“…In religion and mythology, three means everything as well. Three Indian, Greek and Roman gods… even the Maya believed in that three stars in the Orion constellation…”, he turns to Carmen, “…Finish for me, Miss Morales. I know you can. You have a Mayan heritage, don’t you?”.

Carmen looks at him, disgusted, and remains silent for a while.

“…The Maya believed that Alnitak, Saiph and Rigel were arranged by the gods as a triangular hearth, enclosing the smoke of the fire creation… the nebula”, she murmurs eventually.

Jack Sanders smiles at her in admiration and I think that Carmen is very good. Very good. She is trying to keep him distracted, self-absorbed.

“…That’s right. Three Roman furies, the Erinyes… Alecto the Unceasing, Megaera the Grudging and Tisiphone, the Avenging Murder… And you’re experimenting all the three of them…”, Jack Sanders laughs, “…And finally, let’s not forget about Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy…”.

He stops right in front of me, blinking his eyelids thoughtfully.

“You know the Divine Comedy, Dante? It has three parts each of thirty-three cantos, plus one introductory canto totaling 100. It was written in ‘terza rima’, a combination of tercets. All of this is an allusion to the Christian Trinity. And it has been written by a person with your same name. You see? It must be fate…”.

“Are you intentioned to drag on?”, I ask him, looking up from my kneeled-down position. Sanders places his hand on my head like I’m his little stubborn son.

“…Everything evolves around the number three… And my vendetta has been planned following that same rule. Three murdered people. Three hostages… I won’t be considering the baby that your wife is carrying…”, he whispers his last words leaning towards me in a conspiratorial way and I have to grit my teeth not to react.

“…And, eventually, the three of you…and the three of us, Francois, Justine and me. They helped me in finding you, they helped me in haunting you, and they helped me in bringing you here in three days. Get up, Lieutenant”.

He steps back as Francois and his bootlickers help me getting up on my feet. Sanders looks at me coolly.

“I live my life according to three principles..”.

“What a surprise…”, I mumble.

“Loyalty, competitiveness and sacrifice. The three of you will fight for those constructs”.

He smiles and empty smile.

“Are you ready to play?”.

TBC

SOUNDTRACK:
* “All In The Name Of Pity” (Skunk Anansie)