Shout in the Dark

by Christopher Wright

  Chapter 30

  "LAURA?"

  "Si? Oh, Riccardo, Riccardo!" Laura had not immediately taken in the familiar voice. Her mind felt in a daze as she picked up the telephone. "Tell me what's happened to Bruno?"

  "I guessed you'd be home. It's bad news, Laura. Have you been drinking?"

  "Si, but only a little. It has made me sleepy. Tell me the bad news."

  "Bruno's dead. I'm at the paper now. It's one hell of a story that's buzzing about. Something… Laura?"

  "Come round, Riccardo. It makes me frightened to hear you say these things. How did Bruno die? Was it the zoticone?"

  "We don't know. It happened at the Colosseum after you and I left. Listen, I'll see you soon, but I can't just walk out on the job. Bruno was our star photographer. Our paper's going to run the story of his death front page tomorrow morning. We've bought some good pictures from an American tourist who was at the Colosseum this morning. He had a telephoto lens and for once he knew how to use it."

  "It was Bruno who killed Enzo, wasn't it?"

  "Probably, but it's good that Enzo is dead. It's what we both wanted. We're not calling him Enzo in the paper, we're using his German name. He had papers in his pocket with the name Manfred Kessel. We mustn't give the Italian name away. The editor doesn't know yet he was Bruno's half-brother."

  "Does anyone suspect us?"

  "Don't sound so tense, Laura. The carabinieri don't know anything. Just be careful what you say. If anyone asks what we've been doing, tell them you're helping me investigate the neo-Nazis. That's not a crime. Even if someone saw us at the Colosseum this morning, we can say we were there for our work. Manfred Kessel is dead, so we got what we both wanted. It will be all right, Laura -- just trust me."

  "Please come, Riccardo. The more you talk, the more scared I feel. I wanted Kessel dead, but I can't believe it about Bruno. Are you sure?"

  "I have to go, Laura. Yes, I'm sure. Bruno and his brother are both dead. It's up to the two of us now."

  "What do you mean? Don't put the phone down. Tell me what you mean."

  "We're going to find that bronze head. Then we'll use it to kill the enemy."

  "You mean Karl Bretz?" The memory of the big skinhead made Laura shudder. "It's over now, Riccardo. Bruno's gone. We have to stop."

  "We can't stop. We owe it to Bruno. It's like killing snakes. I remember what my uncle used to say about the Germans in the war: when you've killed a snake you don't put your hand in the hole. There's another down in there, and it's always more dangerous."

  "Karl Bretz is dangerous," said Laura.

  "Which is why we have to kill him. Get in touch with Sartini again. Tell him your phone call was a mistake. He's so innocent he'll help us all the way. If we don't move fast, the zoticone will have a chance to fight back."

  "So what do I say to Marco?" She felt the effects of the wine wearing off rapidly.

  "Arrange to meet him again. He spotted a clue in that letter. Persuade your mother to let him see all your father's letters. There could be more clues. Hell, Laura, I don't care what the bronze head is, but we need it to attract the fascists."

  "I told you, I've had enough of killing."

  "You promised to help, Laura. We don't have to kill them. When the fascists know we've got the relic, they'll come running to us -- and that's when we expose every one of them. You'll understand when you've sobered up. Got to go. I'll phone you later this evening. Go back to sleep."

  "I haven't been to sleep."

  But Riccardo had put the phone down.