. “How wonderful, my beloved.”

“But” Romeo continued, “it goes not well.”

“How my dear? Mayhap I might give insight to what troubles you.” volunteered Juliet helpfully.

“My clumsiness impedes me.” stated Romeo sadly.

“I see thee might be vexed about such a thing.” spoke Juliet trying to keep her eagerness down.

“But I have interviewed my suspects!” Romeo expressed.

“And how did thee do there, dear Romeo?”

“I might hath my killer. But I do not know if it is truly him.”

“I see.” Juliet waited for Romeo to continue.

Romeo named the suspects. “There were five men who saw leopard last night. His African friend, Malik, a hunter named Rainsford, a General friend of his named Zaroff, and two squabbling brothers named Tybalt and Mercutio.”

“I understand thee,” Juliet mulled in her mind.

“I think Rainsford. He was said to be smoking alone when leopard was killed. Zaroff was with Mercutio, and Tybalt was with Rainsford until he left and found the others.”

“Did you ask Mercutio if Zaroff was with him?” prodded Juliet.

“No…” hesitated Romeo.

“If Zaroff was not, then thou are wrong in thinking. Tell me about Zaroff,” she asked.

“Zaroff was a big and tall man with a thick mustache that gleamed with oil. He is a hunter like Rainsford. I also feel like I missed something from him,” testified Romeo.

“What hath thou asked him?”

“I do not remember now,” replied the fatigued Romeo, “he did say it was a pity that the leopard was dead. He and Rainsford almost said the same thing. Rainsford said he would never had killed a thing like Leopard. But Zaroff said it was a pity he was not killed in the wild,” declared Romeo.

“Ah, there thee has it! Zaroff could be the killer. He does not lie and yet truth does not become him. Next time you see him, look in his eyes for the gleam, see if it is murderous. And ask Mercutio if he was with him. Also, perchance can you remember the handprints?” ordered Juliet.

“No, I don’t remember anything about them,” Romeo asserted in a bit of grief.

“Tell me about the hands on Zaroff and Rainsford,” Juliet asked to jog Romeo’s memory.

“Rainsford is a small man, who I would imagine has smaller hands, while Zaroff had large hands.” Romeo was thoughtful.

“What about the hands on the Leopard?” Juliet prodded ever deeper.

“Wait, I remember somewhat now. I remember thinking that only a giant could make them, like the marks on the leopard’s neck,” said Romeo with a glint of happiness in his eye.

“There, you hath solved it! It was Zaroff who did the deed,” Juliet sounded triumphant.

“I thank thee my wife!” expressed Romeo.

Romeo finished his dinner and hurried back to the station.

As usual, Juliet was right. And Romeo got a raise. Romeo’s luck had saved his hind once again.

Thus, endeth our story of the Poaching of the Leopard.