by Lucy Gordon
Next to him stood another picture, of a young girl. Once she had been the eighteen-year-old Minnie, her face soft, slightly unfinished, still full of hope. She hadn’t known grief and despair. That came later.
Her face was finer now, elegant, more withdrawn, but still open to humour. Her fair hair, worn long in the first picture, now just brushed her shoulders, a length chosen for efficient management.
She changed the position of the flowers twice before she was satisfied.
‘He will like that,’ Netta said. ‘Always he loves flowers. Remember how often he brought them to you? Flowers for your wedding, flowers for your birthday, your anniversary-’
‘Yes, he never forgot.’
Neither woman thought it strange to speak of him both in the present and the past, changing from sentence to sentence. It came so naturally that they barely noticed.
‘How’s Poppa?’ Minnie asked.
‘Always he complains.’
‘No change there, then.’ They laughed together.
‘And Charlie?’
Netta groaned at the mention of her younger son. ‘He’s a bad boy. He thinks he’s a big man because he stays out late and drinks too much and sees too many girls.’
‘So he’s a normal eighteen-year-old,’ Minnie said gently.
In fact she, too, had been growing a little uneasy at her young brother-in-law’s exuberant habits, but she played it down for Netta’s sake.
‘It was better when he was in love with you,’ Netta mourned.
‘Mamma, he wasn’t in love with me. He’s eighteen, I’m thirty-two. He had a boyish crush, which I defused. At least, I hope I did. Charlie’s of no interest to me.’
‘No man interests you. It’s not natural. You’re a beautiful woman.’
‘I’m a widow.’
‘For too long. Now it’s time.’
‘This is my mother-in-law talking?’ Minnie asked of nobody in particular.
‘This is a woman talking to a woman. Four years you are a widow, yet no man. Scandoloso!’
‘It’s not quite true to say there have been no men in my life,’ Minnie said cautiously. ‘And, since you live right opposite me, you know that.’
‘Sure. I see them come and I see them go. But I don’t see them stay.’
‘I don’t invite them to stay,’ Minnie said quietly.
Netta’s answer to this was to give her a crushing hug.
‘No man ever had a better wife than my Gianni,’ she said. ‘Now it’s time you think of yourself. You need a man in your life, in your bed.’
‘Netta, please-’
‘When I was your age I had-’
‘A husband and five children,’ Minnie reminded her.
‘That’s true, but-ah, well, it was a long time ago.’
Netta had a generous nature. In all things.
‘I’m quite happy without a man,’ Minnie insisted.
‘Nonsense. No woman is happy without a man.’
‘And, even if I wanted one, it wouldn’t be Charlie. I’m not a cradle-robber.’
‘Of course not. But you could make him listen. Where is he tonight? I don’t know. But I’m sure he’s with bad people.’
‘And I’m sure that when you get home you’ll find him there looking sheepish,’ Minnie assured her.
‘Then I go home now. And I tell him he should be ashamed for worrying his mother.’
‘I’ll tell him, too. Come on, I’ll walk home with you.’
Minnie’s home was on the third floor, overlooking the courtyard. Some of the other homes were also occupied by Pepinos, since the family had always liked to live within hailing distance of each other. As they went out on to the iron staircase that ran around the inside of the courtyard, they could see lights in the other windows and shadows passing across them.
Then, up the stairs to the fourth floor on the other side, to the front door of the home Netta shared with her husband, her brother and her youngest son, when he was at home. There was still no sign of Charlie.
‘He’ll be home soon,’ Minnie said soothingly. ‘He’s just trying his wings.’
She kissed her mother-in-law and wandered back to her own little apartment. As always, it felt very quiet when she let herself in. It had been that way since the day her young husband had died in her arms.
She was suddenly very tired. Netta’s conversation had steered her close to things she normally tried not to think of.
From his place on the shelf Gianni seemed to follow her around the apartment with his eyes. She smiled at him, trying to find reassurance in his presence as she had so often before. But this time she couldn’t sense him smiling back.
The kitchen table was scattered with papers. Reluctantly she sat down to finish her work, but her mind couldn’t concentrate. It was a relief when her cellphone rang.
‘Charlie! Mamma’s been worrying about you. Where have you got to? You’re where?’
CHAPTER TWO
T HE young policeman looked up with admiration as Signora Minerva strode into the station.
‘Buona notte,’ he said. ‘It’s always a pleasure to see you here, signora.’
‘Be careful, Rico,’ she warned him. ‘That remark could be construed as harassment. You’re reminding me that my relatives are always in some sort of trouble.’
‘No, I was saying how pretty you always look,’ he replied, hurt.
Minnie laughed. She liked Rico, a naïve country boy, overwhelmed by his assignment to Rome, and wide-eyed about everything, including herself.
‘Always?’ she teased.
‘Every time your relatives are in trouble,’ he said irrepressibly. ‘How an important lawyer like yourself comes to be related to so many criminals-’
‘That’s enough!’ she told him sternly. ‘I grant you, they can be a little wayward, but there’s never anything violent.’
‘Signor Charlie has been in something violent tonight. His shirt is torn, he’s bleeding. Huge big fight. The fellow with him is even worse. He’s a big, bad man with a nasty face.’ Rico took a deep breath as he came to the real crime. ‘And he doesn’t have any papers.’
‘What, nothing?’
‘No identity card. No passport.’
‘Well, we don’t all carry our passports around with us.’
‘But this man speaks Italian with an accent. He is a foreigner.’ He added in a low, horrified voice, ‘I think he’s English.’
‘So was my mother,’ Minnie said sharply. ‘It’s not a hanging crime.’
‘But he has no papers,’ Rico said, returning to the heart of the matter. ‘And he won’t say where he’s living, so he’s probably sleeping in the streets. Very drunk.’
‘And he was fighting Charlie?’
‘No, they were on the same side-I think. It’s hard to be sure because Charlie’s drunk too.’
‘Where is he?’
‘In a cell, with this other fellow. I think he’s afraid of him. He won’t say a word against him.’
‘Does “this fellow” have a name?’
‘He won’t give his name, but Charlie calls him Lucio. I’ll take you to him.’
She knew the way to the cells by now, having come here so often to help her relatives, who were as light-fingered as they were light-hearted. Even so, she was aghast at the sight of her young brother-in-law, seated lolling against the wall, scruffy, bruised and definitely the worse for wear.
Rico vanished to find the key, which he’d forgotten to bring. Minnie stood watching Charlie, wishing he didn’t look so much like a down-and-out. But his companion was even worse, she realised, as though he’d fought ten men.
Tall, muscular, unshaven, he looked strong enough to deal with any number of opponents. Like Charlie he wore a badly torn shirt and his face was bruised, with a cut over one eye. But, unlike Charlie, he didn’t look as if it were all too much for him. In fact, he didn’t look as though anything would be too much for him.
So this was Lucio, a thoroughly ugly customer, brutal, w
ith huge fists to power his way through the world-a man used to getting his own way by the use of force. She gave a shudder of distaste.
Then Charlie seemed to half wake up, rub his eyes, lean forward with his hands between his knees and his head bent in an attitude of dejection. ‘Lucio’ came to sit beside him and put a hand on his shoulder, shaking him slightly in a rallying manner.
Charlie said something that she couldn’t catch and Lucio replied. He, too, was inaudible, but she sensed that he spoke gently. Then he grinned, and the sight surprised her. It was ribald and full of derision, yet with a hint of kindness, and it seemed to hearten the boy.
Rico returned. ‘I’ll let him out and you can talk with him in an interview room,’ he said, ‘well away from that one.’
The sound of the key turning made both men look up. Rico opened the door and addressed Charlie in a portentous tone.
‘Signor Pepino, your sister is here. Also your lawyer.’ Trying to be witty, he added, ‘They came together.’
Out of the corner of her eye Minnie saw Lucio stiffen and throw a sharp look at Charlie, then at her. He stared as though thunderstruck. His eyes contained both a frown and a question as they looked her up and down in a considering way that was almost insulting.
In this she did him an injustice. Luke was beyond thinking anything except that this couldn’t possibly be happening.
Pepino? A lawyer?
She was Signora Pepino? This dainty fair-haired creature was the dragon? And he, who’d laid such plans for gaining the upper hand, found himself in a police cell-dishevelled, disorderly, hung-over and, worst of all, dependent on her.
Great!
Charlie tried to fling his arms about her, hailing her emotionally as his saviour.
‘Get off, you ruffian!’ she told him firmly. ‘You look as if you’ve been rolling in the gutter and you smell like a brewery. I suppose you’re relying on me to get you out of here?’
‘And my friend,’ Charlie said, indicating Luke.
‘Your friend will wish to make his own arrangements.’
‘No, I’ve told him you’ll look after him too. He saved my life, Minnie. You wouldn’t abandon him to his fate when he’s poor and alone and has nobody to help him?’ Charlie was in an ecstasy of tipsy emotion.
Minnie groaned. ‘If you don’t shut up I’ll abandon you,’ she told him in exasperation.
‘I’ll take you to an interview room,’ Rico said.
‘No, thank you, I’ll stay here and talk to both of them.’
‘Stay here?’ Rico asked, aghast. ‘With that one?’ He pointed to Luke.
‘I’m not afraid of him,’ she said crossly. ‘Perhaps he should be afraid of me. How dare you do this to my brother?’
Luke leaned against the wall, regarding her ironically through half-closed eyes.
‘Look,’ he said, sounding bored, ‘bail your brother out or do what you have to. Then go. I can manage for myself.’
‘Lucio, no!’ Charlie exclaimed. ‘Minnie, you must look after him. He’s my friend.’
‘He’s a lot older than you and should know better,’ she said firmly.
‘That’s right, it’s all my fault,’ Luke said. ‘Just leave.’
He promised himself that when they next met he would be washed, shaved and well-pressed. With any luck she might not even recognise him.
‘What did you mean about saving your life?’ she asked.
Charlie launched into an explanation which was more or less accurate considering the state he was in. The word ‘puppy’ occurred several times and by the end Minnie had a rough idea that the stranger had come between Charlie and superior odds, although perhaps not as melodramatically as he described it.
‘Is that what happened?’ she asked Luke in a gentler tone.
‘Something like that. Neither Charlie nor I like seeing a child bullied. Or a puppy,’ he added after a moment.
‘What happened to the child?’
‘Grabbed the puppy and ran. Then there was a bit more fighting, and someone must have called the police.’
‘Well, I’m glad you were there with Charlie, Signor-’
‘Lucio will do,’ he said hastily.
‘But I can’t represent you if I don’t know your name.’
‘I haven’t asked you to represent me.’ Inspiration made him add, ‘I can’t afford a lawyer.’
‘It’ll be my gift, to show my gratitude.’
Luke groaned, mentally imploring heaven to save him from a woman who had an answer to everything!
‘As Charlie says, I can’t just abandon you,’ Minnie went on. ‘But you must be quite frank with me. Where are you living?’
‘Nowhere,’ he said hastily, imagining her mirth if he gave the name of the hotel.
‘Sleeping in the streets?’
‘That’s right.’
‘But it makes my job harder. So does your lack of identity. How come you don’t have an ID card?’
‘I do.’
‘Where?’
‘I left it in the hotel,’ he said before he could stop himself.
‘But you just said you were sleeping in the streets.’
‘I’m not at my best,’ he said, inwardly cursing her alertness. ‘I don’t know what I’m saying.’
‘Signor-whatever your name is, I don’t think you’re as drunk as all that, and I don’t like clients who mess me around. Please tell me the name of your hotel.’
‘The Contini.’
Silence.
She looked him up and down, taking in every scruffy, dishevelled detail.
‘All right, you’re a comedian,’ she said. ‘Very funny. Now, will you please tell me where you’re staying?’
‘I just did. I can’t help it if you don’t believe me.’
‘The most expensive hotel in Rome? Would you believe you, looking the way you do?’
‘I didn’t come out looking like this. I left everything behind in case of pickpockets.’ He looked down at his disreputable self. ‘Now I don’t suppose any pickpocket would bother with me.’
‘If you are telling the truth, and I’m not sure I believe it, I still need your name.’
He sighed. There was no help for it.
‘Luke Cayman.’
For a moment Minnie didn’t move. She was frowning as though trying to understand something.
‘What did you say?’ she asked at last.
‘Luke Cayman.’
She drummed her fingers. ‘Is that a joke?’
‘Why would you think so?’ he fenced.
‘I thought maybe I’d heard the name before, but perhaps I was mistaken.’
‘No, I don’t think you were,’ he said deliberately.
They regarded each other, each with roughly the same mixture of exasperation and incredulity. Charlie looked blank, understanding nothing.
Suddenly his expression changed and he took a deep breath. In a flash Minnie was at the door, calling for Rico, who came running.
‘You’d better get him out quickly,’ she said.
Rico did so, guiding Charlie down the corridor to where he could be ill in peace.
‘Let’s get this settled,’ Minnie said. ‘I do not believe that you’re Luke Cayman.’
‘Why? Because I don’t fit your preconceived notion? You don’t fit mine, but I’m willing to be tolerant.’
‘You think this is very funny-’
‘Well, no, this isn’t how I’d have chosen to meet you. With a bit of conniving I dare say you could get me locked up for years. Look me in the eye and say you aren’t tempted.’
‘Well, I’m not,’ she snapped. ‘It’s the last thing I want.’
‘Very virtuous of you.’
‘Virtuous, nothing!’ she said, goaded into candour. ‘With you locked up, the Residenza would be in limbo, with no hope of getting anything done. You may be sure I’ll do my best to make you a free man.’
‘I see. If anyone’s going to give me grief, you’d prefer it to be you.’
&nb
sp; ‘Exactly.’
Charlie returned, looking pale but slightly better, and glanced back and forth between them, sensing strain in the air.
‘We were discussing strategy,’ Minnie said.
‘I’ve decided not to hire you,’ Luke told her. ‘I’d feel safer if you just leave me to my fate.’
‘No,’ Charlie burst out. ‘Minnie’s a good lawyer; she’ll get you out of trouble.’
‘Only because she’s got far more trouble planned for me,’ Luke said with a derisive grin.
‘Please, let’s not be melodramatic,’ Minnie said coolly. ‘I shall treat you exactly as I would any other client.’
‘You see?’ Charlie urged. ‘Honestly, Lucio, she’s the best. They call her the “giant slayer” because she’ll take on anyone and win. You should see the battle she’s preparing for the monster who owns our building.’
‘I can imagine,’ Luke murmured. ‘A monster, eh?’
‘Yes, but she’s says he’s going to die a horrible death,’ Charlie said with relish.
‘Literally, or only legally?’ Luke asked with interest.
‘Whichever seems necessary,’ Minnie said, meeting his eyes.
‘I gather you’ll make that decision at a later date.’
‘I like to keep my options open.’
‘When she’s finished he’ll wish he’d never been born,’ Charlie added.
‘Does this monster have a name?’ Luke asked with interest.
‘No, Minnie just calls him the “devil incarnate”.’
‘Stop talking nonsense, both of you,’ she said severely. ‘I’ve got to work out what we’re going to do. You’ll be in court in a few hours and you can’t go looking like that. Charlie, I’ll send someone down with clean clothes for you. Signor Cayman, you’ll need fresh clothes, too, and your ID card. How do I get them?’
‘I could call the hotel and ask them to arrange it,’ he said reluctantly. ‘But I don’t want them to know I’m here.’
‘You’re right. Can I get into your room?’
