"No. I got to know her years ago because of another case."
"Ah." Uncle Teo nodded. "Well, I had a crush on her, when I was a very young man." He winked at Stefano. "That was before Maria, you understand."
I wonder. "How old were you approximately?"
"Oh," Uncle Teo waved a pale hand through the air, "sixteen or seventeen." He nodded again. "A long time ago, as I said."
"Quite."
The index finger came up. "Number seven: He said Maria had a drinking problem which she kept in check by eating garlic cloves."
Stefano waited for Uncle Teo to continue.
"Utter nonsense, of course." Uncle Teo shook his head with a frown. "She has an eating problem which she manages to control with the garlic cloves."
Stefano bent forward. "I don't quite get this."
"Well," Uncle Teo shrugged, "she always carries around a garlic snack, and when the need to eat something becomes too big, she takes one."
"Why garlic?"
Uncle Teo looked at him as if the answer was evident. "Garlic has less calories than chocolate."
"I see." I'm glad Piedro is here, or I'd start to believe I'm dreaming this case.
"I would appreciate if you wouldn't mention this to Maria," Uncle Teo said. "She's a bit touchy about this subject."
Oh, my God. "How about stories concerning other family members?"
"Which ones?" Uncle Teo looked at him as if he could continue to list a million other family secrets.
"Angela?"
Uncle Teo shrugged. "Nico said she had blackmailed Marco into their marriage. No chance."
"No?"
"No." Uncle Teo hissed air through his teeth. "Not enough spunk." It was clear Angela wasn't a favorite niece.
Madre mia. I wonder if he would approve of blackmail if he saw it as a proof for spunk. Stefano nodded. "Anybody else?"
"Let me see . . . " Uncle Teo stared into the distance. His mouth started to twitch, then he wheezed like an asthmatic horse.
Stefano was about to start forward to support his shaking shoulders when he realized Uncle Teo was laughing.
"Number eight." Uncle Teo crowed with laughter as he held up his middle finger. "He said to Alberta she had educated her son to be a criminal."
"Who's Alberta?"
"Alberta is Fabbiola's eldest sister."
"And her son is in prison?"
"No," Uncle Teo slapped his knees. "He's an investor in Dubai and making a fortune."
"Right." Stefano's head started to ache. "Anything else?"
Uncle Teo waved his paper-thin hand again. "Oh, plenty of things, but I can't recall them all. I'll tell you later, when I remember them."
"When did your twin say those things?"
"Always with an audience." Uncle Teo twinkled. "Where would the fun have been otherwise?"
Where indeed? Stefano started to wonder if the demise of Nico hadn't been a blessing. "So all of these bad past stories were general knowledge?"
Uncle Teo shrugged. "I guess. On the other hand, we didn't talk that much about them."
No wonder. Stefano stared at the aged man in front of him. "You realize you've just handed me several murder motives on a silver platter, don't you Signor Mantoni?"
Uncle Teo's rheumy eyes suddenly looked sharp. "I do, Commissario Garini."
"Why did you do that?"
Uncle Teo held his gaze. "Murder is wrong. My brother wasn't ready to die." He narrowed his eyes. "I trust your intelligence, Signor. I'm too old to find the truth. I have told you all I know so you can find the murderer."
Stefano swallowed. "Right."
Uncle Teo pulled himself into a standing position. "You will find him." He turned to the door. "If you need help, ask Carlina. She's a sensible girl."
Stefano closed the door behind Uncle Teo and turned to his assistant who was still writing so hectically he was getting red cheeks. He crossed the room in two big strides and stopped next to him. "Did you catch everything?"
"I hope." Piedro looked up, his eyes filled with awe. "Do you think he's sane?"
Garini sighed. "I don't think anybody in this family is normal, let alone sane."
He looked over Piedro's shoulders and read the notes. "Think we can cross anyone off our list already?"
Piedro went through the list again, his finger following each line he had written. For once, Stefano didn't become impatient. He needed a minute himself to organize his thoughts.
Piedro's finger came to a stop. "We can cross off number five. Ernesto. Isn't that the youngest here, seventeen or so, red hair?"
"Yes. Why do you think he's innocent?"
"Well," Piedro blushed. "If he's only going out to party at night, that's no sin, as the old man said."
"That's no sin." Stefano nodded. "But are we sure that he goes out to party? What if he's out because he's dealing with drugs?"
Piedro's mouth dropped open. "You think he's doing that?"
Stefano shrugged. "I have no clue. But until I have evidence that he's only partying, he will stay on that list."
Piedro's finger moved up. "I didn't get that thing about the butcher."
"That's all right; don't worry about it. I will deal with that detail." Stefano smothered a smile. "So what would you do now?"
"Em." Piedro stared at his notes as if inspiration would come from them. "I would talk to the others."
"Good. What do you expect they will say?"
His subordinate hesitated. "I think they won't be quite as open. After all, these things are all rather embarrassing, aren't they?"
"Yes. And then?"
Piedro swallowed. "Then . . . I . . . em. I don't know."
"Then you'll confront them with the things we've just learned, hoping they will spill something else."
"Right."
"What then?" Stefano wanted to tap his foot with impatience, but at the last moment, he curbed himself.
"I don't know."
"Then you'll check out these stories."
Piedro's eyes grew round. "All of them?"
"All of them."
"How?"
"Let's see." Stefano reached for the notes and turned back some pages. "Check the birth certificate of Carlina, find a picture of her father, and talk to someone who was around when she was born. Next, find the almost-prince she was engaged to . . .”
“Huh?” Piedro's mouth gaped open.
“Sorry, I forgot you don't know this part yet. You can listen to the tape later on, then you'll understand.” Stefano suppressed a feeling that the story wasn't for Piedro. He could not start to treat Carlina any different than the rest. He concentrated with an effort. “Once we have the prince, we have to get his version of the story, then get the death certificate of Benedetta's husband and talk to the doctor who treated him, talk to Annalisa's class mates and her teacher and check her exams, check the balcony at night and catch Ernesto climbing up, talk to Maria about her eating habits, talk to Electra about the past and discover when Teo started dating Maria, find out what Angela could have used to blackmail Marco, and check out that famous investor in Dubai. Then, we need to contact the family doctor and learn if he was really ill the day after the wedding. And last but not least, we need to find out when cousin Emma will return from her honeymoon and interrogate her immediately."
Piedro blanched. "You're kidding me."
"No. In the meantime, something new might crop up that will lead us into a totally different direction. This might mean that some things we considered important don't have to be checked anymore while new things will surface."
"And when do we have to be done?"
"We have about four weeks for the intensive part of the job."
Piedro gulped. "Only four weeks? Why?"
"Because, unless it's a political case, we get four weeks to work on something and then we have to concentrate on the next case. That doesn't mean that we stop there, indeed, many cases get cleared up years and years later, but from experience, we know that the first four weeks are c
rucial. So, where do you think we should start?"
Piedro clutched the notebook as if he was drowning. "I don't know."
"Start with the most likely suspect." Garini felt boredom creeping in. Why do I have to work with Piedro Cervi?
"The most likely suspect?" Piedro's gaze raked the pages. "Who's that?"
"Who lied to us about the time of death?" Garini pressed his lips together.
Piedro had a bright moment. "Carlina."
"Signorina Ashley, correct. Besides, she would do anything for her mother, or for any other member of her family. She's absolutely devoted to them." And I could shake her for it.
"But Signor Mantoni said she's a sensible girl."
"That's what he said, yes." Garini's eyes were hard. "But since when do we trust every word a witness says?"
Piedro swallowed. "Do you think she isn't her father's child?"
Stefano decided to overlook the convoluted sentence. "I have no clue."
"She doesn't look like the others," Piedro said. "Her hair is different."
"True."
"And her eyes are so . . . so clear."
And cat-like. "Yes."
"She's also taller than the others."
"Yes."
"And not as pretty."
Isn't she? Stefano's patience came to an end. "Just what are you trying to say, Piedro?"
Piedro opened his eyes wide. "I think it's very possible that her father is not her real father."
Stefano closed his eyes for a moment. "You've never seen her father. You've just compared her to her cousins, without ever having seen her brothers and sisters."
"I saw her sister, and she doesn't look at all like her."
"Do you look like your sister?" Garini snapped.
"I don't have a sister."
Thank the Lord for small blessings. Garini closed his mouth with a snap. "When you get home tonight, go into the Internet and check out the basic rules of genetics."
"Tonight?"
"Tonight." Garini glared at him. "And in the future, try to think before you speak. Now please ask Maria Mantoni to join us."
Chapter 8
I
Maria Mantoni looked at Garini, her black eyes intelligent and without fear. "Of course Teo had an affair with Electra."
Piedro gasped.
"He never told me, but I knew." She moved in her chair as if it was too hot. "I'm not blind."
"You never confronted him?" Stefano had trouble with his breathing. Maria exuded garlic fumes out of every pore.
Maria shrugged. "No. It was an aberration, and now, he's ashamed of it. That's why he can't stand her."
"When did it happen?" Stefano took one step back. Maybe the garlic stench wouldn't reach that far.
"In the first year of our marriage." Her answer came without hesitation. It was clear she didn't have to think about it. "But it didn't last long."
"I see." I wish I knew if she's as unemotional as she pretends to be.
"He's just a man, Commissario." Aunt Maria looked at him as if men were a sorry species to be treated with lenience. "And he went to confession."
Garini decided to switch the topic. "How about the things your brother-in-law said about you?"
Maria looked at the floor, so her three chins spread out over the collar of her dress. "I like garlic snacks," she said.
I know. Stefano tried not to breathe.
"But I'm not dependent on alcohol." Maria looked up. "I never was."
"Anything else?" He tried to make his voice neutral. He had to get her to tell him the truth, even if it hurt.
She pressed her lips together. "Gluttony is a Cardinal Sin."
Her words transported Stefano back to his mother's bedroom. How often had he come in as a child, only to find her on her knees in front of her bed. She always went to confession, burdened down by feelings of guilt for every tiny mistake. She chastised herself for every wrong thought and believed her cancer had been the final and just retribution.
Without thinking about it, he bent forward. "Don't forget that Humility is one of the Holy Virtues." He smiled, willing her to understand. "If you've never been tempted, you have no compassion."
She stared at him. "What are you telling me?"
"I'm telling you that your weakness makes you a better human." He glanced at Piedro. I hope he won't write that down. Don't want anybody to think I've mistaken my calling. He cleared his throat. "Have you heard any other bad past stories from your brother-in-law?"
Maria blinked. "Yes. He said Ugo had stolen the camera. I think Benedetta told you already."
"I didn't quite catch the name?"
"Ugo," Maria repeated. "He's my eldest son. He always takes the pictures at our family parties, and he got a new camera in January. A very good camera."
"I see." I don't want to hear any more stories. I'll never be able to go through that list of suspects. "What do you think about it?"
Maria clicked her tongue, and a cloud of garlic breath enveloped Garini. "Ugo wouldn't steal anything." She placed her head to one side. "It was an extraordinary good deal, though."
"According to Ugo."
She nodded.
"Fine. Anything else?"
Maria shook her head. "I can't recall."
You don't want to. Garini inclined his head. "Thank you. Would you please ask Annalisa to come now?"
Maria heaved herself to her feet with a low groan. She slid one hand into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a garlic clove. "Would you like one?"
Garini suppressed a shudder. "No, thank you." He closed the door behind her, jumped to the window and flung it wide open.
Piedro ran next to him, hung his upper body out of the window until his nose touched the iron bars, and groaned. "How can anybody stand that stink?"
Stefano took a deep breath. How sweet the air smelled.
"I can't believe she added another story." Piedro sighed. "We'll never get to the end of it."
"She only did so because she suspected Benedetta of having shared that story before. Interesting, isn't it?"
"Em. Yes." It sounded vague.
Stefano winced. How am I ever going to make a good investigating officer out of you?
"Are you all right?" Annalisa's voice came from behind them.
They both whipped around. "Yes, thank you." Stefano leaned his back against the sill but left the window open. "Please take a seat."
Annalisa dropped into the old armchair and crossed her legs. Her short skirt rode up her long leg. She wore high-heeled sandals in silver and kept moving her foot in the air.
Piedro stood frozen. He looked like a monk fish, his eyes bulging, his face devoid of expression.
"Piedro!" Stefano made sure his voice sounded like a whip. "Sit down and take notes."
His assistant started and hurried to his seat.
Annalisa focused her wide brown eyes on Stefano. "What do you need to know, Commissario? I will tell you anything to help you." She lowered her lashes and smiled. Her red hair looked smooth like silk.
Gag. This one needs a more brutal approach. "Your grandfather told everybody you had cheated on your final exams at school." He made a suggestive pause.
Annalisa stiffened. The change from angelic girl to fury happened in seconds. "That's not true!"
Stefano pushed her further. "He also insinuated that you were friends with your young teacher." He drew out the pause to enhance the impact. "Very good friends."
Her eyes shot flashes. "Grandpa had such a dirty mind!" She balled her fists and bent forward with a hiss. "Yes, my teacher and I, we are good friends, but that doesn't mean he helped me to cheat!"
"I see." He drew out the word and made sure she could read the disbelief in his face. "Did you finish with good marks?"
For an instant, he thought she would jump up and slap him in the face. He could see the effort she made to control herself, then she decided to chill him with offended dignity.
"Yes, I had very good marks." She shook her hair like an im
patient thoroughbred. "Is that a crime, Commissario?"
"Not at all, Signorina. Please give me the name and address of your teacher."
Her bosom swelled in indignation and her cheeks flushed red. She looked lovelier than ever. "I don't want you to harass my teacher!"
"This is a murder investigation." Stefano made sure his voice sounded like ice. "You don't have a choice."
She pressed her lips together and gave him a look of undiluted hatred. "His name is Giuseppe Auguri."
"Thank you." He tried not to sound ironic. He let the silence hang between them and sized her up, wondering how he could get her to say more.
Annalisa lifted her eyebrows and inspected her fingernails, then she said, as if she was making an unimportant remark at a social occasion, "I'm not sure you're a good policeman."
"No?" He bit back a smile. Here came the attack he had expected. "How come?"
"If you had more sense, you would look deeper." She smoothed a crease on her skirt in a suggestive gesture.
"Are you thinking of anything in particular?" He didn't take his eyes off her face for one second, intent on catching every nuance.
"You should check on Uncle Teo." Annalisa crossed her arms in front of her chest and pulled up her breasts until they strained against the blouse. "Teo and Nico were in eternal competition. They always wanted to outdo each other. Maybe Uncle Teo was afraid that Nico would win, so he decided to help fate along."
"Why would he suddenly think so, after seventy-nine years?" Stefano's voice was hard.
Annalisa shrugged her round shoulders. "I don't know. It's your job to find that out. I'm just saying it's possible. You should check it."
"I will." Stefano inclined his head. "Anything else?" I don't want to hear more and yet, I need to.
"I'm not sure about Carlina." Annalisa looked at him through her lashes.
Stefano clenched his teeth. "Yes?"
"She keeps telling everybody she broke off that engagement, but I don't believe it. She threw away the Montassori estate and vineyard. I mean, hello?" She bent forward. "If you ask me, he gave her the kick. After all, he got married a few months later, and she's still single."
"And why should that provide a motive for killing her grandfather?"
Delayed Death (Temptation in Florence Book 1) Page 11
