Death Brings Gold. Nicola Rocca
it looked like.
The medical examiner moved a bit closer and with a torch illuminated the inside of the dead manâs mouth.
âThere,â the girl exorted him, âunder his tongue.â
Dr Visconti lifted the dead manâs tongue, as much as was necessary, in order to be able to take a better look at what Clara had seen.
âYes,â he said. âYouâre right, Clara. Thereâs something strange.â
CHAPTER 9
âThank you for coming, Mrs Pilenga,â Inspector Walker said to the woman, although it had been more of an order than a request.
Martina nodded, silent. Then, she tried to find something to say, despite the dreadful misery she felt inside her.
âIf thereâs anything I can doâ¦â
Walker offered her a benevolent smile, in an attempt to look sympathetic. Then he rubbed his hands together and let himself drop back into his old worn-out armchair.
âThatâs exactly why we have summoned you. We think that anything you say may be useful to us.â
The woman replied by nodding again. She looked like a little doll with a broken neck.
âGood,â said Walker. Then he glanced at Zambetti, informing him that the real interrogation was now to begin.
The assistant nodded, sliding his fingertips onto the computer keys.
âMrs Pilenga, do you know,â Walker started, âif there was anybody who would have wanted to hurt your husband?â
Before answering, the woman waited longer than the Inspector would have expected.
âNot that I know of.â
âAnd what about you, Mrs Pilenga? Did you get on with your husband?â
âWhat kind of question is that?â blurted the woman, fidgeting in her chair.
âCalm down, â the Inspector tried to quiet her . This is just like any other question...â
âOf course we got on,â Mrs Pilenga uttered, interrupting him.
Walker nodded, moving his head slowly. In that precise moment he decided to shift into high gear, without reservation.
âGood,â he said smoothly. âIs there by any chance anything in particular that you would like to tell us regarding your relationship with your husband?â
The woman blushed. The Inspector could see on her face that she was wondering what the reason was behind that question. Following a few seconds of silence, Mrs Pilenga attempted to change track.
âWhat are you trying to say?â
Walker put on the most casual face he could summon.
âIt was just a simple question, Mrs Pilenga. You know, before formulating any hypothesis about the murder, I would like to know a bit more about your husbandâs life. And who better than you to help me?â
Martina looked down at the desk. She scratched nervously at the back of her hand, then she lifted her eyes and tried to look the Inspector in the face.
âMy husband and I were an ordinary couple.â
âWhat do you mean by ordinary?â
The woman thought about that for a moment.
âWe had ups and downs, like many other couples.â
âUps and downs,â repeated Walker, turning his head sideways for a moment, towards his subordinate. âSo, Mrs Pilenga, according to you, these ups and downs, could your husband also have them with somebody else. Donât misunderstand me. I mean⦠of your knowledge, did your husband have problems with anybody?â
Walkerâs cold eyes were inspecting Martinaâs teary eyes, not prying away from them for even a moment.
âIâve known my husband for thirty years. I have never seen him fight with anyone. I donât believe heâd decided to start getting into trouble at fifty years old.â
âI understand,â continued Walker, who was still feeling his way through the dark.
âI still canât believe it,â the woman opened up, letting herself go into a choked cry.
Walker stretched his hands out on the desk, in search of hers. She noticed it and decided to accept the charitable gesture. She put her hands together and entrusted them in the Inspectorâs big, yet delicate, hands, finding warmth in them.
âIâm sorry, Mrs Pilenga. Believe me,â he told her. âAlthough my methods might seem harsh, I swear I am doing it for you. To find your husbandâs killer. And I am sure that your deposition, even something that you might consider insignificant, could lead us on the right track. I am just asking you to help us to help you.â
âBut I donât know how,â she replied, sobbing.
Walker remained silent, wondering if he hadnât made a mistake in summoning the woman too soon after her husbandâs death. Would it have been better to have let some days go by?
âMrs Pilenga,â he regained her attention, also by putting a light pressure on her hands. âMaybe itâs better if you go back home. You need to rest. Relax, let yourself go with all the tears you need. Weâll be in touch again in a couple of days. So if in the meantime you remember anything that can be useful to us, let me know.â
Martina nodded, taking a tissue out of her handbag.
âMaybe itâs better, yes,â she confirmed.
Walker offered her one last smile and stood still waiting for her to slip her hands from his.
âHave a good day,â said the woman, looking at the two men, first at one, then at the other.
âSee you soon,â and âHave a good day too,â answered Walker and Zambetti in unison.
Martina Pilenga stood up from the chair and, walking slowly and sadly, left.
The two men found themselves alone together again.
âShe seemed worn out,â ventured Zambetti.
âWell, even if it was true that she was unfaithful to him, he was still her husband,â suggested Walker.
âI wonder why she didnât admit to the extramarital affair.â
âWell, itâs obvious. We didnât ask her explicitly and she didnât say it. Itâs normal, isnât it? Whoâs that woman who loves to shout it from the rooftops that she is having an affair? I tried to bring up the topic, but she avoided it.â
âTo be honest, youâre right, Chief Inspector,â Zambetti tried flattering him. âAlthoughâ¦â
Walker turned his head sharply towards him.
âAlthough?â
Zambetti tapped his fingertips on the edge of the computer.
âI donât know why, but I kind of have the impression that sheâs hiding something from us.â
CHAPTER 10
After a lunch break, David Walker returned to his office. He saw straight away that the file on Ghezziâs murder was on his desk. Bassani had notified him that the autopsy appraisal had been written. He had sent a copy to him and one to Fini.
David