Sergeant Fabris got somehow angry too on the woman – well, whore, if she worked in a brothel – who pretended that he knew her name and everything and didn't understand that everything needed to be HER DECLARATION, stating all the facts she knew, for the case-related paperwork. Of course she couldn't have known all these details, since she had never been involved in a lawbreaking investigation, but he didn't realize it, as for him this was daily work. And he hated paperwork. He preferred to ask Francesco Zanotta to take notes, because his penmanship was clearer.

"I knew only the name Bessina. I have never known her surname," Nane tried to appease the angry woman.

No matter what signora Frascatti, shocked by the crime, had assumed, Francesco hadn't known either that she was the brothel matron. Yes, he knew her name since that party two weeks ago, and he could remember it, but he was sent just to find someone from the brothel to recognize the victim. Signora Frascatti happened to be that one. And now he was trying his best to take the notes as quickly and as well as possible, to spare the poor woman from that sight.

As the discussion came about the body, Nane added:

"She said she had family in a village around Udine. She never said where, but it is too far away. I agree with you that they wouldn't have wanted it back. And if she didn't want to return home when alive, then in death… it's less likely. As far as I know Stephane, when he learns the bad news, he would want to help you as much as he can with taking care of the funeral. Now, if I am excused, I'd return to my ship."

The sergeant allowed him to leave. He knew where to find the man if further questions were needed, and he had given his declaration on the circumstances of finding the body.

At her question if she was needed more, the sergeant replied:

"Only a little more, to get the declaration finished and for you to sign it.

Those who didn't know to write their names, put a mark after it was read to them. But in Venice more people were able to read – easier or with more difficulty – and at least to write their names than in other countries, he had heard.
@Atrice

While Renata knew what she was and that most looked down upon her because of what she did and how she lived her life… she was still a businesswoman in a world of men, and she was not about to let some Sergeant walk over her. She assumed he knew all the things he now asked for, but she eventually answered him anyway, although somewhat displeased. One of her best whores had just died… and she was not a bad woman, Bessina, not at all! But still she had to give all those answers, right here, right now, at the crime scene.

For now she mostly ignored Francesco, remembering him from the dinner she went to with Antoine, but she didn’t want to discuss that right now. Her life with Antoine and her life at the brothel were like two different lives. Sure he examined her girls too, even stayed with them sometimes, but that was just him being a man. She couldn’t fault him for that. Not when he treated her differently and respected her. Unlike the men here… at least that’s how she saw it.

The sailor, who was a friend to Bessina’s lover, tried to appease Renata and then continued to talk about Bessina and her family. He knew an awful lot didn’t he? About Bessina… and Renata, she’d just rather return home soon and not look at the beautiful yet dead young woman any longer. She needed sleep and she needed… time… then the sailor left the scene and Renata wondered whether she was needed any longer. The Sergeant told her he just had to finish the declaration and she had to sign it. She nodded, “Would you mind if I… walked a bit away?” She wondered, she didn’t want to look at Bessina any longer. Not in this state. She could help prepare the body for a funeral if she had to, because that meant cleaning her, making her look pretty again, but this sight… she’d rather not…

And she could write her name and sign the declaration once it was asked of her. She ran a brothel; she grew up in a convent. She knew how to read and write and did it well too. But for now, she stepped a bit away and looked towards the water. This was so unexpected. She really needed time.

@Elena

The sergeant looked at her a bit surprised, but he had nothing against her request.

"Surely, you may go for a little walk, as long as you are within sight."

Francesco had noted everything, as the sergeant had asked him to,

"Sergeant, I think she isn't feeling well. The shock of such a gruesome death might have been too much for a woman," Francesco said. "May I escort her back home, to make sure she doesn't faint on the way, after she signs the declaration?"

There had been a few replies crossing Sergeant Fabris' mind, but the circumstances got him mellower.

"You may if you want to. Call her to sign the paper, then she is dismissed."

He was older than these men and he had dealt with plenty of murders and other investigations. For him it was more the annoyance that someone had committed another murder, that they would have to perform an investigation which might lead or not to an apprehended murderer... He hoped it would lead to catching the culprit.

Francesco didn't call her to sign, but he went to where she was, with the document, giving it to signora Frascatti to read and sign. Like Nane before, he had been treating her respectfully all the time. For him it mattered most that she was doctor Moscatti's beloved - and his behaviour at the festive dinner had shown there were sincere feelings between them - than the fact that she was a brothel Madame.

"I have been allowed to accompany you back home, signora Frascatti, to make sure that you are all right," he said, offering her an arm after he gave the document back to the sergeant.