by Loren Teague
So Rick had a professional reputation. Somehow it didn’t surprise her. ‘That’s reassuring to know.’
Brougham stood up. ‘OK. That’s all for now, Ms Rosselini. Thanks for coming in. If you could please step outside, I’d like to speak to Rick privately.’ Brougham held the door open for her. ‘We’ll be in touch.’
Once Gina had left the room, Brougham switched off the tape recorder and turned to face Rick.
‘What’s your take on Ms Rosselini?’
‘For the record, I’d say she loves her sister and her grandparents. I think she’s telling the truth.’
‘She lied about meeting her husband.’
‘She avoided the question,’ corrected Rick. ‘There’s a difference.’
‘You sound like you’re defending her.’
‘She’s my client; I’m paid to.’
‘Actually, I’m surprised you took on the Rosselini job. I didn’t think you’d be into protecting the rich and famous.’
Initially, Rick hadn’t thought so either, but he had always been open to new challenges.
‘You know how it is. Got to take the work when it comes along. Times are lean. In case you hadn’t noticed, we’ve got a downturn in the economy. Plus I’m a one man band. I have to be versatile.’
Brougham’s eyebrows rose. ‘Yeah, well, if I don’t get more help around here, I might join you. Need a partner?’
‘That bad, huh?’
Brougham sighed. ‘Same old story. We’re short staffed. Work too many long hours. This Rosselini case is stretching us. And my wife’s on my back about taking a holiday. She reckons I live here more than I do at home. I’m starting to think that myself.’
Rick could believe it: Brougham was totally dedicated to the job. He was highly respected by his colleagues. ‘Take my advice, you’re better off staying in the force. At least you get paid overtime.’
‘You tell my wife that,’ said the detective, wryly. ‘Incidentally, getting back to the case, we’ve had the ballistic report back. The bullet that hit Maria was .223 calibre. One of the weapons stolen from that sports shop raid a couple of weeks ago was a Remington in that calibre. It could be the weapon.’
‘Yeah, I remember hearing about it.’
‘If the attacker was responsible for that robbery, he could be planning other raids now that he’s armed,’ Brougham pondered. ‘Or he could be planning to finish off Maria Rosselini.’
‘Do you think it’s Gina’s ex-husband?’
‘I really don’t know. But we’ll try and find out where he is for a start. Bring him in for questioning.’
‘With fifty thousand dollars, chances are high he’s skipped the country,’ remarked Rick.
‘Possibly. We’ll check that out with passport control.’ Brougham reached over for another file sitting on his desk. He opened it. ‘There’s something else. I did a bit of digging. Remember that scandal about four years ago, to do with Rosselini Fishing Industries?’
Rick searched his memory. ‘I think I was away at the time, working in Greymouth, on that Triad drug smuggling case. But I remember my cousin, Mark, mentioning it. He’s a fisherman. Wasn’t it to do with fishing quotas? Some court case hit the news?’
‘Yeah, that’s right. One of Rosselini’s vessels was forfeited to the Crown. A guy called Dani Russo was the owner and skipper of the boat and contracted it to Rosselini. Russo was convicted of quota fraud. Well over the catch limit. He said Rosselini put pressure on him to overfish. Rosselini denied all knowledge of what he had done. Russo took the rap.’
‘So what’s this got to do with Maria?’
‘She was involved in giving evidence against him. Millions of dollars were at stake at the time.’
‘So why didn’t you bring it up with Gina?’
‘I needed to look through the file first.’
That made sense to Rick. He made a mental note to ask Gina about Maria’s involvement.
‘Any luck tracing that Skyline which tried to run us down?’
Brougham shook his head. ‘Nothing yet, but we’re working on it.’
Afterwards, Rick thought about what Gina had said. Her husband had demanded money and she had given it to him. So why would he shoot Maria afterwards? Unless there was something else they didn’t know about. And what about Dani Russo who had committed quota fraud? Could that also have some connection?
Brougham might be in charge of the case but that didn’t stop Rick from fitting the pieces together as well. As a private investigator, he’d worked closely with the police on many occasions. He’d never forgotten what it was like to be a cop. If anyone asked him what it was he missed about the force, he’d say it was the team work and the comradeship. He’d often tried to define what made a good cop and had never come up with a specific answer. Cops were human beings too and made mistakes along the way in spite of their good intentions. He might not be a cop now but the way he felt about the law and protecting the public hadn’t changed. The only difference was who paid him.
Rick returned to the waiting room. He saw Gina sitting there. She was pale, too pale under the tan. ‘You OK?’
‘No … no … I’m not.’ She turned on him, her eyes flashing. ‘I thought you were supposed to be on my side. How could you let Brougham question me like that?’
He frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘All those questions he was asking about Anthony … and Jason. How do you think he made me feel?’
Rick recognized she was strung up tight. He could hear it in her voice. ‘Probably damned uncomfortable,’ he replied, ‘but you have to remember he’s trying to find out who shot Maria. He’s a police officer.’
‘He kept making insinuations about me and Anthony.’ Despair washed over her. ‘Damn him.’
‘He was just doing his job. He’s one of the best officers in the force. And he gets results. I ought to know, I worked with him for long enough.’
‘Well, you would stick up for him, wouldn’t you? Being an ex-cop shows exactly where your loyalties lie.’
Warning lights glinted dangerously in his blue eyes. ‘That’s enough, Gina. You know nothing about being an ex-cop.’ He gripped her arm firmly as they walked along the path.
Gina knew then she had hit a nerve. An odd bleakness had come into his eyes but was gone so quickly she nearly wondered if she had imagined it. She bit back the retort on her lips.
After a few moments, she added, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I don’t know why I let him get to me. I guess it’s also because of the questions about Jason.’ She took another deep breath. ‘Here I am trying to forget I was ever married to him, and just when I think I have my life on track again, he turns up demanding money. I had no choice but to pay him because I was thinking of Maria. I know I should have told Brougham.’ Her voice lowered regretfully. ‘What else was I to do at the time? After Maria had been shot, I didn’t want my grandfather to find out I’d met Jason again. I didn’t want to make things any worse because he was so upset already over our marriage. Am I so wrong to want to protect my family?’
He grimaced. ‘No, you’re not. But the information might have been important. Brougham would have kept it in confidence.’ He took her arm, leading her forward and said in a low voice, ‘Come on, let’s take a walk down by the river.’
They crossed the busy road and headed down the stone steps which led under the road bridge and along the sloping bank. Weeping willow trees lined the edge of the river, sweeping low, the branches trailing lightly into the clear green tinged water. The river was calm and smooth, not a ripple out of place. They followed the narrow concrete path a little way, then stopped to sit down on a battered wooden bench covered in graffiti.
Gina took a few deep breaths to steady herself.
‘Feeling better?’ he asked, after a while.
She turned to answer, but before she had a chance, he gave her a smile which made her heart do a quick somersault. The shock of it was so physical, she raised her hand to her breast.
To hide her confusion, she stammered, ‘I … I’m not sure.’ Then fell silent. When she found her voice again, she added, ‘Maybe I did overreact back there. Police stations don’t agree with me. I guess I can thank my ex-husband for that.’
Rick’s eyes focused on her, turning a deeper shade of blue, and for one split second, Gina felt she had to try and explain some things to him.
‘My ex-husband was a gambler and he had a drink problem. He got involved in the drug scene to pay off his debts. The cops were always chasing him. Give him his due, he really did try to put things right for a while but it didn’t work out that way.’ The excuse sounded lame and she knew it. She didn’t know why she was even trying to defend Jason because deep down inside she knew he deserved everything he got. And what was more, the misery he put her through nearly destroyed her.
Rick said gently. ‘It might help to talk.’
‘Talk? That’s kind of hard to do right now.’ She hesitated. ‘Still, if you think it might help us find who tried to hurt Maria, I’ll tell you everything.’ She paused slightly as she collected her thoughts. ‘Like I said, Jason was into drugs. He became a dealer. When the police came to arrest him at our home, he wasn’t there. They searched the flat. Found some cocaine. So the cops took me instead. It wasn’t a pleasant experience being locked up and it’s certainly not one I want to repeat.’ Her heart began to beat faster as the memories came rushing back. She could still hear the sound of the slamming cell door echoing in her mind. ‘I’m surprised Detective Brougham didn’t bring it all out during his questioning: I’m sure it’s all on file.’
Rick frowned again. ‘Did you know Jason was dealing drugs?’
‘Of course I didn’t,’ she said indignantly. ‘I had no idea he had drugs stashed away. Luckily, I had a good lawyer, someone recommended by Anthony, and I was cleared.’
‘And what about Jason?’
‘He got off the drug charges. We separated. Then he eventually went into rehab. Our divorce came through six months ago.’
‘Do you still love him?’ he asked tentatively.
Gina clenched her hands together in her lap. Love him, she thought? She hated him. Detested him for what he had done to her. And the shame he had brought on her family.
‘No, I don’t love him. He hurt me badly at the time. I made a big mistake in marrying him, and paid for it. Jason is out of my life forever. Now, I just want to forget about that whole sordid episode. But Maria being shot has brought it all up again. What if it was Jason who shot Maria? That keeps going around in my mind.’ She shook her head. ‘I didn’t want to accuse him back there. Why, I don’t know. When I met him the other day, he seemed to have changed. He asked me to go back to him. But I refused.’
Rick exhaled. ‘We don’t know yet if it was him. But if it was, you’re not to blame for his actions, so don’t even think that way.’
‘Aren’t I?’ she asked, her heart sinking. ‘I’m not so sure.’
The watcher entered the church early before evening mass. He hovered at the back waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, then when they did, he slowly he made his way to a wooden pew on the left. He slid onto the seat next to the aisle. Several people were praying in the front row. An elderly lady, her back slightly curved, fumbled with her rosary beads. He heard her drop them on the floor. She muttered something. When she half turned around to retrieve them, he saw her face. It was Rosa Rosselini. If she was here, then Gina might be as well. But as he looked around, he couldn’t see her.
The chapel door creaked as it opened. He half turned to see who had entered, but kept his face down. It was her. Gina. A man followed her in. Rick Caruso, he realized. He should have guessed he’d be with her. He noticed she wore a white lacy dress emphasizing her olive skin and dark hair.
She whispered some words to Caruso and, while the private investigator sat down at a pew on the right, she continued walking towards the altar. She passed him by. She was so close to him, he could have reached out to touch her. The watcher curled his fingers into the palm of his hand to prevent him from doing so.
She picked up a candle and lit it and placed it on the iron holder at the alter. Then after crossing herself, she turned around and walked back down the aisle again. The watcher lowered his gaze.
The priest and other clergy entered. The smell of incense permeated the air.
The church was filling up, he realized. Should he stay, or go? He wasn’t sure, but the opportunity to observe Gina for a bit longer was just too tempting.
The next day, Gina called in to see Maria at the hospital. She paused in the doorway at intensive care and said to Rick. ‘I’d like to stay for a while.’
‘Sure. I’ll wait out here in the corridor until you’re ready.’
Gina entered the room, approaching her sister quietly. Maria was asleep. Her sister looked so pale, the dark shadows under her eyes even more pronounced. All of a sudden an uneasy feeling came over Gina as she moved closer to her.
‘Maria, can you hear me?’ said Gina softly. ‘I’m right here beside you. You have to get better … we have so much to do together.’ For a moment, the impossible ran through her mind. What if Maria died? She froze. But she couldn’t die, she told herself sternly. The doctor had already told them she was making good progress. She had come around very briefly earlier on, but the doctor had given her another sedative because she was in such a lot of pain.
She kissed her sister lightly on the cheek and said a short silent prayer.
It was evening when Gina arrived back at her apartment. The first thing she did was call in to see her grandmother to tell her about her visit to see Maria.
Her grandmother patted her hand. ‘She’s in the best place. The doctors said we have to be patient.’
‘I know, but it’s so hard.’
‘I have something for you.’ Her grandmother opened up her handbag and handed her a small white box. ‘Look inside.’
Gina did. A silver amulet shaped like a horn lay against the silky material. ‘Oh …’
Her grandmother smiled. ‘It’s a cornicello … to wear around your neck. It’s an old Italian custom to ward off the evil eye.’
‘Nonna …’ protested Gina.
‘Promise me you will wear it, sí?’
She kissed her grandmother’s cheek. ‘I promise.’ She slipped it around her neck. ‘Grazie. It’s beautiful.’
‘I’m going down to the beach for a swim,’ Gina told Rick.
‘Why don’t you use the swimming pool? It will be safer.’
‘Because I prefer the sea,’ she said simply.
‘OK. Give me ten minutes. I just need to see your housekeeper. She wants me to check the security alarm.’
Gina nodded. But she couldn’t help feeling resentful. Everything she wanted to do had to go through him first. It was driving her crazy. After grabbing a towel and changing into her swimsuit, she sat down to wait. Ten minutes passed. Then another five. She stood up impatiently. Obviously Rick was going to be longer than he thought. Surely it wouldn’t do any harm to go on ahead? He could follow later. There were security guards patrolling the beach as well as near their house, and a police car was parked on the main road only a few yards away. She’d be within shouting distance if she needed any help.
Slipping on her sandals, she made her way out of the grounds stopping to speak to a security guard at the main entrance gates. ‘Please, will you tell Rick I’ve gone down to the beach?’
‘Perhaps you’d best wait, miss,’ he advised.
‘I’m sure he won’t be long. I’ll be fine,’ and she continued on her way giving him a bright smile, hoping it would convince him. As she glanced back, she saw the security guard looking worried and speaking into the hand-held radio.
Next to their property, on the other side of the high wall, winding steps led down to the beach. She hurried down them taking care not to slip. A warm breeze skimmed her face. Once she reached the golden sand, she kicked off her sandals, dumped her towel, and waded in.<
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It felt so good. The water cooled her skin and calmed her turbulent thoughts. The interview at the police station earlier on had really upset her and then afterwards seeing Maria lying so helpless in the hospital. Life was particularly hard at the moment, she thought ruefully. But she had been through tough times before, she reminded herself. And Maria would recover. She had to keep positive.
For a while she swam, then lay flat on her back floating as she gazed up at the sky, absorbing the crystal blueness. This was better than any work out at the gym, she decided, as the tension eased out of her. While she used to attend the gym regularly during the winter, in the summer she exercised in the pool or the sea, taking advantage of the warm weather.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind.
‘Aghhh!’ She screamed as she lost her balance and slipped under the water. Her arms flailed outwards.
‘Please …’ she begged, half choking as she surfaced. She tried to twist around but she was pinned tightly. Whoever it was, she was no match for his strength. Oh God. Rick had warned her to wait. She steeled herself waiting for the blow to come.
Then she heard his deep voice. ‘I’ve been out of my mind looking for you. Why didn’t you wait for me?’
She turned to face him. ‘Because you took so long. You … you … you frightened me out of my wits.’
Rick grimaced. ‘I was just trying to make a point.’
‘Well, you did. Are you satisfied?’ To her dismay, tears sprang into her eyes. ‘I don’t need you to look after me. I don’t need anyone. Just leave me alone.’
‘Hey, take it easy,’ he said soothingly, as he grabbed her wrists. ‘You have to understand, there’s some crazy guy on the loose. You can’t just go off on your own whenever you feel like it.’
By now, she was past caring. ‘Can’t I? I’d like to see you stop me?’ She shrugged herself loose from his grip, trying to choke back a sob at the same time.