River Of Tears

By Alexandre ottoveggio

Brandon knowns as an investigative journalist, had a talent for revealing the hidden truths within the most enigmatic of tales. Embarking on a new mission to delve into the disappearances of indigenous women in Winnipeg, Canada, he faced a treacherous path through the harsh winter, corruption, murder, and missing persons. Despite the risks to his own life, Brandon remained committed to uncovering the truth, even as he felt himself slipping away. He had made a promise to the indigenous community to stand by their side and see his investigation through to the end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alexandre ottoveggio
• Release date: Mar 23, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224335374

Alexandre ottoveggio

Alexandre Ottoveggio is a French-Italian actor stuntman Screenwriter, and writer who was born in Casablanca. He started working in the film industry when he was sixteen Years old and worked on Hollywood films. His work has won multiple awards for its unique storytelling style, attention to detail, and ability to capture the essence of human emotions. His directing has taken him to many countries, including Sweden The United States, Morocco, and other countries, as he has Developed work in independent cinema. As a writer his writing is cinematic, blending fiction and Reality, carrying the reader through a unique experience, and Broadening their horizons.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

THE INVESTIGATION

Brandon had always been drawn to the thrill of uncovering a story. As a journalist of French- Italian descent, he had traveled all over the world in search of his next big scoop.

and when he heard about the mysterious disappearances happening in Winnipeg, he knew that this was the story he had been waiting For.

As he arrived in Winnipeg, he couldn't help but feel the icy Chill that lingered in the air. The missing Indigenous women Were heavy on his mind as he parked his car and stepped out On the snowy pavement, he couldn't help but notice the Stark contrast between the bustling city and the quiet Desolate areas on the outskirts.

Braving the cold, he walked towards the downtown area, where he knew the investigation was centered. The streets were quiet with only a few people scurrying about, their faces hidden behind thick scarves and hats.

He finally made it to the police station, where he was greeted By a weary-looking officer. The man's eyes were tired, and he Had deep bags under them. Brandon knew that he was in the Presence of someone who had been working tirelessly to solve This case.

Can I help you? The officer asked, his voice hoarse.

Yes, I have a meeting with de tective Ted Tahoma my name is Brandon i am a reporter.

You can sit there; I'll talk to him and let you know , the officer responds.

Ten minutes later, d etective Ted Tahoma arrived and Brandon introduced himself to the detective. They shook hands and went to the detective's office to sit down.

Tahoma is an indigenous man who works for the police.

He is looking into some cases where women have gone missing In the area.

Brandon and Detective Tahoma take a short walk down a winding Corridor, the light from the fluorescent bulbs flicking on And off as they pass. Their footsteps echo against the walls Reminiscent of a forgotten past, and Brandon can feel the Weariness of a too-long investigation in the air.

They turn a corner and Brandon catches a glimpse of a room filled with stacks of paper, boxes, and folders.

The room is a hushed whisper, filled with unwritten stories And unsolved mysteries.

Detective Tahoma stops in front of the entrance and turns to Brandon. Here we have thousands of cold cases and many didn’t get a chance to be investigated because, sadly, we are Only a few people working here, and indigenous people are not A priority, he says. So I try, sometimes when I have time To spend time to study some unseen cases.

He takes a few folders in his hand and puts them on the table. Brandon watches, listening quietly, as Tahoma begins

To tell some of the stories within the files.

Tears well up in Brandon’s eyes and spill over as he hears of The injustice and pain of so many who have gone missing never to be found again.

Detective Tahoma stops to talk for a moment and looks up at Brandon ,his expression a mix of determination and sadness. i hope you can help to resolve some of these cases, he says.

Brandon takes a deep breath and nods, steeling himself for what lies ahead of them. He knows this is a heavy burden to Bear, but he is determined to do his part to help.

He can feel an overwhelming sadness at the thought of so many Missing and forgotten women, and yet a sense of hope that Their stories may someday be told and their families given a Sense of closure.

Let’s get started, he says.

Brandon spent two hours pouring over some old cases of missing women detectives Tahoma was investigating.

As you can see, said the detective, there's plenty to do. Brandon replied that he would be staying outside Winnipeg in a hotel for a while and handed Tahoma his phone number and the name of the motel. I know the place, said Tahoma. it's very quiet there - i'll give you a call soon.

The two men shook hands before Brandon left. As detective Tahoma walked up the stairs to his office, he passed the

doorway of his b oss's office. His boss noticed him and asked what he had been doing down in the basement.

Detective Tahoma replied that he had been with a journalist Who was working on a story about missing women.

His boss advised against involving a Journalist, saying it wouldn't look good for their department.

Tahoma looked at him before heading off.

Brandon stay in a cheap motel outside the city , he have one month to find out what s happened here , he have contacted the local newspapers but nobody is interested to talk about the indigenous people, Brandon left his phone number of his motel in Case they changed mind , he have been contacting a chief of an Indigenous community he have to meet him at the lunch time in Winnipeg.

The sun was setting on the horizon as the last rays of light illuminated the sky in a beautiful display of colors.

It washed over the old city of Winnipeg, a city that had been The home to thousands of Indigenous people for centuries, and now it was a city living in fear.

For decades, the indigenous community had been plagued by disappearances and murders, but their please for help had been ignored. No one had taken action to address their plight, and no one seemed to care.

It was only now, in 2021, when the news of 4000 missing or murdered indigenous women and girls had been released to the public, that people began to take notice. Even then, it seemed too little, too late. The local authorities and governments

had Remained quiet for too long, and it almost felt like a genocide Was happening right in front of their eyes.

The situation was dire and there was still so much work to do to Help these communities.

But for now, all that could be done was to mourn and to hope That this situation would never happen again.

As the sun set on the city of Winnipeg, the sky shone with a beautiful array of colors that reminded everyone that even in the darkest times, there was still something to bring light and Hope.

Brandon looked up from his notebook as the man approached his table. He guessed the man was around seventy years old, with graying hair and deep creases etched into his face.

The man wore a flannel shirt and denim jeans, and his boots thudded against the floor as he walked.

Excuse me, the man said, smiling kindly at Brandon.

Is this seat taken?

Brandon gestured to the empty chair across from him.

Not at all. Please, have a seat.

The man sat down, and Brandon noticed the way his eyes flicked around the restaurant, taking in the other patrons.

It was a common habit, Brandon knew. They were both indigenous men in a restaurant full of white people, and it made them both Stand out.

I'm sorry I'm late, the man said, pulling off his gloves and tucking them into his coat pocket.

I got caught up with some business.

Brandon reassured,no worries. As they sat, the waiter approached them and acknowledged c hief Dakota, exchanging a few

words. Dakota declared, i'll have the cheese local burger.

Brandon seemed interested and he added, I'll have the same with an orange juice. The waiter jotted everything down before leaving. Looking at Brandon, Dakota questioned

"so you're Making a documentary on the indigenous community?

Brandon uttered a fervent Yes ,when the chief Dakota mentioned the oft-ignored missing i ndigenous women. The local authorities and newspapers had been ignoring them for decades, and nothing Seemed to have changed. Brandon was seemingly intrigued by the chief, and he replied that maybe his reportage would change peoples point of view.

The waiter carried the steaming dishes to the table and served them first to the chef and reporter.

Brandon hummed in appreciation, eyes widening as he looked at His plate.

Dakota nodded in agreement, commenting that this restaurant was the best they had come across so far.

While they ate, two men lingered at the back of the room watching Brandon intently. Dakota noticed their strange behavior And he say Brandon my advice to you, be careful at all times there is a lot of prejudice here.

Brandon questioned , what you mean , I am just a reporter Dakota responded, there are many supremacist whites in the city We knows who they are ,and so does the local police but nothing Improves , Brandon responded, i understand....this is what I Was thinking. Dakota replied, "these are strange times

we live In. The dark forces are ever-present. We must be cautious."

Once they had finished their meal, Brandon paid the check and Dakota thanked him. He then said that if he ever needed anything, he would be more than happy to help.

Dakota rose to his feet, and Brandon followed suit.

He shake his hand and thanked him with a warm smile.

"Thank you, chief Dakota, it was a pleasure to meet you.

Dakota slowly put his jacket back on and walked away while Brandon remained sitting in his booth, writing down his thoughts on a small, black notebook. A kid's ball rolled into the Restaurant through a half-open door. The boy ran after it happily calling out to his dad who followed him into the building with an amused smile on his face. The two men continued watching Brandon who, absorbed by his writing, didn't notice Them at all. In the blink of an eye, Brandon was up and walking Out the door, heading for his rental car parked across from the restaurant next to the sidewalk.

Both men trailed around the corner and disappeared.

Brandon entered his car.

He drove to the motel and pulled up to find one of his tire slashed and his windshield shattered.

Brandon locked his car, pocketed the keys, looked around for any sign of who might have done this to him, but there was No one in sight. He trudged off toward the rundown inn wondering why he kept coming back. His steps were heavy and somber.

It is snowing outside, the windshield wipers were driving slowly Across the glass to keep it clear of the falling snow.

Beyond them, a black car with a dark-tinted windshield was approaching from behind ,another mom in a hurry like he was.

At 200 meters there would be an intersection where he could pass Her, but it was lined with too many cars to make taking the turn Safely possible. Here, on the hill by his house and hers, they Only passed when the streets were empty. He watched as the Lights changed from amber to red and brakes squealed, then Skidded around them in all directions. Still, too far back for Him to read her license plate or see if anyone got out of the Vehicle.

Brandon pulled to the side of the road and took in his Surroundings. He opened the door and stepped out, making his way To the back of the car. There he noticed a small scrape and a Broken tail light, just as Dakota had warned him about.

He returned to the driver's seat and drove off in the direction Of the motel.

While on his journey, he spotted a young girl walking by herself. She was barefoot, wearing a tear-stained White shirt with bruises and blood around her mouth.

Brandon felt his heart sink.

The soft sound of tires on the pavement broke her reverie.

Brandon's headlights flooded into the car like a blanket of hope, she could not stop running, even for him. He slammed on his brakes and stepped out onto the street, watching her run in Terror down the middle of it. She was so close to him but running away at the same time.

She wanted with all her heart to stay safe and loved.

He took off his jacket, sealed as tightly around his tall frame as a garment could be, popped open the passenger-side door Bundled her inside it, and closed the door against the harsh winter night.

Brandon drove to the motel, with the girl in the backseat tearful and trembling. He helped her out of the car and escorted Her into the lobby. She sat on a couch near the check-in desk as the receptionist approached them, asking what had happened.

Brandon responded that he didn't know, and asked the receptionist to call an ambulance.

The man sprinted to the desk and dialed a number on the phone.

Brandon approached the girl, not knowing what to say.

He reached out and tenderly held her hand, then spoke softly... Don t be scare , you are safe now , the receptionist is coming back and he say , I have called the emergency , the ambulance will be here anytime.

Brandon say...

You should call the cop , the man said .

I already did , Brandon replied . They are coming he added the sound of sirens grewe ever louder through the trees.

Brandon cast a last, anguished

Look at the girl. Her cries had gone silent, her body still.

He wanted to cradle her in his arms, to make sure that she would Be alright. But he knew that he could not. He reluctantly tore Himself away and walked over to the cop.

After a few minutes they heard the approaching ambulance and

returned to their posts by the trailhead.

The man is about to go outside to find them. Brandon holds the Girl's hand and says, we will find them. The girl looks at him, her eyes wide with fear and her body shaking.

Two nurses arrive and take care of her while two police Officers, a man and a woman, approach the girl.

Brandon glances at them and says ,I found her on the road."

The female police officer asked Brandon a few questions before the nurses took the girl away to the nearest hospital.

The two officers left, and Brandon found himself alone on the couch, feeling unwell. The man behind the desk then offered him A coffee.

Yes, came Brandon's response, i think i need a big one. The man returned with a steaming beverage and said:

it's unfortunately something that happens all too often around Here - i ndigenous women...Girls are being assaulted and, in some Cases, killed, yet the authorities are doing little to nothing to intervene ,Brandon gazed at him with a disapproving look and exclaimed that's terrible!

He takes a sip of his coffee before heading to his room, and tries to drift off into sleep until early morning.

when he wakes up, he looks out the window, it's snowing and several deers can be seen out in the distance, searching for something to eat.

He heads downstairs for breakfast and strikes up conversation With the motel employee.

After exchanging pleasantries, he orders some eggs, bacon and a

lengthy cup of java.

The man arrived with a tray, bearing everything that had been requested.

Later in the day the receptionist says someone called you and left their phone number. with that, he handed over a slip of paper w ith the caller's name and number written on it.

Brandon read the notes and he say thank you, the man leaves Brandon is going to his room and he called the phone number someone answers A woman spoke, saying

hello. He replied, "hello, this is Brandon.

You called me today, right?" The woman thanked him for his call and introduced herself as Josy, the mother of Brenda.

This was the young girl he had rescued from the roadside—

her Daughter early in the day.

Brandon asked, "how is she? I’ve been worried about her.

The woman replied, she hasn't uttered a word since yesterday. She was attacked and beaten; she's in the hospital now. Brandon expressed his condolences, saying, I’m so sorry to hear that. The woman thanked him for his help, saying, i want to Thank you for what you did."

Brandon proclaims that if anyone needs help, he is available and Eager to provide assistance. He introduces himself as a Reporter.

The woman said, "take care of yourself and be safe.

"She cut the lines , Brandon was scribbling something down in

His notebook when the phone began to ring. He picked up, and the receptionist on the other end told him that there were some People who wanted to speak with him.

Brandon shouted, i'm coming!

CHAPTER TWO

MEETING WITH THE LOCAL AUTHORITY

He strode towards the reception area, where two policemen waited for him.

The police officers introduce themselves, with one of them announcing that he is officer Mike and the other is his colleague John. They let me know that they have some questions they would like to ask me.

Brandon responded, Of course, as they sat in the living room.

Officer Mike began a conversation by asking

are you here on vacation? Brandon shook his head and said no...i'm here for work. Mike inquired further,

what is it that you do?

I'm a reporter, Brandon answered. i'm doing a story on the missing indigenous women.

After a few minutes of talking, officer Mike looked down at his notepad and began to make some notes. Brandon sat up straight and squared his shoulders so that he would appear more confident than he felt. He waited for the officer to finish writing, but In fact, he had nothing to say. He wanted

to wait politely until They were done. After 10 minutes they get up and they say

thank you for your time and they leaves.

Brandon takes his car and he goes to the city.

After parking his car, he made his way to a nearby coffee shop. He grabbed a local newspaper before ordering a cup of coffee and taking a seat. Glancing over the headlines, he began to read the news.

After a few moments, a man approached and asked Brandon if he could take a seat. Brandon answered quickly in the affirmative inquiring as to how he might be of assistance.

The man was approximately 30 years of age, his features suggesting native American indigenous ancestry.

The man says

I appreciate your actions , Brenda is my relative Brandon responds, i did what was right.

The young man exclaims, you know here, it's very unusual for a white man to save an indigenous girl.

They may not like us, but we have to live with that...

Brandon said, his voice tinged with disappointment.

yes, I am quite disappointed, he conceded.

The young man sighed and said, well, I'd best be on my way now. My name is Biskane.

If you require anything ,I am at your service Brandon remarks, lovely name

what does it mean in your culture

the young man replies, Biskane means a fire is flaming Brandon says ,fascinating , have a pleasant day

after the young man had left, Brando went back to his newspaper

reading the news.

He finished his cup of coffee, then decided to go for a stroll around the city. As he was walking, he noticed that the snow had Stopped and two men had started following