He lifted his eyebrows. "You didn't try very hard."
Carlina closed her eyes for an instant. "I didn't want to shake my mother. She was so upset."
"Was she?"
How she hated his snarky questions. "Yes, she was!" She balled her fists. "I don't know if you saw her cushion?"
"I did."
"Well, she usually carries that cushion around with her when she's on the road, but in the house, she doesn't take it. When she came up to me and had that cushion in her arms, I knew she was shaken to the core."
He blinked. "Are you telling me your mother never leaves the house without a cushion?"
Oh, God. She shouldn't have mentioned it. "Yes." She hoped her voice conveyed dignity. "It's a little idiosyncrasy."
"Did she take it to the wedding?" He sounded intrigued.
"Yes."
"And did she use it?"
"I don't know why you need to know that! It doesn't have anything to do with my grandfather." Carlina pressed her lips together.
His mouth twitched. "Humor me."
"Oh, all right." Carlina sighed. "She used it to sleep in Church."
"I take it the service wasn't fascinating?"
Carlina suppressed a giggle. "It was the sixth family wedding this year."
"In that case, I understand completely."
Carlina smiled. "Later, Mama used the cushion to sleep on the table."
"She slept on the table?" Now he sounded scandalized.
"Just with her head." Carlina hastened to add. "It doesn't matter; everybody is used to it. In fact, I think it's very considerate of her."
He blinked. "In what way?"
"Well, we always share a taxi back, and when she's tired, she simply goes to sleep. Other mothers would start to nag until the party broke up."
"I see." His tone spoke volumes.
He thinks we're a bunch of idiots. Carlina stared at her hands and concentrated on relaxing them. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw that he was still leaning against the door frame as if he belonged there, a relaxed panther.
From the street, she heard the faint noise of people walking by, talking, laughing. Inside, it was so quiet, her own breathing seemed too loud.
"To sum up, Signorina Ashley. You moved your dead grandfather because you didn't want to upset your cousin Emma. You allowed your great uncle Teo to call the police with a crazy tale because you didn't want him to have a heart attack. You lied to the police because you didn't want to upset your mother Fabbiola. I'm impressed. You're quite the philanthropist."
Carlina's ears turned hot.
"Well? Don't you wish to comment?"
His icy words cut through her like a steel blade. "No. I may not have told you the truth the first time, but this time, I have."
"Are you going to stick to this version?" His friendly voice sounded false.
"Yes." She pulled up her feet. "I take it the interview is over. Please go now. I can't keep my store closed for hours on end."
"Just a minute, Signorina Ashley. I have one more thing to tell you."
"Well?" Carlina bent forward on her footstool, ready to get up. Go. Just go away.
"Your grandfather was poisoned with an overdose of morphine."
A rushing sound like a giant waterfall deafened her ears. The floor came up to meet her, then everything turned black.
Chapter 6
I
When she regained consciousness, her nose was pressed against black leather. It smelled good, with an added hint of fresh air and soap. Two strong hands pulled her back into an upright position and leaned her against the shelf, only this time, she sat on the floor.
His lean face bent over her. He looked grim.
With detached interest, Carlina discovered a small scar next to his mouth. She concentrated on breathing. It was a full-time job.
"Weak moment over?"
She winced and managed to find her voice. "Repeat your last sentence." Maybe I misunderstood him.
"Your grandfather was poisoned with an overdose of morphine." He said it without emotion, as if he was the computer she had suspected all along.
So I've heard him right. Carlina closed her eyes.
"You going to faint again?"
She shook her head. "No. You can take your hands off me."
He snatched his hold away.
She almost toppled forward and had to place both hands flat on the floor to stabilize herself. "What happens now?"
He looked at her. "Now, I'm going to find out who killed him."
She didn't reply. Her head felt as if it had been filled with cotton wool, soft and sort of mushy.
"Signorina Ashley."
"What?"
“You still have to answer a few questions.”
She bit her lips so hard they hurt. “Go ahead.”
“Do you think it's possible that your grandfather killed himself?”
Carlina snatched up her head. “No. Absolutely not. Granddad enjoyed every moment of his life. He relished his phases and was constantly on the hunt for something new to do. He was mentally alert and very competitive. He once said that killing yourself was giving up too soon.”
“He was competitive?”
“Oh, yes.” She nodded. “You see, he was in eternal competition with his twin, my Uncle Teo. They constantly tried to outdo each other.” Carlina took a deep breath. She still felt shaken. “When Uncle Teo was diagnosed with a weak heart a short time ago, granddad went to get a general check-up, too. On account of their being twins and having the same genes, you see.”
“Yes.”
Carlina's throat felt tight. “Granddad got an official certificate that he was as healthy as a horse. He showed it to everybody and said he would live to be a hundred.” Tears pooled in her eyes as she remembered him strutting around the house, waving the certificate.
The Commissario lifted his eyebrows. “And in spite of that, you had no hint of a suspicion when you found him dead?”
She felt stupid now. “No.”
“Why not?”
“I don't know. As I said, suicide would have been totally out of character . . . and . . . and murder . . .”
“Yes, Signorina Ashley?” It sounded as if he was ready to pounce on her any second now.
“Murder never crossed my mind.”
He straightened. "Do you happen to have any plans to leave the country?"
A chill ran up her back. "No."
"Good. If you should change your mind, inform me."
Her throat hurt. "Yes."
He got up.
Carlina realized he had knelt next to her. She hurried to follow him, but the world still seemed a bit shaky. With a quick grab, she steadied herself on the shelf.
His gaze followed her hand. "If you should ever contemplate a change of career, try acting. You're quite convincing."
Fury exploded inside her. "And if you should ever contemplate a change of career, try garbage collector. Garbage doesn't have feelings."
His eyes narrowed. "Cat."
"Computer."
For the first time, his face registered surprise. "What?"
Carlina gave an arrogant shrug; at least she hoped it was arrogant. "Work it out."
She accompanied him to the door. As she unlocked the door and took off the sign, she was aware of his quiet presence behind her. He unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
She stepped to the side to let him pass.
He stopped in front of her. "You are aware that I have to talk to your family, aren't you?"
Carlina's face went blank. "Oh, Madonna."
"I am going to your house right now," he said. "Arrivederci." He nodded at her and turned left, toward the Arno River. His black motorbike stood on the sidewalk in a strict no-parking zone.
Carlina watched him start the motor with a roar. Her thoughts jumped around in futile jerks like boxed-in fleas. I have to stop him. I can't. I have to talk to my mother. Grandpa has been murdered. Oh, God. I'm a suspect. I have to talk to U
ncle Teo. I have to be home before Garini. The last thought arrived home like a gear kicking in. She flew into action.
II
Carlina raced home through several forbidden shortcuts, parked her Vespa at a rakish angle, and ran into the house. The unbroken seal on Nico's door made her feel sick. She raced upstairs. Her mother wasn't in her apartment, though all the windows stood open. Damn. Where could she be? Had Garini arrived already? She stopped in Fabbiola's kitchen and listened. The house was silent. No door slammed, no footstep could be heard, no wailing, no shouting.
But wait. Wasn't that a murmur of voices? Carlina rushed to the kitchen window and leaned out. She could hear Uncle Teo's voice. He was on the first floor, in Benedetta's kitchen. They had opened the door to the small balcony, otherwise Carlina would not have heard them.
Carlina turned on her heels and ran downstairs again.
"Benedetta?" Carlina pushed open the door to her aunt's apartment. "Is my mother here?"
It smelled of frying onions with a bit of aceto di Modena – balsamic vinegar - as spice. It was the only kind of vinegar her aunt ever used. A homey smell, a smell that made her feel welcome. Carlina pressed her hands together. With clenched teeth, she went forward until she could look through the open door into the kitchen.
Benedetta looked up from the dough she was kneading. She had flour up to her elbows and a small mountain of dough on the marble working slab in front of her. "Yes, she's here, Carlina." Her red lipstick glowed through the gloomy room. The neighboring house stood so close, little light came into Benedetta's kitchen.
Carlina went through the door and stopped dead. Benedetta had not mentioned the room was stuffed full with Mantoni family members.
Next to Benedetta, her children Ernesto and Annalisa had gathered at the kitchen table. Ernesto slouched in his chair, his right thumb flying over his cell phone as he composed a text message.
His sister Annalisa grated a piece of Parmesan cheese with the easy moves that came from long habit. The pile of grated cheese on the marble slab in front of her was already ten centimeters high.
Without stopping composing his message, Ernesto leaned over and picked up a bit of cheese with his left hand.
Annalisa slapped his arm.
Uncle Teo sat in front of a glazed terracotta bowl filled with black olives. He looked unfamiliar, all dressed in black, but the usual innocent expression on his face, as he chewed without a sound, was well-known to Carlina.
Aunt Maria, also in black, peeled garlic gloves next to him while humming to herself, and Fabbiola stood at the sink and washed spinach. A yellow curtain moved with the breeze in front of the open balcony door.
"You're early today, Carlina." Her mother turned around and pointed with her chin at the fridge. "Could you get out the Ricotta?"
Carlina obeyed without a word. So I've beat Garini. I wonder how many minutes I have until he shows up. Sweat ran down between her shoulder blades as she reached into the fridge and took out the cool plastic containers filled with Ricotta cheese. I need more than two minutes to explain what happened.
An idea flashed through her mind. "I'll be back in a second." She placed the Ricotta cheese onto the table, swiveled around and ran downstairs to the front door. As she reached the landing, she moved to the side and glided along the walls of the entry hall. Garini had better not see her shadow through the etched glass panes that filled the better part of the wooden front door.
Next to the door, she reached up. Thank God, the central box for the door bell cable was within her reach. She pulled the cable from the box with one swift move. There. Now Garini could ring until he turned blue. Nobody was home.
She ran back upstairs and stormed into the kitchen.
"Close the door, Carlina," Benedetta said. "The pasta shouldn't sit in a draft."
Carlina closed the door. She felt sick with fear. What would they say? She tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry. "Listen, everybody. I have to tell you something."
Uncle Teo looked up. "Carlina, you're so pale."
Carlina bit her lips.
"Yes, I've thought so, too." Fabbiola nodded and stirred the spinach once more in the sink filled with cold water. "Hand me that dish cloth, will you Carlina?"
Carlina gave her mother the dish cloth.
"You're not coming down with an illness, are you?" Benedetta frowned. "I think you work too much." She lifted the pasta machine from the shelf and shifted it into the right position on the table, so she could flatten the dough into a thin sheet as soon as it had rested long enough.
"But she's early today," Fabbiola smiled at her daughter and spread out the dish cloth next to the sink.
"Mama, I have to tell you something." Carlina started to feel desperate.
"Benedetta, I think you should close the balcony door." Fabbiola said. "The pasta will become too dry."
"Oh, no." Ernest looked up from his cell phone. "Please leave it open. It's already too stuffy in here."
"Then you should put the dough somewhere else to protect it." Fabbiola gave the pasta mountain an affectionate little pat.
"Place it into that bowl." Aunt Maria pushed a garlic clove into her mouth and conjured up a battered stainless steel bowl with the other hand.
Carlina lifted her voice. "Listen, I don't have much time, and I need to tell you something important."
Fabbiola frowned and placed a wet hand onto Carlina's brow. "Are you coming down with a fever, dear?"
"No." Carlina felt like screaming. "Commissario Garini stopped at Temptation today and --"
"He, he," Uncle Teo picked another black olive. "Wanted to buy underwear for his sweetheart, didn't he?"
Carlina closed her eyes. Can you please let me finish my sentence?
Annalisa looked up with such a quick move, her red hair swung back like a wing. "Does he have a sweetheart?"
"I don't think so." Fabbiola shook the wet spinach above the sink until the drops flew in all directions.
"Why not?" Benedetta placed the pasta dough with care into the stainless steel bowl. "I think he's a very attractive man, and in general, attractive men are not single."
"It doesn't matter if he's single or not," Carlina cut in.
"Now, why are you not interested?" Aunt Maria winked at her.
Uncle Teo chuckled. "So maybe he came to the store to chat with Carlina."
"Exactly." I have to tell them in a rush. I can't prepare them. Carlina took a deep breath. "He came to tell me that grandpa has been poisoned."
Everybody froze.
The rustle of the thin curtain remained the only sound in the room.
Ernesto's phone hit the kitchen floor with a crash.
"Damn!" Ernesto dived under the table.
Uncle Teo banged his balled fist onto the table. "I told you! I knew something was wrong!" He grinned in triumph.
With a splash, Fabbiola dropped the spinach into the sink as if she hadn't tried to shake it dry for several minutes and turned around. "Why did he tell you?" She emphasized the last word.
Benedetta closed her red mouth with a snap. "Why shouldn't he tell Carlina?"
Aunt Maria nodded. "Carlina is an attractive woman. He --"
"He came to tell me because I lied to him." Carlina clenched her teeth. This was the hardest part.
"You lied to him?" Annalisa's mouth dropped open. "I wouldn't try that too often. He's scary."
Ernesto emerged from beneath the table, but he didn't look at his phone. He stared at his cousin. "Wow."
"Why did you lie to the police? What about?" Fabbiola pressed her mouth into one thin line.
"I told him Grandpa was still alive before the wedding."
"But he was!" Fabbiola stuck her hands on her hips.
"No." Carlina shook her head. "He was dead. Emma and I placed him into bed." She nodded at Uncle Teo. "But we forgot to take off his socks." There. Now the worst was over. Maybe.
Ernesto's mouth dropped open. "You put Grandpa to bed after he was dead?" His eyebrows almos
t touched his red hair. "Wicked!"
"I don't believe for a minute that Emma would do anything like that!" Benedetta fired up in defense of her eldest daughter.
Carlina swallowed.
"Of course she would," Uncle Teo crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Emma probably had the idea."
"But why did you do it?" Aunt Maria held a forgotten garlic clove in her hand.
"Because we didn't want to destroy the wedding." It sounds so silly now.
Annalisa's mouth dropped open. "Are you crazy?"
"You lied to me!" Fabbiola stared at her daughter.
"And to me." Uncle Teo frowned at Carlina.
Carlina stood up straighter. "Yes, I did, but that doesn't matter."
"It doesn't matter?" Fabbiola's voice rose higher. "You say it doesn't matter that you lie to me, your only --"
"Mama." Carlina took her mother's hands. "We have other problems now."
Fabbiola withdrew her hands. "I don't see what you mean! I say things have come to a pretty pass when --"
Carlina interrupted her with a rising feeling of desperation. "Listen to me!" Didn't they get it? Hadn't they heard what she'd said?
Aunt Maria contemplated the garlic clove. "Who killed Nico?"
Everybody whipped around and stared at her.
"Thank you, Aunt Maria." Carlina dropped into a chair. "That's the big question."
Silence.
The yellow curtains fluttered in the breeze as if the world was still in order.
Fabbiola took two small steps and bent over her daughter. "Father was murdered?"
Carlina nodded. "That's what Garini said."
Ernesto's eyes widened. "Did you kill him, Carlina?" His red hair stood up like a flame.
His mother turned on him with a hiss. "Of course not, stupid! How can you say such a thing of your cousin?"
Carlina shook her head. "Ernesto isn't stupid. The Commissario thinks the same."
Benedetta covered her red mouth with her hand. "Oh, Madonna."
Fabbiola straightened and placed her hands on her hips. "I can't believe the Commissario is so dumb. He looked like a clever man. How can he think my daughter is a criminal?"
Carlina bit back a smile. "Because said daughter behaved like an idiot."
Delayed Death (Temptation in Florence Book 1) Page 7
