The Shoes Come First: A Jennifer Cloud Novel

by Janet Leigh

Chapter 20

  October 2013

  Holy crap! I came out of my daze and realized what Marco had had around his neck. A key. Maybe he could help me get Gertie and my key. I ran downstairs to use the computer, which sat on the desk adjacent to the bookshelves that housed Gertie’s collection of biographies. I logged on to the Internet and googled Marco Ferrari. Seconds later my screen filled with clips about car races and brought up a picture of Marco Ferrari and the last Formula One car race he’d won. I didn’t realize he raced cars, but I never was a fan of the sport. I scrolled through a few articles and realized after each race there were pictures of Marco celebrating, and he was wearing the key.

  I came across a few pictures of him out publicly; apparently he was quite the catch. He was the most eligible bachelor last year from People magazine and was pictured in various other publicity magazines. The gossip columns were full of what Marco was doing and whom he was dating or wasn’t dating anymore. Thinking back, I remembered he was definitely cute when I first met him, but he had certainly filled out his Levis, based on the pics I was seeing. I realized he was only wearing the key in the race photos, never in the social ones.

  The last clip was from the Formula One website, stating Marco would begin training for the Grand Prix next weekend. There was a link to the local gossip guru’s website. I clicked on the link, and in the “Gossip of the Week” box was a blip about the marriage of pop star Liv Regalado to Marco’s team member Enzio Tortino at the home of Wheelen Motorsports’ number one sponsor, Mafuso Motors. I went slack-jawed. Could Marco be one of the Mafusos? He just didn’t seem as smarmy as the others, but things could change in ten years.

  I needed to get to New York. Even if Marco did work with the Mafusos, maybe he would still help me, or at least swap me for Gertie. I debated calling Jake. No, he would never let me swap places with Gertie.

  I came across an old article about the death of Marco’s grandfather. There was a family photo taken three weeks before the death. The caption under the photo explained that Giorgio Ferrari, pictured standing in the back row, left, tycoon and founder of Ferrari Motors, was murdered Friday night at his office. I scrolled back up and enlarged the picture. The grandfather was a handsome, silver-haired man with a long face, dimpled chin, and sophisticated features. Next to him stood a short Italian woman with a partial frown on her face. Seated in front of them was Marco’s father. He was similar in features to the older Ferrari, except his hair was dark and he wore the Italian woman’s scowl. He had the same dimple in his chin.

  Marco’s mother, seated next to his father, was a beautiful blond woman with blue eyes and a slight smile. That explained Marco’s blond hair. Marco stood next to his mother. He looked about eighteen in the picture and wore a mischievous grin, which accentuated his adorable family dimple. A younger girl, probably about fifteen, stood in front of Marco. He had his hand on her shoulder, typical of family photos.

  Marco wore a black suit, as did all the men in the photo. But where his father and grandfather had on ties, Marco had his shirt open at the neck, and peeking out between the V was the Mother Earth I remembered from the wedding. The article went on to explain Marco’s grandfather Giorgio Ferrari was found dead at his office. All information surrounding the death was under investigation.

  I scrolled through a few more articles and found one that said the death of Giorgio Ferrari was determined to be a homicide. The murder weapon was never located, and an investigation was pending. I couldn’t find any more information regarding any suspects or arrests made concerning the crime. I realized the picture was taken a few months before Cousin Trish’s wedding. Marco’s grandfather died around the same time as Aint Elma.

  I decided a change of clothes was needed. Ace wouldn’t like the fact that I put away the rockin’ miniskirt and the stilettos, but New York was cold this time of year, so I chose a white cashmere sweater, black Dior pants, and black leather Marc Jacobs boots. When Ace arrived the next morning, we would be going to breakfast at Tiffany’s.