Broken Chord

by Margaret Moore

  “Do you?”

  “No. I still fancy Guido, what about you?”

  “No. The boy could be lying. He could have done it just as easily as Guido and probably his motive was even more valid if she caught him trying to steal something. You fancy Guido as the killer because you don’t like him. That’s not a good enough reason. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t be someone you do like.”

  “Well, I don’t like Claudio Rossi either. Come on, tell me your ideas.”

  “No, I’d rather not tell you right now who I think did it, because I’m probably quite wrong and I’ve got no proof at all. None whatsoever, just a gut feeling and that’s not good enough.”

  “I thought you didn’t believe in gut feelings.”

  “No, I don’t, that’s why I don’t trust this one. When I have some proof I’ll tell you and you’ll still think I’m mad.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Marta sat up in bed and watched while Piero arranged the tray for her.

  “Now I want you to eat a proper breakfast,” he said.

  She was still slightly sleepy and seemed confused. “Did you get them their supper?”

  “And breakfast.”

  “Breakfast?”

  “Marta, it’s morning.”

  “How long have I been asleep?”

  “A long time. You needed to rest.”

  Suddenly she remembered, “Lapo!”

  “Yes. Don’t talk about it now, just eat your breakfast.”

  Tears slid down her cheeks. She raised her eyes to his, “Tell me it’s not true. Tell me Lapo isn’t dead.”

  “Marta, you know I can’t do that. I’m so sorry.”

  “Oh God! If I find out who did this, I’ll kill him myself.”

  Piero passed her a cup of milky coffee, “Drink this.”

  “Why did they kill him, my lovely boy?”

  Piero straightened up and said severely, “Marta, Lapo wasn’t a lovely boy. He was a little sadist. He liked to hurt women. He liked to punch them in the face. He broke their bones. He was cruel and sick in the head.”

  “I loved him and he loved me too.”

  “No he didn’t. He was a little shit and you were a fool to love him the way you did. You deliberately refused to acknowledge what he was like. The world is a better place without him and I won’t mourn him. I don’t think anyone will, except you.”

  “You don’t understand what that poor child suffered.”

  “You don’t understand the suffering he inflicted on others. He was truly evil.”

  “Piero, that’s a terrible thing to say. May God forgive you.”

  “I’m sure He will because He knows.”

  Marta wept loudly now and pushed the tray away. “I don’t want it. I don’t want to live if Lapo’s dead. I hate you, I hate you, Piero, do you hear me? How can you say all those terrible things about Lapo? You probably killed him yourself. How could anyone do that to my poor boy? He was my lovely boy, how could they kill him like that?”

  Piero looked at her and said, “Somebody had to. Believe me, it’s better this way.” He turned to the small table and prepared a hypodermic syringe. Marta was better out of it for now.

  Marta stared back at him and suddenly felt afraid. “What’s in the syringe?” she shrieked, “Are you going to kill me too?”

  “Shut up woman, you don’t know what you’re saying,” said Piero quietly through his teeth. He grabbed the arm that was flailing at him and held it down. “That’s enough. You know I’d never hurt you.” He quickly turned her body, kneeling on her to keep her still and plunged the needle into her.

  Marianna took the children into the garden and smiled up at the blue sky. It was such a lovely day. Nothing horrible could happen today. She was hoping to relax and spend the whole day lounging about, playing with the children and trying to forget all the terrible things that had happened. Then tonight she would visit Roberto.

  “Aunt Marianna, can we go to the pool now?”

  “In a minute when your Mamma’s ready.”

  “Why is there that ribbon round the garage?”

  “We mustn’t go in there today.”

  “Why, is it dangerous?”

  “Yes, very. Let’s go and pick some daisies, I’ll make you a necklace.”

  “And me, and me!”

  “And for you.”

  Teo came down to the kitchen and watched Isabella efficiently wrapping the sandwiches.

  “Teo, did you really mean what you said?”

  “About Piero?”

  “Yes, only what you said actually doesn’t make sense. If he was worried about things changing, then he didn’t need to worry anymore because your mother had thrown Guido out.”

  “Piero was the last person to talk to her. They went into her study and were in there for ages. Who knows what they said. Maybe something came out and he thought about it and then went to see her again in her bedroom and then lost it. For all we know she told him to pack his bags so he went back and killed her.”

  “I thought you liked Piero.”

  “I did, I do, but you know he’s always had such a lot of control over things. Mother always trusted him with everything. He’s the person that makes everything work round here.”

  “You think she gave him too much control?”

  “Maybe. I don’t know. It’s just that I can’t see Guido killing her. I know it looks bad for him, what with the row and everything, but he’s such a lily-livered fop. I saw mother’s body. It was so terrible. I can’t tell you.” He put his hand to his mouth as though frightened he would vomit. “And now Lapo. You know I could have believed Lapo killed her if this hadn’t happened.”

  “Lapo? Why?”

  “He was very vicious and he hated her.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so. He knew she didn’t love him. She wasn’t very good at handling his deformity. It reflected badly on her. It was the real reason her marriage to his father ended and every time she looked at him she seemed, what’s the word, not pained, more like disgusted, and he knew.”

  “He wasn’t very nice, Teo. Perhaps that’s what disgusted her. Quite frankly it disgusted me. I never felt at ease around him, but why should he suddenly decide to kill her? And who killed him?”

  “I don’t know. It’s all such a mess. Maybe Lapo killed mother and Piero killed him because he knew it was Lapo that did it.”

  “Oh Teo, I can’t believe that.”

  “The thing is someone did it and it had to be one of us.”

  “No, it wasn’t. You know I don’t like your family very much but I won’t believe it was one of them. Lapo didn’t kill your mother. He had an asthma attack when they told him. Don’t you remember? And Piero didn’t kill Lapo. He knew how much Marta loved him. There’s one more thing, I’m worried about your sister. She fainted when they told her about Lapo. I’m frightened she’ll have a breakdown. She acts as though everything’s fine and I don’t know how much longer she can keep that up.”

  “Marianna? Well, I know she looks as though nothing touches her but believe me she’s had a tough time and she’s found a way of dealing with things.”

  “She doesn’t deal with them. She pretends they never happened.”

  “I know. That’s it, her way of coping.”

  “Teo, I don’t think it’s the best way. She really should face things.”

  “Why should she? Things hurt. She’s been hurt enough. Let her pretend if she wants to. Look at me. All I can do is throw up all the time.”

  “Maybe that’s a healthier reaction. At least you’re expressing your hurt in some way. She’s denying it.”

  “Since when did you become a psychiatrist?”

  “Teo, I know quite a lot about denial.”

  He looked down and then sighed. “I’m sorry. Isabella, I won’t promise anything, but I am trying.”

  “I know you are. That’s enough.” They looked into each other’s eyes then Teo embraced her. “I really am sorry.
”

  “Come on, let’s take this stuff out to the children. At least they can enjoy life and I want them to. I don’t want them to grow up the way you did. I want them to have two parents who love them.”

  “So do I.” They picked up the food and walked out into the sunlight.

  Spadaccia stood in the doorway and took in the contents of Claudio’s room in a single penetrating glance. There were some graphic homoerotic posters on the walls and a desk, with a computer, printer and modem. On a small shelf were a few comic books and a couple of magazines. He went over, picked one up and saw that it was gay porn. He turned his attention to the computer. As he switched it on, he said, briefly, over his shoulder, “Take the room apart.” The two policemen began a methodical and destructive search. Primo Rossi had opened the door and stood in the doorway watching them until Spadaccia moved over to the door and firmly closed it again.

  The computer was full of files, most of which contained pornographic photographs. A word document file revealed the anonymous letters that Ursula had received. Spadaccia grunted with satisfaction. There was nothing else of interest. Claudio’s internet navigation history showed a record of his interest in gay porn and nothing else. One of the men came up to him and waved a small plastic bag under his nose, “Coke, quite a bit of it too.”

  “Good, we’ve got an excuse to hold him. We’ll get him for dealing if nothing else. Remember, we’re looking for bloodstained clothes and shoes, and a long thin kitchen knife.”

  “There’s nothing so far.”

  “We’ll take the entire contents of his wardrobe for forensic examination.”

  The men began to strip the clothes from their hangers, automatically feeling the pockets. One of them said, Yes!” and held up a roll of pristine bank notes.

  “Maresciallo!”

  Spadaccia took the roll, opened it carefully and counted it: 450 euros in new fifty euro notes.

  Half an hour later they left the house, carting great black bags of Claudio’s belongings. Primo Rossi was too deflated to speak to them. His wife had disappeared somewhere in the back of the house and the old man stood and watched them in silence. Before he left, Spadaccia said to him, “Your grandson is a nasty piece of work,” and the old man bowed his head.

  Guido della Rocca was decidedly unhappy. Dragonetti deliberately raised his voice and shouted at him, “You’re a liar and probably a murderer. Come on, tell me the truth. What did you do in the villa that night?” Guido pressed his lips together and said nothing.

  “You’ve admitted you were in there. What I want to know is why you killed Ursula. What did you do with the knife? Come on man, tell me.”

  “I’ve told already you. I didn’t kill Ursula.”

  “Well, Claudio Rossi says he didn’t either so which one of you am I supposed to believe?”

  “Perhaps it was someone else.”

  “Did you see anyone, or hear anything, anything at all?”

  “No, the house was quiet. I crept in and went up to her room. I didn’t want anyone to hear me. I knocked on her door quietly and then I went in and found her like that. It was such a shock. I almost fainted on the spot. I don’t know how I managed to stay upright. I’ve never been able to stand the sight of blood. I didn’t know what to do. I knew she couldn’t be alive, not in that condition, so I just ran away. I know I should have called the police but what would you have done in my position? I knew I would be the prime suspect once you knew about the row, but it wasn’t me. You have to believe me. Maybe it was one of her kids? I sort of thought it might have been Lapo, he’s so vicious, but now you tell me he was killed too and I just don’t understand it. I can’t see Marianna or Teo or even Isabella, come to that, killing Ursula. Perhaps it was that bloody Piero. He doesn’t like me and I don’t like him. I told Ursula that after we married there would be some changes around the house. That man ran her life for her. He even opened her post. It was quite deplorable.”

  “Well it sounds like he might have had a motive to kill you, if you were going to invade his territory, but why would he kill the Signora? He’d been with her for twenty-five years.”

  “How should I know? If it wasn’t him, it must have been Rossi. He’s a little delinquent and he went in there to steal something. He likes money. He was prepared to blackmail me so why shouldn’t he be prepared to steal?”

  “I agree. Steal yes, but murder?”

  “Maybe it was an accident and then he went crazy. I mean whoever did that to Ursula was totally mad and it wasn’t me.”

  “I hardly think that a knife thrust into a sleeping victim could ever be classified as an accident.”

  Guidio looked at him hopelessly. “I didn’t do it,” he repeated.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  “Piero Lotti? Bruno Faro speaking, from the Procura. The Prosecutor asked me to phone you. Could you come down and have a chat? There’s one or two things we’d like to clear up.”

  “Of course, When, now?”

  “Yes, now. I’ll send a man down to get you.”

  “There’s no need.”

  “Oh, but there is. How’s your wife?”

  “I hope you don’t want to talk to her, she’s sedated and I won’t have her disturbed.”

  “We don’t need to speak to her at this point.”

  The line went silent and Piero slowly put the phone down. What did they want now? Wasn’t it enough that the whole household was falling apart? He went into the bedroom and checked on Marta. She was sleeping soundly. He closed the bedroom door softly and went to get his jacket. He left the house quietly and walked down the drive. There was no point in anyone else seeing a police car come for him.

  The children were in the pool with Marianna. After watching and encouraging her nieces, she got out of the water and lay stretched out in the sun. It felt so good to just lie back and let her mind drift away from all the ugly things. The heat beat down on her body and she fell asleep. But her sleep didn’t take her to the pleasant place she hoped. It took her to a bedroom where her mother’s body lay with a knife protruding from her chest. “Mamma,” she called in her dream, “Mamma.”

  Isabella heard her and looked at Teo.

  “Poor kid. She might manage to pretend when she’s awake but who knows what she’s dreaming.”

  Now Marianna wept. “Everyone’s dying,” she said, quite clearly and woke up with tears streaming down her face to find her elder brother looking anxiously at her.

  “When will it end, Teo? I’m frightened.”

  “I wish I knew, Marianna.”

  Isabella got up and joined the girls in the water.

  Marianna wiped her tears away with her towel. “Teo, I wanted to talk to you. I’m going to marry Roberto, whatever you say.”

  Teo looked at her and said, “Mamma told me he was getting drugs for you.”

  “Only a line of coke now and then. It’s nothing. Everyone does it.”

  “Marianna, everyone doesn’t do it. You know what drugs can do to a person. Look at me. It took me three years of rehab to get free.”

  “Poor Teo. If it makes you any happier I haven’t taken anything since Roberto’s accident. I’m not a druggie.”

  “I hope to God you’re telling the truth.”

  Marianna looked at him with her dead blue eyes and said, “I always tell the truth.”

  He observed her carefully. Her pupils were of normal size. He wondered why her eyes always looked so unreal, like those of something dead, or inanimate, a doll perhaps. They never expressed anything. Even when she laughed, her eyes were the same.

  “I want to believe you. What about Roberto?”

  “He doesn’t do drugs.”

  “But I thought he got them for you.”

  “I made him do it. He didn’t really like doing it but he’ll do anything I want. He loves me.”

  “And you?”

  “I love him too. I told you we’re going get married. I have to hold on to this. It’s the only thing that’s keeping me sane.
I need a family. In some ways I feel I never had one. How about you? Wasn’t it the same for you?”

  “Yes, it was. I do know what you mean. All that moving around, and different fathers and then the schools. I don’t want my girls to have that sort of life.”

  “I’m sure they won’t. I’ve been watching Isabella. She’s good with them.”

  “Isn’t she. She’s been fantastic since mother died.”

  “I’m glad. The girls are lovely.”

  “What were you dreaming?”

  “About Mamma, you know… Teo, I feel so frightened. Who will be next?”

  “Perhaps it’s over. Perhaps he has no reason to kill anymore.”

  “But what if he kills us all?”

  “We’re taking every precaution. He won’t get anywhere near us. Have you thought any more about what I said, you know, New Zealand?”

  “Don’t make me go, Teo.”

  “Aunt Felicity will be coming next week. Mother had already got the tickets. You must go.”

  “I’m begging you, Teo, please.”

  “Marianna, I want you to go and I don’t want to discuss it. I’d have preferred you to accept the idea but you’ll go whether you like it or not.”

  “Why?” she whined.

  “To get you away from all this, and keep you safe. When you come back, everything will be different.”

  “Will it?

  “I promise.”

  ***

  “Come in Signor Lotti. I think it’s time we had another little talk.” Dragonetti extended a welcoming hand.

  “I was wondering when you would call me. Everyone else has been called in except me.”

  “Yes. Perhaps I was saving the best till last.”

  “The best?”

  “The most interesting. Sit down.”

  Piero sat down looking puzzled.

  “We’ve been talking to Guido della Rocca about you.”

  “Really.”

  “He says that that you weren’t at all happy about his forthcoming marriage to Signora von Bachmann.”