The Girl in the Fog (La ragazza nella nebbia)

THE GIRL IN THE FOG

Yes?

When?

Okay, I'll be right there.

- Thanks for coming. - How is he?

The EMTs say his general condition is fair.

- Unhurt? - Unhurt.

He can't recall what happened before the accident.

Did he hit his head? Does he have a concussion?

No.

So why is this urgent?

You'll see.

Good evening.

Rough night, huh?

Been here long?

- And you? - 40 years!

But I retire in two months.

My wife and I have seen you on TV tons of times.

When I tell Sara I met you, she'll never believe me.

I'm Flores, I'm a psychiatrist.

What shall I call you? Detective or Mr. Vogel?

As you wish.

I saw the accident. You were lucky.

The fog. The fog is to blame.

I didn't expect to see you here, did you come alone?

Yes.

May I ask why you've come back to Avechot?

Still looking into that girl who disappeared?

Why am I being kept here?

What does the Police want from me?

Why do I have to speak to a psychiatrist?

Mr. Vogel, you got into an accident tonight.

I know that!

You were driving alone, there was no injury.

I'm fine, how many times must I tell you?

So whose blood is that on your clothes?

You're right.

I suppose I owe you an explanation.

I wasn't even going to open up today.

I thought, who on earth would come here on Christmas?

A few years ago it was different: families, kids...

Then no one set foot up here anymore.

This is the last hotel left in Avechot.

Here about the girl?

- Know her? - I know her parents.

The Kastners are lovely people.

They didn't deserve what happened to them.

May God forgive us.

I should shut this place down for good...

If I were you I wouldn't.

Soon... people will be flocking here.

Detective Vogel?

Sir, everyone is here, it's all set as requested.

Where does this road lead?

Nowhere. The valley is a dead end.

You mean this is the only way in and out of town?

Basically, yes.

Sir, the briefing starts in 20 minutes.

They can wait. Take me to the Kastners.

Anna Lou was always so responsible, even as a kid.

She helps out at home, looks after her siblings,

all her teachers sing her praises.

She recently became a catechist in our confraternity.

They say it's normal for kids her age to rebel.

My daughter didn't.

We're very close, she's a lot like me.

She made this for me, she gave it to me a week ago.

Did you notice any recent changes, even minor, in Anna Lou?

Meaning?

Did she eat and sleep? Was she aloof, grumpy, more cheerful?

No, she was the same old Anna Lou.

Did your daughter meet anyone recently?

A new friend?

She would've told me. Anna Lou confided in me.

Did Anna Lou have a cell phone? Did she use social media?

The confraternity looked down on the Internet.

It's full of perils, especially for youngsters.

Ever been threatened?

Is there anyone, a relative or acquaintance,

with whom you have bad blood?

No.

All the better.

You'll have to make a public appeal.

Feel up to it?

Borghi, wait in the car.

Let me be frank with you,

the media got wind of this story, they'll be flocking here.

At times reporters are better than cops in digging up clues,

and investigation details aren't the only thing they televise.

Not knowing where to look, they'll look at you.

So, if you have something to tell me, anything, now's the time.

Tonight at the confraternity church,

we'll be asking the Lord to bring back Anna Lou.

We'll include your name in our prayers, Detective Vogel.

Reassure them that nobody will have to work on Christmas.

Welcome, I'm Amanda Mayer.

Do we actually need a space this big?

We can discuss that later.

Someone took her.

Let's stop tiptoeing around it and call a spade a spade,

or we'll waste time and that time belongs to Anna Lou.

It's December 23rd, 5:00 PM...

Anna Lou leaves to go to the confraternity church.

She never arrives.

She's not the type to run away,

as we're told by townsfolk and as we see by her lifestyle.

She only had six numbers on her phone:

mom, dad, home, grandparents' home, confraternity, best friend.

Anna Lou's cell phone was shut off 7 minutes after she left home

and never turned on again.

Teens who run away from home

usually only last 24 hours with their phones off,

so we can usually track them down.

The answers lie in these 300 meters.

None of the neighbors saw or heard anything.

Her kidnapper was familiar with the neighbors' routines.

He knew how to go unnoticed.

The gas station's CCTV monitors the only road into town.

- Is it functioning? - Yes, sir.

- We have the footage. - Who came in and out of Avechot?

Focus on those with a violent past and former sex offenders.

Will we be paid overtime?

Dunno... We'll be working on Christmas...

Our culprit isn't a duffer, he's shrewd and clever.

When this is over, agent Borghi and I will go back to the city.

But you'll be stuck here,

you'll have to look Anna Lou's parents in the eye every time you see them.

Show us the way and light our journey.

Anna Lou is 1.60 meters tall,

she has long red hair.

She was wearing a light colored duffel coat,

a green scarf,

a track suit and sneakers.

She had a pink backpack on.

Our daughter is a kind girl,

everyone knows she has a big heart.

Anna Lou likes cats and she trusts people.

That's why we're here appealing to those who never met her

in the first 16 years of her life.

If you've seen her or know where she is,

help us bring her home.

Anna Lou... mom, dad, and your siblings love you!

Wherever you may be, hope our voice and love reach you.

And when you come home,

we'll get you the cat you've always wanted.

Promise.

May the Lord protect you, darling.

Thank you.

Tell me about the confraternity the Kastners belong to.

Is it a religious sect?

It's a self-managed group with very strict rules:

creationists, pro-life, anti-gay,

and against pre-marital sex, of course.

Fucking fanatics.

They've been tailing us since yesterday, even at the Kastners.

They're waiting for a photo they can sell of the monster.

- Shall I do something? - Like what?

We barely have enough cops and they're inexperienced,

our control room is a pool, and my office is in the locker room.

- We can ask for... - Quit dreaming, Borghi.

They won't send back-up, nobody will help us.

Unless we convince them to come here.

Detective Vogel wants you to wear these and go to the river.

Painting coveralls? What'll we be painting?

Anna Lou Kastner, age 16.

Until this morning, it was assumed she'd run away.

But that changed when Forensics arrived in Avechot

to assist local police in the search.

The specialists inspected the area along the river.

We don't know what they were looking for or if they found anything.

Heading the case is Detective Vogel,

who, in the past, handled sensational cases like the "mutilator" case.

Sir...

the Alpine rescue squad scoured the northern crevices.

Good, have them check the eastern ones too.

- Where's the helicopter we requested? - It's coming soon.

Hang up and keep hounding them till you get an exact time.

How's it going?

I managed to get 10 more agents

and 30 Alpine guides to help with the volunteer search team.

- It worked! - Our TV ratings are up.

News shows will be opening with our case. Where's the helicopter?

It'll arrive this afternoon. I'll send it east.

Good... let it hover over the town, I want everyone to see it.

Sir, he's been waiting for two hours.

Come in... we can talk in private here.

Sorry to bother you.

I heard what they said on TV.

You think someone took my daughter? Is that it?

Are you looking for him?

- Can you tell me that? - Yes.

This morning my wife found this

while she was cleaning Anna Lou's room.

Her diary?

Why her?

There's never a why.

I've done something I'm ashamed of.

The other girl in the picture...

is Priscilla.

She's Anna Lou's best friend.