Charmer's Death (Temptation in Florence Book 2)

by boeker, beate

  “Did you tell her so?”

  “Not yet.” Sabrina shook her head. “I wanted to get some more details. I told Marcella to come back to me tomorrow. I plan to check it out tonight, and tomorrow, well, tomorrow, I'll send her packing.” A grin bared her teeth.

  Carlina looked at her. She liked and admired Sabrina, and from all Garini had said, the Cervi couple didn't rate highly when it came to integrity. I could tell her that Marcella has been Trevor's lover, too, a year later. Then she'd have a totally different standing. She bit her lips. You can't do that. Stefano entrusted that knowledge to you.

  “Why are you looking at me like this?”

  Carlina averted her eyes. “I'm just trying to take it all in.” The facts she had learned flashed at such astonishing speed through her mind that it felt as if she was looking at a turning kaleidoscope. It made her dizzy. Marcella Cervi, Sabrina, Emma, Annalisa, Suzanna . . . it was dreadful. “I don't get it,” she said. “Here we have tons of women who should be willing to kill him, but instead, they mourn him as if he had been a saint.”

  A sad smile tugged at Sabrina's mouth. “He was a very special man.”

  Carlina turned to her. “Do you have any idea who killed him?”

  Sabrina shrugged. “None.”

  “Nobody who was angry at him? Hated him?”

  “Well . . . now that you say it . . .” Sabrina frowned. “There was one incident.” She shook her head. “Funny, I'd almost forgotten it, but now that you asked if someone was angry . . .”

  Carlina bent forward. “Yes?”

  “I had been going out with Trevor for a week or so, when one night, a woman waited for me as I came home. She had long hair, and she held a baby in her arms. It was crying; I remember that.”

  “Yes?”

  “She appeared next to me just as I reached my house. She scared me to death because she held out the baby to me and claimed I had stolen the father.” Sabrina shook her head again. “I remember it was a windy night, and the wind whipped up her hair. She looked as if she was out of her mind. For an instant, I thought she would attack me.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I was afraid my husband would hear her. So I pushed her aside and said I had stolen nobody's man as I didn't take any slaves. Any man at my side was there because of his own free will.”

  Carlina swallowed. “And then?”

  “She repeated that I had stolen Trevor and said I would have to pay for it.”

  “Gosh.”

  Sabrina shook her head. “She was a lunatic, and stupid besides. I told her I would call the police if she didn't get out of my sight.”

  “So she left?”

  “Yep.” Sabrina nodded. “I was scared that she would go to my husband, but apparently, she didn't think of that. I've never heard or seen anything from her again.”

  Carlina nodded, deep in thought. Could this woman be the “mistake of the past” Trevor had once referred to? Was she the woman they had dubbed Snow White? She turned to Sabrina. “Listen, Sabrina, you have to tell the police.”

  Sabrina frowned. “Not now, surely?” She checked her diamond-studded watch. “It's almost midnight.”

  “Garini won't mind.”

  “But I mind!” Sabrina shook her head. “I've got the Christmas fair tomorrow, something I have prepared for months, and I won't spend the last hours of this night sitting at a cold police station.”

  “He could come here.”

  “No chance.” Sabrina got up and shook her hair. “I have to see my guests out now. Tomorrow morning, I'll open the fair room at six o'clock. Your Commissario may talk to me after the fair. I just don't have time for murder right now.”

  Carlina got up and placed a restraining hand on Sabrina's arm. “It might be dangerous to delay this information. Stefano could be here in five minutes, and it wouldn't take long. Please. I'm uneasy about this.”

  Sabrina laughed. “Nothing happened to me in the last twenty-five years. I don't see the slightest reason why anything should happen now.” She went to the door that led back to the living room. “And please don't run to him and tell him every word I said. Even if he should call at my house tonight, I will not answer.” She opened the door and looked over her shoulder, meeting Carlina's gaze with a bit of steel in hers. “Besides, if that should happen, I might just mention to my husband that I'm not convinced about the quality of our police force. Have I made myself clear?”

  Sabrina's words echoed through Carlina's mind as she returned home and prepared for bed. By now, she was exhausted. Her legs and arms felt as if they were filled with lead, heavy and unwieldy, not part of her at all. She brushed her teeth with slow movements and blinked at the mirror with red-rimmed eyes. Garini would be livid if she didn't tell him everything. On the other hand, he could not force Sabrina to talk in the middle of the night. It wasn't worth waking him. She checked her watch once again. Past midnight. Maybe he was still awake? In the end, she decided to compromise by sending him a message. If he was awake, he could still call her back. “Call me.” These two words would be enough.

  Feeling better already because of her decision, she took her phone from the pocket, but when she checked the display, her mood plummeted. It was dead. At some point during the evening, it had run out of power. Damn. No wonder her helpless pressing of several buttons hadn't conjured up Garini. For the first time, she regretted having canceled her land-line at her apartment.

  Disgusted, she flung her phone into the charging station. No way could she run downstairs and call Garini in the middle of the night from another phone. If she did, she would have to stay up the rest of the night, explaining to her family what on earth was going on.

  She would have to send that message first thing tomorrow morning. Her alarm was set for five thirty. Garini would hate her, but she couldn't help it.

  Carlina dropped into her bed like a log. It creaked, and her heavy limbs seemed to melt into the mattress. Maybe she should try the ESP communication once again. Though if it hadn't worked in the piano room, where she had invested her whole being into trying to reach him, it would not work now, with her already in a semi-comatose condition. Maybe she had to ask her mother to give her a crash-course in supernatural communications. Carlina smiled with closed eyes and pulled the bed cover higher. She couldn't do anything right now. She had to sleep. It would be a hell of a day tomorrow - and she had to stop thinking of it. Now.

  But sleep wouldn't come. Sabrina's words turned round and round in her head, and in the end, Carlina got up again with a sigh. She had to get it off her chest, or she'd never get a minute of sleep. She pulled her trusted fountain pen from her handbag, found an ancient notebook, and wrote down the conversation as she remembered it, word by word.

  Chapter 14

  She knew something was wrong the second she opened her eyes.

  Something out of the ordinary had happened. Slowly, the knowledge filtered into her.

  It was too quiet. She had woken without the sound of the radio that switched itself on when it was time to get up.

  Carlina opened one eye and squinted at the illuminated display of her alarm clock. Six fifteen. She gasped and jumped out of bed. She was supposed to be at the Christmas Fair at six for the set-up - fifteen minutes ago!

  Carlina flung on her clothes, rushed through the apartment, and gathered her stuff like a lunatic. Thank God she had everything packed. A big box contained the first samples of the new lace underwear, and she hoped she would manage to strap it onto the Vespa. More goods as well as the three mannequins and black boxes, which she had ordered especially for the fair, would arrive around six thirty - if the transporting company was on time. Carlina brushed her teeth, grabbed an apple as a substitute for breakfast, and hurried from the apartment.

  Ten minutes later, she braked with squealing tires in front of the ancient palazzo Davanzati. A huddled group of woman stood at the entrance, rubbing their hands together and stomping their feet against the cold. It was still dark, and frost covered
every surface with minuscule spikes, glittering yellow in the light of the street-lamps.

  “What's the matter?” Carlina put her feet to the ground to steady the overcharged Vespa and took off her helmet. Whew, it was cold. “Why are you all standing here?”

  Rosanna lifted both hands in a helpless gesture. She seemed smaller than ever, wrapped tight into a scraggly coat that looked as if it had belonged to an extra large sheep. “Sabrina is the only one who has the keys, but she hasn't turned up.”

  Sabrina. Liquid ice poured through Carlina. I forgot to call Garini this morning. “Have you tried to call her?” Her voice sounded sharp. What if something happened to Sabrina?

  “We tried, but she doesn't answer her phone.” Rosanna shook her head. “We'd hoped she would arrive any minute now. None of us has the number of the guy who's taking care of the building, so that's not an option, either.”

  I have to talk to Garini. Now. Carlina had slung her handbag diagonally across her chest during the ride, so it would be safe but still accessible. With one swift move, she pulled it over her head and opened it to take out her cell phone. Mid-move, she stopped. “Oh, no! I don't believe this!”

  Rosanna stepped closer. “What's the matter? Why are you wailing like that?”

  “I forgot my phone. I need to call Ga--” just in time, she remembered that Rosanna didn't know about her relationship with Garini. “I need to call someone.”

  Rosanna held out her own phone. “You can take mine.”

  Carlina bit her lips. “Thanks, but I don't know the number by heart.” A sudden wave of fear engulfed her. What was going on? What had happened to Sabrina? This was her project, and she had worked for its success for months. Nothing but a catastrophe would stop her from coming. A heavy weight pressed down on Carlina.

  Another woman came closer.

  Carlina recognized her as the owner of a small store that sold typical Florentine needlework. Her name was Lisa. She sold the most attractive quilts Carlina had ever seen, thick and fluffy, and yet, with an unmistakable Italian design.

  “Do you have any idea what we can do, Carlina?”

  Carlina unstrapped the box from her Vespa. “Here. You take my samples. I'll drive to Sabrina's house. I'll be back as soon as I know more.”

  Rosanna accepted the box. “You do that. Good luck.”

  Carlina's heart hammered as she rushed to Sabrina's house on the outskirts of the old town. I should have called Garini last night. Her mouth felt dry. Damn, damn, damn. He will be furious with me. When she had to stop at a red light, she took a steadying breath and expelled it in a white cloud. Sabrina just overslept, like I did. I'll ring the bell so hard I'll wake everybody in the house.

  But when she turned into the street of the mayor's house, shock made her wobble. It was blocked off with police tape. She skidded to a stop, just one inch from the tape. “Oh, God.” In the distance, she could see people milling around the entrance of Sabrina's house, but it was too dark to make out any details. Her heart felt as if it would jump out of her throat any minute.

  She jumped off the Vespa and ducked underneath the tape.

  A uniformed policeman appeared out of nowhere and caught her by the elbow. “I'm sorry, but access is forbidden here.” He was in his mid-twenties, his brown hair cut so short that his ears glowed red in the cold.

  Carlina stared at him. “I need to talk to Sabrina Aventuri, the wife of the mayor!” She pointed at Sabrina's house. “It's urgent!”

  He looked at her in silence, his face set. “I'm afraid that's not possible.”

  Carlina swallowed. “Is she--? What . . . .?”

  “I'm not at liberty to give you any information.”

  Carlina drew herself up. “Are you familiar with Stefano Garini of the Homicide Department?” Her voice wobbled.

  The young policeman narrowed his eyes. “And what if I am?”

  “I need to talk to him. Can you connect me to him?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Via the phone.” Carlina almost stomped her feet. “I need to talk to him urgently.”

  “What's your name?”

  “Carlina Ashley.”

  “Don't move.” He went aside, took out a cell phone and started to murmur into it.

  Carlina moved her hands inside the gloves. Her fingers were frozen, but at the same time, she could feel sweat rolling down between her shoulder blades. She was having a nightmare. Surely she would wake up any minute now?

  A figure detached itself from the throng of people by Sabrina's house and hurried toward them.

  Carlina took a shuddering breath. She would recognize him anywhere, even if she could see nothing but his outline. She ran toward him, and this time, the policeman didn't stop her. “Garini!”

  He caught her by the arms, his face grim. “What are you doing here, Carlina?” A blinking Christmas tree in a window to his right illuminated his face for an instant, giving each shadow a razor-sharp edge.

  She quailed inwardly when she saw the fierce expression in his eyes. “I . . . I need to talk to Sabrina. She was supposed to be at the palazzo Davanzati at six this morning, to open the doors for the Christmas Fair, but she didn't turn up, and we can't start with the set-up. I came to find out where she is.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Who knew that she was supposed to be at the palazzo at six?”

  Carlina shrugged. “Gosh, everyone. We had discussed it yesterday during the last meeting.”

  “When was that?”

  “I left at midnight or so.” Carlina met his gaze. “Stefano, what happened? Is she--?”

  He put his arm around her shoulders and held her tight. “She was shot this morning in front of her house. The call reached us at a quarter past six.”

  Carlina swayed. “It's my fault.” She covered her mouth with her gloved hand and retched.

  “What?” Stefano released her and bent forward. “What are you saying?”

  She twisted to face him. It took all her courage to continue. “I found out yesterday that she is Laughing Eyes.”

  His face stilled. He stared at her without moving, thunder in his eyes.

  “I . . . I tried to call you immediately. At first, I thought she was the killer and feared she would harm me, but it turned out that she was only afraid of her husband learning about the affair.” She swallowed. The way he looked at her reminded her of a hawk . . . and she was the mouse. She forced herself to go on. “When I came home, it was past midnight. I was bone tired. I wanted to send you a message, but my phone had run out of power. I didn't feel like going down to Mama to phone - it would have involved endless explanations. So I decided to call you this morning.”

  “You didn't.” His voice was flat.

  “I overslept and ran from the house in a panic. I forgot my cell at home, and when I realized that, I was already at the palazzo. I wanted to call you from Rosanna's phone, but . . . you see, I don't know your number by heart.”

  He shook his head. “It's an improbable story, Carlina.”

  Her throat hurt. “I know.”

  His light eyes never wavered an instant from her face. “Is there anything else I should know urgently?”

  Carlina wrecked her brain. He had asked her before, and she had failed him. “I . . . I don't think so, . . . oh!”

  “What?”

  “I just remembered that I wrote down the whole conversation with Sabrina yesterday.” She glimpsed at him. “To avoid forgetting important things.”

  “Good.” A glimmer of a smile played around his lips, showing the small scar in one corner. “Do you happen to have the report with you?”

  “I . . . actually, I do. I stuffed it into my handbag yesterday night.” She pulled out the notebook and handed it to him.

  “Thank you.” He glanced at the blinking Christmas tree to his right and shook his head. “I need to talk with you in more detail, but not here, not now. You're freezing.”

  Carlina stared at him. She felt all at sea, like a ship without a rudder, blo
cked, unable to choose a way to go. It was a strange feeling, unfamiliar and upsetting. “What should I do now?”

  Stefano frowned. “You said that all the women are waiting in front of the palazzo to start the Christmas Fair?”

  “Yes.”

  “You stay right here.” He looked at her. “And I mean here. Sabrina is still in front of the house, and I doubt that you want to see that. I'll get the keys you need and will take you back to the palazzo.”

  Carlina took a trembling breath. “You mean we should continue with the fair?”

  “Why not?” His light eyes were cool. “Didn't you tell me it was her dream to do this fair? She wouldn't have wanted to cancel it now, would she?”

  Carlina swallowed. It seemed callous, but he was right. Besides, it would restore a sense of normality, would give her something to cling to until she had gotten over the shock.

  “I'll be right back.” He turned on his heels and strode back to Sabrina's house.

  Carlina stood frozen and stared at the blinking Christmas tree without seeing it.

  Five minutes later, Garini bundled her into a police car and put the heating at full blast.

  “Is it really okay to take time off from the case, just to bring me to the Fair?” Carlina shivered. How dreadful to speak of Sabrina as “a case”.

  Stefano gave her a glance. “I'm not taking time off. These people are the last to have seen her; they all know when she planned to leave her house, and she spent a lot of time with them. If I find any clue, I'm likely to find it there.”

  Carlina closed her eyes. Of course. How stupid to think he had offered to accompany her out of sheer chivalry.

  “In this case, however,” Garini kept his eyes on the road, and his tone was light and non-committal, “I was glad to have a justification to stay at your side.”

  A bit of warmth seeped into Carlina.

  The crowd in front of the palazzo had gotten bigger, and they all surged forward as the police car stopped on the curb of the narrow road. At the side, Carlina could see her well-wrapped mannequins and several boxes. Obviously, the transport company had come and gone, and with the house still closed, they had dumped everything on the sidewalk.