The Truth Laid Bare

The fire in the cast-iron stove crackled warmly, throwing dancing amber light across the small timber cabin. Elena sat wrapped in Alessandro's wool blanket on a bed of dry pine boughs covered by sheepskins. Alessandro sat beside her, his arm wrapped around her bare shoulders, holding a mug of melted snow tea he had brewed over the stove. On the wooden table, the lockbox was open. Inside rested a micro-cassette…