temptation in florence 03 - bankers death

by boeker, beate

  “Thanks.” He shot out of the door and ran back to his motorbike.

  Here's a man in a hurry. Carlina turned the envelope in her hand. It was white and simple, cheap stationery, available by the dozen in every supermarket. Who would send her a letter by courier? Her name was laser printed in small letters on the front of the envelope. Caroline Ashley. Not Carlina. Very odd. Using her fingernail, she slid it open and drew out the single piece of paper. “Meet me for dinner tonight at 8PM at the Cantinetta Alfredo. Don't tell anybody. Don't contact me before you see me at the restaurant. Trust me. Stefano.”

  She blinked. The Cantinetta Alfredo. A romantic restaurant with secluded booths. She remembered every minute of the first dinner she had had with Stefano there. Was this an olive branch, a sign that he wanted to make up? But why the secrecy? Did it have anything to do with the case? In general, he called to confirm a date.

  Once again, she read the short message. Why did she have a strange feeling, as if something bad was about to happen? She shook it off. Maybe Garini wanted to talk to her without endless interruptions by her family. Good thinking. She would obey to the letter, that much was sure. Their relationship was fragile enough at the moment, without her doing the exact opposite of what he asked her to do.

  Carlina checked her watch. Six-thirty. She could easily spend the remaining time at Temptation before going to the restaurant. That would avoid any eventual questions by her curious family. Her heart lifted, and she started to hum. She was looking forward to seeing Garini tonight, without any fresh disaster to mar their relationship.

  One and a half hours later, Garini's heart was hammering in his chest, though he tried to look relaxed as he leaned against his bike in front of the Cantinetta Alfredo. He would see Carlina tonight, would spend time with her, away from her family, away from the pressures of his job. Even if it was just for a short time, he would see her green eyes that were so much like a cat's, would be able to watch the smattering of freckles across her nose. He missed her, and he wanted nothing more than to close this case and get back to where they had been before this stupid murder had come between them. He just hoped she hadn't asked him to come to the restaurant in order to make a confession he was not willing to hear.

  There she was! She stopped her Vespa next to a street lamp and took off the helmet with the leopard print, shaking her curls back into order. Garini smiled and straightened to go to her when he saw a shadowy person behind Carlina duck behind a car. What the heck was going on here?

  He sauntered to her, every sense alert, his gaze on the car where the shadow had disappeared.

  “Stefano!” Carlina waved at him.

  He lifted his hand to acknowledge her greeting, then ran the last steps past her to check behind the car. Nothing. Under cover of the car, the shadow must have slipped down the side road that led to the back entrance of the restaurant. His uneasiness increased.

  “Stefano?” Carlina stared at him. She stood in the full light of the street lamp, her coat fluttering in a sudden gust of wind.

  He took her arm and led her away from the light, so she wouldn't be such a good target anymore.

  “You're acting strange.” Carlina said. “What's the matter?”

  “I saw a shadow slip behind the car over there.” Garini motioned into the direction of the side street. “I had the impression that this person didn't want to be seen by you.”

  She twisted around and peered through the dark. “Really?”

  “Yes. But he's gone now.”

  “Did you recognize him?”

  Garini frowned. For one fleeting moment, the shadow had seemed familiar, but he couldn't place it. “No. I had the impression that it was someone I know, though.”

  She bit her lips. “Sounds scary.”

  “I don't like it.” He looked at her. “Why did you choose this restaurant? Was there any special reason?”

  Her eyes opened wide. “I didn't choose this restaurant. You did.”

  Shock coursed through him like fire. They had been set up. Something was about to happen, and he had no idea what or why. His strange feeling had been right all along. He grabbed her arm. “Tell me, quick. Why are you here?”

  “A courier brought a typed note to Temptation.” She threw an uneasy glance over her shoulder. “I did think it strange that you asked me not to talk to anybody about it, but I thought you might have a reason, and I--”

  “Not now.” He pulled her away, deeper into the shadow of a small van.

  “Are you telling me you didn't ask me to come for dinner?” Her voice sounded wistful.

  “I didn't.” He looked down at her.

  Her mouth trembled a little, and he couldn't help it, he had to brush his lips across hers. She felt soft and tempting, and for an instant, he felt like forgetting everything. Then, with an effort, he managed to concentrate. “I got a message via the receptionist at the police station. It seemed strange at the time, but I swallowed it anyway.” He clenched his teeth. “Someone wants us to be here, at this moment.”

  Her gaze darted around her. She shivered. “Why?”

  He pulled her closer. “I don't know. Let's get away from here.”

  “No, wait.” She resisted his tug. “If someone wants us to be here, there is a good reason.”

  “Yes. Maybe someone wants to use us as a sitting target, and I don't feel that we should wait for that.”

  She frowned. “Or maybe someone wants us to be away from home, so they'll have the all clear to do whatever it is they're planning.”

  He tried to read her face. “Are you aware of any family plans for tonight?”

  “No. But obviously, they would have kept it a secret.”

  “Did they seem any crazier than usual?”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “Nice way of putting it, Garini. The answer is no.”

  He grinned in spite of a lingering feeling of uneasiness about the whole set up. “The sensible thing would be to get the hell out of here.”

  “I'd rather wait and see what will happen.”

  “I doubt there'll be fireworks.”

  She grinned. “Just dinner would be fine. I'm hungry.”

  He looked at the freckles on her nose. How good it felt to hold her in his arms. If he insisted on leaving, they would have to go separate ways. Besides, they might indeed find out more if they stayed. However, it would be dangerous, and he couldn't risk anything happening to Carlina.

  “I've made up my mind.” She disengaged herself from his arms and went to the entrance of the restaurant. “I'll have dinner here, no matter what.”

  He darted a glance around. Nothing suspicious. He took a deep breath, then shrugged and followed her. “All right. But keep your eyes open, will you?”

  “Sure.”

  He asked the waiter for one of the booths right next to the side exit, so they could get out quickly if it should become necessary. Then he seated himself with his back to the wall. Now he could survey everything that was going on in the restaurant. Carlina was at right angles to him, her back protected by a wooden partition.

  “Notice anything unusual?” she whispered as soon as the waiter had placed a basket with fresh bread and the cutlery in front of them and had left with their orders.

  “Nothing yet. You?”

  Carlina shook her head. “No.” She took a piece of the fresh bread and broke off a piece. Then she looked up. “I missed you.”

  His throat constricted. “I missed you, too.”

  She smiled.

  He could get lost in that smile, but that was dangerous. With an effort, he wrenched his gaze away and scanned the restaurant.

  “Did you learn anything new about the man from the newspaper booth?” she asked.

  Garini gave her a quick look. How much could he divulge without being indiscreet? On the other hand, he still hadn't found a link between the two murders, and Carlina might help him to find it. “His name was Giorgio Pulo.”

  She nodded. Obviously, the name meant nothing to her.

>   “He used to work as a clown for the Bellezzi Circus.”

  “How interesting.” Carlina smiled. “I can imagine him working as a clown. He was so nice.”

  “That might have been misleading. His wife, who did not exactly break down with grief, told me he was a blackmailer.”

  Her eyes widened. “A blackmailer? Really?”

  “That's what she said.”

  “Do you believe her?”

  Garini hesitated. “I'm not sure yet.”

  Carlina frowned while she dipped her bread into a little bowl with olive oil. “I asked Mama about him this afternoon.”

  He had her full attention now. “What did she say?”

  “She said she was sorry that he had died, but she also said he might have been too nosy for his own good.”

  Garini's eyebrows soared. “Just what exactly did she mean by that?”

  Carlina's gaze met his while she slowly chewed her piece of bread. “Apparently, he was nice and talkative, but whenever he got you into a conversation, he also managed to find out stuff about you and your family, and he never forgot anything. He was keen on details. I remember I was surprised that he could place me when I had my almost-accident, and Mama said she had only mentioned it once, in passing. So he really paid attention and picked up every small thing.”

  “That's not a bad thing in itself.”

  “No.” Carlina gave him a wry smile. “But it's also a perfect prerequisite for a blackmailer.” She stared into space. “I just hope he has no connection to my family. As far as I know, we have no family members who work in a circus.”

  “But you have two in the house.”

  “What?” Carlina stared at him. “Who?”

  “Simonetta and Maria. Remember the juggling during Ernesto's birthday?”

  “Yes, but many people know how to juggle.”

  He didn't want to share Simonetta's information about her circus past with Carlina at this point, so he changed the subject. “Actually, my boss was very much interested when he heard Maria's name. It seems she belongs to a very influential family in Florence.”

  Carlina nodded. “Yeah, that's right. Her father is the owner of 'Pelle di Toscana'. A dreadful man.”

  “Is that why she cleans houses? When Cervi told me about Andrea Focasciu's riches and influence, I supposed that Maria belonged to a different branch of the family.”

  “Oh, no.” Carlina shook her head. “I admit I don't know the whole story. She doesn't like to talk about it, but apparently, her parents divorced when she was two. It wasn't an amicable parting, and she grew up with her mother until she was twelve. Then her mother died, and she came to live with her father. He's a traditionalist.” Carlina broke off another piece of bread and turned it between her fingers. “And a macho of the first order. I wonder how he managed to explain away the failure of his marriage.”

  “Did he ever marry again?”

  “No. He lives for his company, or so Maria told me. Works until midnight, stuff like that. The experience of his first marriage was apparently bad enough to last a lifetime.”

  “And she doesn't get along with him?”

  “Not at all. She hates him and is only waiting for a trust fund to become untied at her next birthday. Then, she'll get out of here.”

  “And in the meantime, she cleans houses?”

  Carlina shrugged. “I think she likes the atmosphere in our house because it's so different from her home. She says it's fun and relaxed.”

  “And crazy.”

  “And crazy.” Carlina grinned and bent across the table. “Some people find that alluring, Garini.”

  He returned her smile. “If you say so.”

  Carlina straightened again. “Anyway, she told me she likes to earn her own money, to have something her father doesn't know about. She also likes to be with the boys, I mean Rafaele and Ernesto, and she's become a good friend of Rafaele's sister, Sofia.”

  “Do you know if she ever worked in a circus?”

  Carlina laughed. “Can you imagine the daughter of Andrea Focasciu working in a circus? I don't--” She broke off and stared across the room.

  He stiffened. “What is it?”

  “I . . . I think I just saw Mama.”

  “Your mother?” He jumped up. “Where?”

  “Over there. She went to the bathroom.”

  He sat down again. “The bathroom doesn't have windows. She'll have to return this way if she comes back.”

  Carlina dropped the piece of bread in her hands. “I'll go and find out.”

  He grabbed her wrist. “You won't do any such thing.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it might be dangerous, and I'm not going to follow you to the ladies if we can wait for her to show up again. If it was indeed her. Did you see her face?”

  Carlina shook her head. “No, and I didn't see the cushion, either.”

  “The famous cushion she always has to carry around.” His voice had taken on a slightly sarcastic tone.

  She winced. “I know it's a bit peculiar.”

  “If you didn't see her face and you didn't see her cushion, then how did you get the idea that it was your mother?”

  Her eyes widened. “Do you think I'm developing a persecution complex or something?”

  He smiled. “I hope not.”

  Carlina frowned. “I . . . I don't know why I thought it was Mama. Something about the way she walked. She's always swinging her hands. I think that was it.”

  “All right.” He nodded. “We'll soon find out.”

  But when the woman reappeared from the bathroom, he had to look twice to recognize her. Her hair was cut into a blond bob, and her silhouette was different. In fact, Fabbiola looked as if she had gained ten kilograms overnight. He tried to blend out the hair and the oversized midriff and focused on the face. No doubt about it. It was Fabbiola.

  Chapter 10

  I

  “Mama!” Carlina jumped up. She had the feeling that her mother was becoming more than a little eccentric, and she was torn between irritation and worry. “What on earth are you doing here? Are you responsible for our blind date? Why are you wearing a wig? What--?”

  Fabbiola glanced around her like a spy in a bad movie.

  Several guests had lifted their heads and were looking in their direction, their eyes shining with the pleasant expectation of a little fracas.

  “Ssssh. Don't talk.” Fabbiola pressed her lips together and gave her daughter an angry look. “You're destroying everything.”

  Involuntarily, Carlina also glanced over her shoulder. What is she afraid of? “But I--”

  Garini got up and pulled out a chair. “Sit down, Mrs. Mantoni-Ashley.”

  Fabbiola jumped back as if he had suggested that she should tap dance on that chair. “No! If they see me, the whole thing will be off.”

  Garini and Carlina spoke as one. “Who are 'they'?”

  Once again, Fabbiola looked over her shoulder. Then she sighed and dropped onto the chair. “It's a lost cause anyway. I was so sure it would work.” Her mouth drooped.

  Carlina slid onto the chair next to her mother and gave Garini a worried look. His face gave nothing away, as usual, but she noted that his eyes had narrowed as he concentrated on her mother. She bent forward. “Are you in danger, Mama?”

  “Bosh.” Her mother made an impatient move with her hand. “Of course not. Don't let your vivid imagination run away with you.”

  Carlina suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Just who has a vivid imagination here?

  “Please tell us everything you know, Mrs. Mantoni-Ashley.” Garini had reverted to his official police voice, flat and hard.

  “It's so discouraging.” Fabbiola fidgeted with a fork she had picked up from the table. “I laid out my trap tonight, but it seems it didn't work.” She frowned. “I'm really disappointed about that. I should have thought the murderer would react, and--”

  “One moment, please.” Garini held up his hand. “How exactly did you set u
p a trap?”

  She pressed her lips together. “I don't have to tell you, do I?”

  Carlina clenched her fists together. “Listen, Mama, you're running around in disguise, behaving as if you're being followed, and you obviously know about this strange date someone set up, so--”

  “Of course I know about your date.” Her mother gave her an impatient look. “After all, it was my idea.”

  Carlina gasped. “Your idea?” she asked. “Why on earth would you do that?”

  “Well, it was obvious that the murderer wanted to separate you two.”

  Garini blinked. “Why was that obvious?”

  Fabbiola shook her head as if she couldn't believe how dumb he was. “Because otherwise, the murderer would not have killed Valentino in Carlina's apartment. I mean, how stupid is that? I said it all along; it doesn't make sense if we still want your cooperation. And unfortunately, the killer got what he wanted. It was obvious to all of us that your relationship had hit a rocky patch.”

  Carlina swallowed. She opened her mouth to say something, but a warning glance from Garini stopped her.

  “Please continue, Mrs. Mantoni-Ashley.”

  “So I thought I would make sure that you two would have a romantic dinner together and that everybody knew about it.”

  “But it was a secret,” Carlina said.

  Carlina's mother grinned. “Not at all. I just didn't want you two to compare notes before dinner, that's why I told you not to talk about it with anybody at all.”

  Garini shook his head. “But what did you expect to happen?”

  Fabbiola squared her shoulders. “I expected the murderer to take steps to break up the dinner.”

  “How?” Carlina couldn't believe her ears.

  “I don't know.” Fabbiola spread out her hands. “That was up to the murderer, of course. I couldn't plan everything, could I?”

  “Are you aware that you placed your daughter at risk?” Garini's voice sounded low, dangerous. He reminded Carlina of a panther, coiled to jump.

  “That's why I decided to join you here.” Fabbiola replied with dignity. “To protect my daughter.” She pointed at the neighboring table behind the wooden partition. “I've been sitting there the whole time, but then, I really couldn't wait anymore.” She gave them an embarrassed smile. “Unfortunately, I drank a bit too much water.” She moved on her chair as if it was too hot. “And I'm missing my cushion. I've got it right here,” she patted the bulk in front of her, “but it's not the same, is it?”