The Case of Italian Indigestion

by B R Snow

  “I see,” Betty said, giving it some thought. “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him no.”

  “Smart woman,” Betty said, sitting back in her chair as Lance returned with her drink.

  “What did I miss?” he said.

  “We were just talking about Marco and Rosa,” Betty said.

  “They’re nice people,” he said. “I hope they get their finances sorted out. It would be a pity if they lost the place.”

  “How the heck do you know?” Chef Claire said, surprised.

  “Georgio told me,” Lance said, reaching for his glass. “He wouldn’t shut up about it.”

  “What did he say?” Chef Claire said.

  “All sorts of stuff. Most of it didn’t make a lot of sense. Nobody is capable of taking the long view these days. Be careful who you put your trust in. A bunch of crap like that. And after a couple glasses of wine, he made this weird comment about being careful who you do business with. He sounded like my dad at one point.”

  Lance glanced at the bar where the bartender was smiling back at him.

  “If you’ll excuse me for a few minutes,” he said, getting to his feet. “The bartender wants to talk surfing with me.”

  Josie and Chef Claire caught the look on his face and laughed.

  “Sure, go right ahead,” Chef Claire said.

  “Happy hunting,” Josie said.

  “What?” Lance said, then his face reddened. “Oh, got it. Hey, you never know, right? I’ll see you in a bit.”

  “Based on how she’s been staring at him since I got here, I like his chances,” Betty said, then took a sip.

  “He’ll be fine as long as he doesn’t try to cook for her,” Josie said.

  “Indeed,” Betty said, raising her glass in salute. “He’s an interesting young man.”

  “We’ve been wondering if there’s more to him than meets the eye,” Josie said.

  “Like what?” Betty said.

  “It’s hard to explain,” Chef Claire said.

  “Try me,” Betty said, leaning forward.

  “Well, given some of the things Bronwyn mentioned about Georgio, and since there’s obviously something going on at the villa, we couldn’t help but wonder if…”

  “Wonder what?” Betty said, frowning.

  “This is going to sound stupid,” Chef Claire said.

  “I promise not to laugh,” Betty said.

  “He’s been spending a lot of time with Georgio,” Chef Claire said. “And we started wondering if Lance might be working as an undercover agent for some government entity.”

  “You mean like the FBI?” Betty said.

  “Yeah,” Josie said. “It does sound kinda crazy, huh?”

  “It’s impossible,” Betty said, shaking her head before taking a small sip of wine.

  “Why do you say that?” Chef Claire said.

  “Because I’m the undercover agent.”

  Chapter 22

  Stunned, Josie reacted to Betty’s news by gagging on a mouthful of wine and spraying it across the table. She coughed several times then wiped her mouth staring at Betty the entire time.

  “Sorry,” Josie said, tossing her napkin on the table.

  “Smooth,” Chef Claire said, wiping the table directly in front of her. She leaned back in her chair and studied Betty closely. “I didn’t see that one coming.”

  “No kidding,” Josie said, leaning forward in her seat. “You’re with the FBI?”

  “I am,” Betty said softly as she looked back and forth at them. She took a small sip of wine. “Surprise.”

  “But you’re…Canadian,” Josie said.

  “That’s all you got?” Chef Claire said, laughing.

  “Shut it,” Josie said. “I’m still trying to recover from the news.”

  “Yes, I grew up in Canada,” Betty said. “But I hold dual-citizenship. It comes in handy at times.”

  “Okay,” Josie said, nodding. “Wow.”

  “Josie speechless,” Chef Claire said. “Well done, Betty.”

  “Funny,” Josie said, making a face at Chef Claire. “But I do have a couple of questions.”

  “Only a couple?” Betty said, then flashed a smile before taking another sip.

  “You came here tonight to tell us?” Josie said.

  “I did,” Betty said. “We decided it was time.”

  “We? Agent Tompkins, right?” Chef Claire said.

  “The one and only,” Betty said. “We weren’t planning on letting you in on our little secret, but after what happened to Emerson, Agent Tompkins wanted you to know.”

  “Because?” Chef Claire said.

  “He’s getting a little worried about your safety,” Betty said with a shrug. “And he suggested I tell you, so you’ll know who to come to if anything else happens while we’re here.”

  “You think something else is going to happen?” Josie said.

  Betty looked around the bar for several moments in silence then shrugged.

  “Anything’s possible,” she said eventually.

  “Well, that makes me feel so much better,” Josie said.

  “What the heck is going on around here?” Chef Claire said.

  “I really can’t divulge too much,” Betty said. “Let’s just say we’re doing everything we can to shut down an operation of concern before it goes any further.”

  “An operation of concern?” Josie said, frowning. “Fed-speak for some really bad crap?”

  Betty laughed then took another sip of her wine.

  “Good one,” she said. “Yes, some really bad crap is on the horizon.”

  “Georgio, right?” Chef Claire said.

  “Yes. Among others.”

  “Please tell me Marco and Rosa aren’t involved,” Chef Claire said.

  “Given the circumstances of their relationship with Georgio, I’m not sure yet.”

  “You’re talking about the three million Georgio invested in their winery,” Chef Claire said.

  “Oh, you know about that, too?” Betty said, surprised.

  “Marco told me,” Chef Claire said.

  “You two must be close,” Betty said, casually swirling the wine in her glass.

  Josie and Chef Claire made eye contact. Then Chef Claire focused on the FBI agent.

  “Are you fishing, Betty?” Chef Claire said.

  “No, just trying to protect you from ending up in a place you do not want to be.”

  “What do you want to know?” Chef Claire said.

  “I think we know pretty much everything about your relationship with the Columbo couple,” she said.

  “Do you now?” Chef Claire said, her voice rising.

  “Easy,” Josie said, reaching out to place a hand on Chef Claire’s forearm.

  “You’ve been digging into my background?” Chef Claire said.

  “It’s what we do,” Betty said as a simple statement of fact. “But don’t worry, neither one of you are suspected of doing anything wrong.”

  “That makes me feel so much better,” Chef Claire deadpanned.

  “Relax. In an investigation like this, it shouldn’t surprise you we’re going to take a look at everyone.”

  “So, what did you find out about me?” Chef Claire said.

  “You were a student when the Columbos were running their culinary school. After you graduated, you operated a food truck for a while, ended up working as the personal chef for a gentleman who is no longer with us. Then you decided to stay in Clay Bay and open the restaurant with Josie as one of your partners. Along with Suzy Chandler and her mother.” Betty drained the rest of her wine then caught the bartender’s eye and waved for another round of drinks. “And speaking for everyone within a hundred miles of Clay Bay, we thank you for doing that.”

  “Wait a sec,” Josie said. “Were you working all those times you came to the restaurant?”

  “Sometimes,” Betty said. “Other times, I was off the clock.”

  “Does this have anything to do with somebod
y who’s smuggling stuff across the River?” Chef Claire said.

  “Agent Tompkins was chatty on the phone the other night,” Betty said, then smiled at Chef Claire. “I’m not surprised. He’s very fond of you.”

  “What else do you know about me?” Chef Claire said.

  “Hang on,” Josie said, holding a hand up to cut the conversation off. “Let’s stick with the smuggling thing for a minute. What the heck is that all about?”

  “It shouldn’t surprise you people like to take advantage of the relative ease of going back and forth across the border by boat.”

  “Drugs?” Josie said.

  “I really can’t say,” Betty said, shrugging it off.

  “C’mon, Betty,” Josie said. “Fess up. Somebody is moving large quantities of drugs in from Canada, aren’t they?”

  “I’m sure there are people trying to do that,” Betty said.

  “But it’s not what you’re investigating, is it?” Chef Claire said.

  “In this particular case, no,” she said softly.

  “Well, if it isn’t drugs, what is it?” Chef Claire said.

  “I’d rather not say,” Betty said.

  “And I’d rather not have to eat Lance’s food,” Josie said. “But it’s part of the program. C’mon, Betty. Who am I gonna tell?”

  “If you know what’s good for you, nobody.”

  “Is that some sort of threat?” Josie said.

  “Not at all,” Betty said. “It’s just a dangerous situation that could get ugly in a hurry. And you don’t want to get anywhere near it.”

  “Thanks for the tip,” Josie said. “If it isn’t drugs, what is it?”

  They all looked up when the bartender arrived with their drinks. She set them down then headed back to the bar where Lance was sitting by himself. They all took small sips of wine then settled back into their chairs.

  “So, what is it, Betty?” Josie said. “What the heck is going on back home?”

  “We’re dealing with a well-organized smuggling ring,” Betty said. “Or at least we’re trying to.”

  “But not drugs?” Josie said.

  “No.”

  “Then what the heck is it?” Josie said, unwilling to let it go. “Booze? Wheat? Maple syrup?”

  “No,” Betty said, laughing. She glanced at Chef Claire. “She’s not going to let it go, is she?”

  “I don’t like your chances,” Chef Claire said.

  “No, it’s none of those things, Josie.”

  “Then what the heck are they smuggling across the border?”

  “People.”

  “What?” Josie whispered.

  “That’s despicable,” Chef Claire said.

  “Yes, we think so too,” Betty said. “And unless we’re wrong about their intention to ramp up before winter arrives, you’ll probably be seeing a lot of me in the near future.”

  “Unless we don’t make it out of the villa alive,” Josie said.

  “I wouldn’t worry,” Betty said. “But if you do have concerns about your safety, be sure and let me know.”

  “You can count on it,” Josie said, then shook her head. “Smuggling people. I can’t believe it.”

  “You remember when we were in the car yesterday?” Chef Claire said.

  “I do,” Betty said. “What about it?”

  “We were tossing out ideas about what Georgio and Emerson might be up to,” Chef Claire said.

  “I remember.”

  “So, you were just playing dumb the whole time?” Chef Claire said.

  “Maybe a little,” Betty said. “I still had some questions I needed answered.”

  “About us?” Josie said.

  “No. But I was interested in hearing your ideas,” Betty said. “I was impressed.”

  “Natalie,” Chef Claire said.

  “Yes, Natalie,” Betty said. “The Bureau, along with several other of our intelligence agencies, have had her on the radar for a long time.”

  “And?” Chef Claire said.

  “And despite her background, we don’t think she’s involved in this one.”

  “You’re buying her story about being here just to see if she and Georgio might be able to reconnect?” Chef Claire said.

  “I am,” Betty said, then took a sip of wine and nodded in the general direction of the bar. “It looks like Lance has made a new friend.”

  “Apparently, the bartender wanted to talk surfing with him,” Josie said.

  “Even if she didn’t, I’m sure he’d be talking about surfing,” Betty said, laughing.

  “What’s his deal?” Josie said.

  “What?”

  “Well, if you’ve been checking into our backgrounds, you must have done the same thing with Lance.”

  “We did,” Betty said. “Like he told us, he’s a trust fund kid who’s about to lose everything if he doesn’t get his act together. Apparently, his parents aren’t thrilled with his personal growth and development.”

  “Has he been on your radar?” Chef Claire said.

  “No,” Betty said. “We just started taking a look at him.”

  “Since the start of the week?” Josie said.

  “Pretty much,” Betty said with a shrug. Then she caught the look both women were giving her. “What is it?”

  “I’m just wondering what it’s like having access to everyone’s personal information,” Chef Claire said.

  “To tell you the truth, it can be downright scary,” Betty said softly. “And it’s not my favorite part of the job.”

  “This is probably a dumb question,” Josie said.

  “Not a problem. I get them all the time,” Betty said.

  “Why don’t you just arrest Georgio and get it over with?” she said. “It’s pretty clear the guy is dirty.”

  “Oh, he’s definitely as dirty as they come,” Betty said. “But he’s also one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.”

  “You haven’t caught him in the act?” Chef Claire said.

  “If we had, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But we’re getting close.”

  “What exactly does the guy do?” Chef Claire said. “Bronwyn mentioned he was involved in arms dealing and some technology crap, but nothing specific.”

  “I doubt if Bronwyn knew any of the details,” Betty said.

  “Why’s that?” Josie said.

  “Because she would have told you,” Betty said, shrugging. “Bronwyn Kingsley was known for two things. One was her undying love for herself. The other was her inability to keep her mouth shut.”

  “That’s why she was killed?” Chef Claire said. “Because she talked to the wrong person?”

  “We’re not exactly sure why she was killed,” Bronwyn said. “Or by whom. All we know for sure is how she was killed.”

  “The poison,” Chef Claire said. “That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?”

  “It’s certainly high on the list,” Betty said, glancing around the bar again to make sure they couldn’t be overheard. “Georgio branched out into new ventures several years ago, and we’re sure whatever substance killed her is one of his latest creations.”

  “So, it’s like some sort of nerve gas?” Josie said. “Chemical warfare?”

  “Yes. This is usually when the scary part of the job kicks in,” Betty said. “I couldn’t believe it when I got briefed about some of the stuff he has invented.”

  “I take it we’re not talking about pasta makers,” Josie said.

  “Uh, no,” Betty said, laughing. “But I have to give him credit. I love that machine.”

  “Why would Georgio bring the stuff with him this week?” Chef Claire said. “It’s obviously dangerous to have around.”

  “A very good question,” Betty said. “Either he needs to demonstrate to somebody how well it works, or he’s trying to find someone to help him mass produce it. Maybe both.”

  “Emerson?” Chef Claire said.

  “Not anymore,” Betty said with a shrug.

  “I thought
his company manufactures stuff made out of metal and plastic,” Josie said.

  “It does. And unless we’ve completely missed something, Kingsley never did any chemical production.”

  “But he could have been working with Georgio to develop a way to transport or release the toxin, right?” Chef Claire said.

  “Very good,” Betty said, nodding. “That’s exactly what we thought he was working with Georgio on. But we have no idea what they were trying to come up with.”

  “It’s going to be a bit hard to do now,” Josie said. “Now that Emerson and Bronwyn are both dead.”

  “It certainly won’t make it any easier,” Betty said. “All we know for sure is the toxin works as advertised. We’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “Is Commissario Bruno in the loop?” Josie said.

  “Absolutely not,” Betty said, shaking her head. “And he’s not going to be.”

  “Somebody comes to Italy, possibly an American, and kills two people with some exotic poison? Don’t you think that’s something the Italian government would want to know about?”

  “Absolutely,” Betty said. “And at some point, they’ll be brought in. But it will be done at a much higher level than Commissario Bruno.” She glanced back and forth at them. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  “Got it,” Chef Claire said.

  “Mum’s the word,” Josie said.

  “Fortunately, it was two Americans who died,” Betty said, then flushed red with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. Wow, this job is really starting to affect the way I see the world. What I meant to say was, if either of the victims had been Italian, we’d be having a different conversation with the local authorities.”

  “Who do you think killed them?” Chef Claire said.

  “When it comes to Bronwyn, we’re still baffled,” Betty said. “Emerson’s death appears a bit clearer.”

  “The black SUV that passed us yesterday,” Chef Claire said. “It turned off on the road that led to the golf course.”

  “It did,” Betty said.

  “But you don’t know who it was, right?” Josie said.

  “All we know is the vehicle wasn’t one of ours.”

  “Who the heck do you think it was?” Josie said.

  “I don’t know,” Betty said. “Maybe another government wanting to get their hands on whatever the stuff is. One of Kingsley’s competitors who somehow knew what he was working on and wanted to take him out and cut a deal for themselves. A terrorist organization. Pharmaceutical company. Take your pick.”