temptation in florence 05 - seaside in death

by boeker, beate

  “Stefano! Carlina! Wake up!” Emma's voice was full of panic. “The murderer has come back!”

  Chapter 18

  Carlina jumped out of bed, pushed by a pure shot of adrenaline that ran through her veins, but getting her body to function was the most she could do. Questions shot through her brain without making it out her mouth, as if her tongue was paralyzed, and her hands and knees were shaking too hard for them to be of any use.

  Stefano, however, was not only ahead of her, he also managed to stay in control of his mouth. He unlocked the door in one swift move, pulled Emma in and shut the door behind her again. “Is the murderer in the hotel?”

  “No, no!” Emma sagged with her back against the door. She lifted a shaking hand, pointing toward the window. “He's out there, by the pool . . .”

  “Did you hear him from your window?” Stefano slipped into a pair of shorts and sneakers without taking his gaze off her.

  “Yes.” A shudder went through her. “Just like the last time. I know that voice, Stefano! It's him! It's the murderer!”

  Stefano looked around, then grabbed the belt of his bathrobe and a racket they'd brought to play beach tennis.

  Carlina had managed to fling on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. She now went and took Emma's trembling hands. “It's all right, Emma. Calm down.”

  “Where's Lucio?” Stefano asked.

  “I didn't take the time to wake him.” Emma replied. “He always takes ages until he finally wakes up enough to know his name again.”

  “Good.” He turned and looked at Carlina. “Stay here, please.”

  Emma frowned. “But--”

  He didn't look at her, his gaze steady on Carlina, mesmerizing her. “Carlina. Please?”

  Carlina swallowed. “All right.”

  “Lock the door behind me.” He was gone without a sound.

  Carlina turned the lock, then looked at Emma.

  Emma pulled her lips into a weak pout that was a travesty of her usual pout. “How typically male! Tells us to stay in the background where nothing exciting will happen, while going out all by himself.”

  Carlina shook her head. “It's not because we're women. It's because he's a professional, and we're amateurs. He didn't want Lucio at his side, either, remember?” She gave her cousin the once over. “I think you'd better sit down, girl. You're white as a sheet and trembling.”

  Her cousin, who never accepted any advice she got, sank onto the edge of the unmade bed and took a deep breath, then placed her hand on her stomach. “Do you think this will harm the baby?”

  Her meek behavior scared Carlina more than any protest would have done. With an effort, she summoned up an encouraging smile. “I'm sure it got a fright, just like the Mamma, that's why it's important that you calm down now.”

  Emma looked at her with a small smile, but when her gaze went to the top of Carlina's head, it faded. “Gosh, Carlina! What have you done to your hair?”

  “Um. Nothing much.” Carlina touched her short curls. If Emma could talk about hair-dos, she was feeling better. “I've got to go to the hairdresser soon. In fact, I'll--”

  A hammering at the door stopped her mid-sentence.

  The cousins looked at each other, their eyes wide.

  Then Carlina gathered all her courage. “Who's there?” Her voice quavered a little.

  “Carlina! It's me, Nora! Please open the door!”

  Carlina jumped. What could have happened to little Nora to bring such fear into her voice? She ran to the door, and copying Stefano's movements from a few minutes earlier, she unlocked it, pulled Nora in, and secured it behind her again. “What is it?”

  Nora's chest heaved. “I need you down by the pool.”

  Emma's eyes widened. “But the murderer is down there!”

  Nora shook her head. “Nonsense! It's only Ernesto and Flavio, and they're fighting, and I'm unable to stop them. Can you come, please, and talk to them?”

  Emma blinked. “Who's Flavio?”

  “My brother. They're fighting like crazy, and it's so useless!” Nora balled her fists. “That's so typical of Flavio, to go into a rage without listening to what I want.”

  Emma's mouth fell open. “Then your brother is the murderer!” Her color returned to her face. “Well, I never . . .”

  Nora turned onto her like a furious cat. “He's not a murderer! He's totally harmless!” She took Carlina's hands. “Please come.”

  Carlina swallowed. “I promised Stefano I would stay here.”

  Nora's mouth became one thin line. “All right, if you won't help me. I thought I could count on you.” Her gaze fell onto the second racket of the beach tennis set that Stefano had dropped next to the bed. With one swift movement, she picked it up. “I'll break up that fight by myself.” She turned on her heels and ran from the room, leaving the door open behind her.

  Emma jumped up. “I'm going, too!”

  “Emma! We promised!”

  “You promised. I didn't do anything of the kind,” Emma called over her shoulder as she ran down the hotel corridor. “Besides, you heard Nora – it's just her brother!”

  Carlina shook her head. With the faint feeling that she had to have something useful in her hands if she joined into the fray, but not seeing anything heavy she could use in self-defense, she grabbed the belt of her own bathrobe, and thus equipped, ran after Emma.

  When she arrived, just two steps behind Nora and Emma, she couldn't make out anything at all but a wild bundle of arms and legs next to the pool, grunting and shouting. Then came a yell, a huge splash, and the bundle fell into the water. Her heart beat hard. Where was Stefano? Had he fallen into the pool? Was he hurt?

  Her eyes slowly got used to the dark, and that's when she saw him. He was on his knees at the side of the pool, holding out his hand for someone in the water. The moon appeared from behind a cloud, and for an instant, she could see the pale, wet face as if it was etched in silver. It was Ernesto.

  Ernesto gripped the helping hand and got hauled out of the water, but he hadn't quite made it when a long arm shot out of the pool, followed by a head and a pair of broad shoulders. The muscular man grabbed Ernesto's hair from behind and tried to pull him back.

  Garini lost his balance and wobbled toward the edge of the pool, but before they could all tumble into it, Nora jumped forward, the beach tennis racket in hand. She tilted it so the frame would hit first, then brought it down with force onto the hand that gripped Ernesto's hair.

  Another yelp, the hand lost its hold, and Ernesto, free from the restraining force, shot forward. He tumbled against Garini, and they both ended up stretched out next to the pool.

  Nora held the racket in front of her like a stick and shouted, “Flavio, if you don't stop behaving like an idiot right now, I'm never going to forgive you!”

  The muscular man, still in the water, turned his head. “Stay out of this, Nora!”

  Emma gripped Carlina's hand. “It's him,” she whispered. “That's the voice I heard the night of the murder.”

  Carlina kept her cousin's hand in a comforting clasp. “Are you sure?” She kept her voice low.

  “Positive.”

  Carlina swallowed and made them take a cautious step back.

  “No, I'm not going to stay out of it!” Nora bent forward and pointed the racket like a sword over him. “You have to understand that I'm living my own life now, and that nothing I do is any business of yours anymore!”

  “Oh, yeah?” Flavio swam to the rim of the pool and pulled himself up. One minute later, he stood, dripping, next to Nora. He wasn't much taller than her, but was built like a wrestler. “Then let me tell you--”

  Garini put a hand onto his shoulder. “Never mind that. I want to hear your account of what's been going on here tonight.”

  Flavio shook him off and gave him an impatient look. “I don't know what you have to do with this! Stay out of it. It's a family matter.”

  Nora stamped her foot. “This is Commissario Garini, you oaf, and he's in charg
e of the murder investigation. So if you don't want him to think that you killed Rosari, you'd better be polite to him and answer his questions!”

  Flavio winced as if an insect had stung him. He lifted both hands in an apologetic gesture and took a small step back. “Sorry, Commissario.” A sheepish smile appeared. “I . . . I've got a bit of a temper, and I--”

  “Ha.” Ernesto shook his head so hard that water drops flew into all directions. “A bit of a temper is a slight understatement. A heck of a temper, I would say. Totally uncontrollable, in fact. He attacked me for no reason at all.”

  Flavio narrowed his eyes. “I'm not talking to you!”

  “Oh, yes, you will talk to him!” Nora hissed. “Because he's my boyfriend, and you'll have to get used to the idea of being civil to him!”

  Garini cut in. “I want to hear more about this attack. Ernesto?”

  Ernesto shrugged. “Well, I was waiting just outside my room for Nora to finish her shift, so we could go down to the beach together. And while I was waiting, Flavio appeared. He told me that he'd only learned this afternoon about my going out with Nora.” He looked at Carlina. “He said you told him. Is that true?”

  Carlina shook her head. “No.”

  “Yes, she did, when we met him in town today,” Nora said. “But she didn't realize it. She only said to Flavio that you, Ernesto, would probably take me home tonight and take good care of me, and that gave it away.”

  Carlina covered her mouth with her hand. “Gosh, that's true. I'm sorry. I didn't realize.”

  Nora shook her head and gave her a small smile. “Never mind. I should have told Flavio long ago, but I was afraid . . .”

  “What were you afraid of?” Garini's calm voice cut in.

  Nora didn't reply.

  “You were afraid that I wouldn't accept him, and right you were,” Flavio cut in, his voice rising. “Ernesto is totally unsuitable for you!”

  Emma took a step forward. “Just why is Ernesto unsuitable for Nora?”

  Flavio stared at her. “Who are you?”

  “I'm Ernesto's sister,” Emma said with a toss of her head that indicated she was at least as important as the Queen of Sheba.

  Nora stamped her foot again. “Ernesto is perfectly right for me! And even if he weren't, that's up to me to find out. Do you hear me, Flavio?”

  “I hear you,” Flavio said. “But you don't have much experience yet, and--”

  Ernesto looked at Flavio. “I don't get this,” he said slowly. “I mean, we're friends. You stayed at our house. Everything was fine. And now I'm the arch-enemy all at once? Why?”

  Flavio balled his fist. “Because she's my little sister, and you've no right to mess around with her!”

  “That's for me to decide, Flavio!” Nora's voice was lethal. “I'm an adult.”

  “Yes, and you're one year older than Ernesto!” Flavio shouted. “It's all wrong, I'm telling you!”

  Ernesto looked at Nora. “Do you mind that I'm a year younger?”

  She smiled. “Of course not.”

  “Good.” He returned the smile. “I don't mind, either.” He turned to Flavio. “So, is there anything else you'd like to say?”

  “No!” Flavio made an angry sound deep inside his throat. “I'm leaving.”

  Garini stood in his way. “Not just yet. I'd like to know where you were at the time of the murder.”

  Flavio turned so white that he looked like a ghost in the silvery moonlight. “Why . . . I . . . I was in bed.”

  “That's a lie,” Emma cut in. “I heard you shouting. You were here by the pool.”

  He balled his fists. “That's not true. I wasn't . . .”

  “Oh, my God.” Nora dropped the racket she'd been holding the whole time, ran to her brother, and started to shake him. “Don't tell me you got into a fight with him!”

  “Of course I didn't!” His protest sounded weak. “Why should I even talk to Rosari?”

  Nora dropped her hands and stared at her brother as if she'd never seen him before. “I know why. You somehow found out that he'd made a pass at me.”

  “He made a pass at you?” Flavio drew himself up. “That swine! I'm going to--”

  “You're not going to do anything to him,” Emma cut in. “He's dead.”

  Nora blinked. “Did you kill him, Flavio?”

  “Nonsense.” Flavio inched to the side. “There's no talking to you. I'm leaving.”

  “Rosari pulled his gun on you, didn't he?” Garini suddenly asked. “That's when you jumped at him.”

  “It wasn't my fault!” Flavio's voice broke. “I swear!”

  “That's what you always say.” Nora sounded defeated. “It's never your fault.”

  “But it wasn't!” Flavio clutched his hair. “I wanted to surprise you, pick you up at the end of your shift, and when I went past the pool, Rosari was there, smoking. He recognized me and said something really foul about you, Nora. I couldn't let him stand there and insult you, now, could I?”

  Nora shook her head. “Really, Flavio, how often have we been through that? You can't punch everyone in the face who provokes you!”

  His face got a sullen look. “It was only to protect you.”

  Nora threw up her hands. “I. Don't. Want. To. Be. Protected. When will you get that into that thick skull of yours?”

  Garini's calm voice interrupted them. “Putting the reason why to the side, what happened next?”

  Flavio turned to him. “Well, I told him to repeat that insult if he dared. I placed myself in front of him like this,” he lifted both hands and went into a crouching position, ready to jump, “showing him that I was willing to fight for the honor of my sister.”

  “Spoiling for a fight, rather.” Nora muttered.

  Flavio ignored her. “That's when he pulled out the gun. He pointed it at me and calmly repeated the insult.”

  “And then?” Emma's voice was breathless.

  Flavio shrugged. “I jumped at him.”

  “A lunatic,” Nora shook her head in disgust.

  “A hero,” Emma gave Flavio a dazzling smile.

  A young man who still has to learn to control his temper. Carlina didn't voice her thoughts, but she felt sorry for him, guessing what was coming next.

  “Well,” Flavio hung his head. “I'm not so clear about what happened next. I think I managed to grab the gun. He was too surprised by my attack.”

  “No wonder,” Nora said. “He'd never encountered such a lunatic before.”

  Flavio gave her a dark look. “But then he rallied and threw himself on top of me. And then, the gun went off, and he grunted and loosened his hold on me for a second. I took that instant to break loose and ran off as fast as I could, before he got his second wind and could find that gun and pull the trigger on me.”

  “And you left me to find the body!” Nora shook her head.

  “I didn't know that he was dead! I thought he might be injured, but I wasn't going to stay, asking him if he was going to feel better anytime soon!”

  “That would have been the moment to come looking for me and bring me home safely,” Nora said. “Instead, you ran off.”

  Flavio lifted both hands. “I'm sorry, Nora. I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. When I got home, I realized I had blood on my shirt. I washed it and hung it on the line behind the house, and that's when I heard you come home. I first thought I would talk to you about it, but I knew that you would only scold me for getting into a fight again, so I didn't mention it and just went to bed. The next morning, I had to go to work very early, and when I was in the car, I heard the news on the radio.” He turned to Garini. “I called Nora immediately and told her not to continue to work here.”

  Emma blinked. “Why on earth did you do that? If you were the murderer, she had nothing to be afraid of.”

  Flavio reddened. “I'm not a murderer! Rosari pulled a gun on me!”

  “Yes, yes,” Emma made a soothing motion with her hands. “But still . . . any danger was gone. Why shouldn't she continu
e to work here?”

  Nora sighed. “Because Flavio thinks that the only safe place for a woman is at home.”

  “And I'm right!” Flavio shouted. “Just look at this whole mess! It would never have happened if you hadn't insisted on working here!”

  “It would never have happened if you had learned to control your temper!” Nora shot back. “But apparently even an accidental murder isn't enough to stop you!”

  Carlina frowned. “I still don't understand one thing – if you'd already talked to Nora on the phone, why did you come here the morning after the murder?”

  “Because she didn't want to listen to reason! She hung up on me!” Flavio said. “So I decided to talk to her in person.”

  “Some talk that was,” Nora's voice was bitter. “Rushing over here and making a scene during breakfast, in front of all the guests! I was mortified!”

  Carlina couldn't take her gaze off the young man. She felt so sorry for him. His mother had died early, and obviously, his father and the siblings had not been able to cure him off his hot temper. Hopefully the judge would take a kindly look on his case. Then again, Nora was right. It wasn't clear if he had learned anything – after all, he had also started a fight with Ernesto this very night, based on a flimsy excuse. She knew her laid-back cousin wasn't one for getting into fights unless he couldn't help it. She gave her cousin the once over, but in the moonlight, she couldn't make out any grave injuries. “Are you all right, Ernesto?”

  Ernesto looked at her in a daze. “Will Flavio have to go to prison now?”

  Everyone froze. The question hung in the warm night air like a trembling sword, waiting to drop. Even the cicadas stopped singing.

  Then Garini slowly nodded. “I'm afraid so.”

  Flavio's jaw dropped. “But . . . but I told you it was a mistake!”

  “That's why I'm not arresting you for murder,” Garini said. “But you have to come to the police station with me now.”

  Flavio looked at his sister.

  Nora swallowed. “You go with him.” Her voice was rough. “I'm afraid that this time, you'll have to face the consequences alone.”