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A few days later, James and Alice arrived in the small town of Bellavita, Italy. The air was warm and the streets lined with old stone buildings, their quaint charm belying the heavy atmosphere surrounding the case. As they stepped off the train, James adjusted his coat and looked around, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the Italian countryside.

"If this weren't for investigating a murder, it would make for a great vacation," James remarked, his voice laced with a touch of dry humor.

A few moments later, they were greeted by the local police officer in charge of the case, a tall, broad-shouldered man named Marco Rossi. His dark eyes betrayed a mixture of weariness and hope as he extended a hand to James.

"Detective Taylor, it’s an honor to have you here," Marco said, his Italian accent thick but clear. "We’ve been struggling to make sense of this situation. It’s a complicated case, and we could use all the help we can get."

The officer paused for a moment, his expression serious. "The Australian guy, Robert who reached out to you — he mentioned you'd be the one to help us. We've been hoping for someone with your expertise to take a look at the case."

James shook his hand firmly, nodding. "I’m happy to assist. What can you tell me so far?"

Marco led them to the car, a black Lancia Aurelia Sedan parked outside the station. "Let’s go to the villa first," he said as he opened the door for them. "I’ll tell you the details on the way."

As they drove through the narrow, winding roads of Bellavita, Marco began to explain what he knew, his eyes focused on the road ahead.

"The owner of the villa, Vittoria Mancini, was found dead in her bedroom four days ago—around 6:30 in the morning. Cause of death was strangulation with telephone cords. There was also a stab wound to her abdomen, but the strangling is what ultimately killed her. We’ve identified clear ligature marks consistent with a telephone cord, and in addition, there’s a second set of markings on her neck —thinner, and more abrasive — possibly caused by a rope or similar object. The pressure caused suffocation and ruptured the blood vessels in her airway. What’s odd is that nothing was taken from the villa. No valuables missing, no signs of forced entry. It doesn’t look like a robbery gone wrong."