temptation in florence 03 - bankers death (27 page)
Read temptation in florence 03 - bankers death Online
Authors: beate boeker
She turned around with the speed of a wasp, and in front of his astonished eyes, she morphed into a fury. “So that's it, isn't it?” Her voice lashed out like a whip. “You've found out, and now you're playing with me. Well, it won't get you anywhere, Commissario.”
Before he could rush up to her and stop her, before he could do anything to protect himself, she slipped a knife from the sleeve of her blouse and held it over her head like a spear.
Time stopped, as if freezing the moment. Her slim body stretched; she arched backward and seemed to grow, one leg in front of her body, just the tip of her toes touching the floor, the other pushed back, taking her full weight. Then, her body moved forward, fluid and powerful, like a spring uncoiled. The knife flew from her hand with the speed of a rocket, straight toward Garini.
Chapter 15
I
A blur of white and black flew into the picture from the sideline, straight from the open door. Carlina with a frying pan, held like a tennis racket. She lunged between Garini and the knife, her body stretched out to the max.
A loud bang, metal against metal, then an even louder bang as the frying pan, the knife and Carlina tumbled down.
Maria hissed, turned on her heels and raced from the room.
“Stop her!” Garini jumped over Carlina who was just starting to pick herself up from the floor. He flew out of Carlina's apartment, down the stairs. “Don't let her go!” Where was the Mantoni family when you needed them? The house seemed deserted.
He raced around the first bend in the staircase, past Fabbiola's apartment.
Maria had already reached the ground floor. She pulled open the heavy front door.
“Stop her!” Garini was now on the first floor. The door to Benedetta's apartment banged open just as he went past it. He never saw it coming. The heavy pan, filled with corn, connected with his head with a dull thud. Corn flew everywhere, as if he was in a crazy snowstorm. He went down to his knees. A searing pain cut through his head, piercing his eyeballs.
From somewhere, he heard Carlina's anguished cry. “What have you done?”
He lost his balance and tumbled down the stairs.
II
“I'm telling you, it was a mistake.” Fabbiola's voice was so loud that he wanted to wince but something held him immobile.
It smelled of antiseptics and washing powder. He was in a bed he didn't know.
“How could you make such a mistake, Mama?” That was Carlina. She sounded quite unlike herself, tearful, shaken.
His heartbeat accelerated. She was here, close to him. He wanted to reach out and touch her, but he couldn't move, couldn't see her.
“I heard a bellow on the staircase.” Fabbiola sounded defensive. “I thought something dreadful had happened and rushed to the door. Just before I opened it, I heard someone shout. It sounded like “stop”. So, of course, when I came through the door and someone ran by as if trying to escape, I hit him with the pan.” Fabbiola made an odd little noise in her throat. “Do you think I killed him, Carlina?”
“Not yet.” Carlina's voice sounded as if she suppressed a sob. “But he has been in a coma for 27 hours now. What if he'll never come back? What if he'll have lost his memory? His speech? His brain?”
Garini wanted to interrupt her, wanted to soothe her, but he couldn't speak.
“Just how did you manage to come in here anyway, Mama?” Carlina asked. “I had a hard enough time myself. If Stefano's father hadn't told them we're engaged, they would never have let me stay.”
“I went to school with the head nurse.” Fabbiola said. “You have to come home, Carlina. You look like hell, and I don't think you've slept in two days.”
“Of course I haven't. How could I sleep with Garini like this?” It sounded brittle.
His heart contracted. If only he could console her.
“Please go now.” Carlina's voice was flat. “You're disturbing him.”
There was a rustle of clothes. “How can you tell?”
“It's not difficult to guess.” Carlina sounded bitter. “Please, Mama. Just go.”
The door opened and closed.
He heard a sigh of relief and felt her hand on his. Peace descended on him, and he slipped into sleep.
When he woke up again, Fabbiola's voice filtered into his brain. “You should tell him.”
He wasn't sure if he was dreaming or actually awake. He tried to pinch himself and was surprised to notice that his fingers obeyed immediately. It hurt. So he was awake and better. But what was Fabbiola doing here again?
“They say you have to keep him occupied. Tell him about stuff that happens. He might hear everything, subconsciously, you know.” Fabbiola sounded as if she was reading the words from a text book.
“I'm not sure if it would do him good to hear that the murderess has escaped.” Carlina's voice was obstinate.
“She only escaped our justice, dear.” Fabbiola's voice became unctuous, as if she was a priest. “But she won't escape the justice of God.”
“Justice of God, my foot. She killed two men and would have managed to kill Garini if I had not happened to be on hand.” Carlina sounded livid. “I'd prefer not to wait for the justice of God. She looked so innocent. I'd never have suspected her, never in a thousand years. No wonder she surprised Garini.”
“I find it even more astonishing that she went to her father for help. She hated her father. I'd have bet anything that he'd turn her over to the police. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I heard that he'd put her on a private jet and sent her to South America. Though he denies it, of course, but they say it's quite clear, only they can't prove it. Anyway, she'll be at his bidding for ever, and she wanted so much to be independent from him.”
“I won't feel sorry for her,” Carlina said. “She obviously has no control at all over her temper.”
“You must admit that Valentino treated her abominably.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, didn't you know? Oh, no, you don't. I forgot you're cut off from the world in here. Not only was Valentino two-timing her with Sofia, but he also married Maria secretly. When the story came out in the papers, a priest came forward and told us about a private ceremony. It wasn't legal, of course, unless you look at it from a catholic point of view. Just imagine. He married Maria, promised to make a fortune for them both in Dubai, disappeared for ages with barely a word, came back, hardly looked at her during Ernesto's birthday party, and the next day, Sofia confides in her and tells her he was the father of her baby. No wonder she flipped when she saw him all set for a romantic night in your room. I bet he wanted to leave her hanging until her birthday, when she would have inherited all that money, and then he would have wheedled it out of her, telling her he was her husband and all.”
Fabbiola paused to take a deep breath.
Garini's left foot started to tingle, but he hardly noticed. So that had been the motive.
“She learned how to throw knives at the circus where she lived with her mother. In fact, it seems that she was quite famous under her stage name Alana. She was swinging from a trapeze while throwing knives at her mother. They say she never missed her target, throwing the knives in a high arch, and with immense force, quite astonishing, considering her tiny size. No wonder she never felt at home here.” Fabbiola sighed. “How dull it must have been in comparison. Her father forbade her to mention the circus anywhere because he was ashamed of it. It was just her bad luck that the newspaperman recognized her after having read about Valentino's murder. He was the only one who knew about her deadly accuracy, and he tried to blackmail her.” Fabbiola took a deep breath. “I'm actually sorry for Maria. What a wasted life. Her soul must be in torment, and I'm certain she won't survive for long. The climate is difficult, not to mention the crime rate. It's dangerous out there.”
Carlina made a strangled sound in her throat.
Fabbiola continued as if she hadn't noticed. “It must be horrible, living under the continuous strain of having to hide, besides being at the total mercy of that dreadful father.”
“I sure hope that her life is horrible.” Carlina's voice was bitter. “In fact, I hope she's going through hell. And you needn't worry about crime being a danger to Maria. As long as she's got a knife, she's safe. She'll probably end up as head of the mafia over there.”
“Darling . . .”
“Don't you darling me, Mama!” Carlina's voice got so loud, it filled the room.
Garini opened his eyes and looked at her. Her curls hung down, and the shadows beneath her eyes were so dark he couldn't see her freckles anymore. He wanted to reach out and smooth away the lines of distress on her face, but she was out of reach.
“She almost killed the man I love, and--”
“Well, technically, that was me,” Fabbiola lifted both hands. “And I already told you I'm really sorry. It was all a big misunderstanding.”
Carlina made an impatient move with her hand. “Whatever. But I'm telling you one thing. If Garini ever wakes up again, and if he should want me, I'm going to move in with him immediately. It's about time I got a bit of distance from the family.”
“We'll talk about that.” Fabbiola got up, her lips pressed into one firm line. “I have to go now. Call me if you have any news.”
The door closed behind her with a bang.
Garini met Carlina's cat-like eyes and smiled. “If you had told me that that's what it takes, I would have let your mother beat me up a long time ago.”
###
About the author:
Beate Boeker is a marketing manager by day and a writer by night. She has published several contemporary romances with Avalon Books and as e-books. Lately, she has added mysteries to her scope. Her novels have been shortlisted for the Golden Quill Contest, the National Readers' Choice Award, and the Best Indie Books Contest.
She loves books with touches of humor and mischief. If you mix Latin and German, Beate Boeker literally translates as Happy Books, and with a name like that, what else can she do but find happy endings for her novels?
You can discover all novels and short stories by Beate Boeker as well as plenty of background information on her website http://www.happybooks.de
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Other mysteries by Beate Boeker:
Delayed Death What do you do when you find your grandfather dead half an hour before your cousin’s wedding? You hide him in his bed and tell everyone he didn’t feel like coming.
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Charmer's Death What do you do when your best customer seduces your beautiful cousin? You try to save the situation, but it becomes a little harder than planned when he’s found strangled.
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Contemporary romances by Beate Boeker:
A New Life How often have you wondered if A New Life wouldn’t be fun?
Circumstances force Anne to start again in Florence, Italy – with totally unexpected results . . .
Mischief in Italy All Henry wants is a serious talk with his grown-up son Josh about the wrong women in Josh's life. However, the conversation immediately spins out of control and somehow, they reach a compromise that leaves Henry highly uncomfortable.
Rent A Thief Can you fall in love with a thief?
Stormy Times Joanna is lost in a blizzard on her way home from a difficult foaling. Just one man can save her – but he’s strangely reluctant to come to her help.
A Little Bit of Passion How much independence do you have to give up when falling in love?
Take My Place A single mother sets up her own company and tries not to fall in love
Wings to Fly Cathy tries to land the job of her life but an accident changes all her plans.
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