Death Brings Gold. Nicola Rocca
âAre you insinuating that I killed my husband? But do you realise â¦?â
âNo, Mrs Pilenga,â Walker interrupted her, his voice hard. âMine is only an assumption. Assumingâ¦â he started moving his hands around, âis part of my job. Maybe among thousands of assumptions that donât lead anywhere, one will jump out and bring you straight to the truth.â
âAlright then,â the woman surrendered. âI admit I have had a relation with another man. But I can assure you that it has nothing to do with my husbandâs death. We were at odds, itâs true, but that doesnât mean I wanted him dead.â
Walker exchanged a look with Bassani. And this is our first one, he seemed to be saying.
âTry to relax, Mrs Pilenga. If you had admitted your extra-marital relation immediately, you wouldnât be here now.â
The Inspector leaned against the back of his armchair again and observed the woman before him without sympathy. Better being a bachelor for life, than having a wife like her.
âMaybe this relation has nothing to do with the death of your husband but, as Iâve told you before, we need to follow any lead. And at the moment a crime of passion seems to be the only one.â
Mrs Pilenga nodded. It looked like she had understood. She sniffed and dried her eyes again, shaking her head negatively.
âCan I go now?â
Walker sighed. He looked at his assistant and then at the widow again.
âZambetti, offer Mrs Pilenga something warm to drink â if sheâd like â and then accompany her to the exit.â
The assistant nodded. He was about to escort the woman towards the door, but Walkerâs voice stopped them.
âMrs Pilenga?â
âYes?â she answered , turning back.
âWith whom did you have an affair?â
Walkerâs voice was calm, but steady.
Martina Pilenga shook her head, as if to push away a question that wasnât going away. She lowered her eyes and murmured a name.
Zambetti took her by the arm, as you would do with someone who is barely standing up, and escorted her out of the room.
âDid she get offended ?â asked Walker.
âMaybe a bit. But you did well to be so frank, Chief.â
He was beginning to like this Bassani. Caslini had better hurry back from his holidays, Walker thought ironically. Or he was going to find his place taken.
âWhat do you think?â he asked him.
âAbout what, Chief?â
âThat she might have killed him.â
âHer husband?â asked Bassani doubtful.
âMh-hm,â agreed David.
âI donât think so. It seems unthinkable that such a petite woman could even hurt a man. Let alone kill him.â
âGood observation,â said the Inspector. âShe could never have done it. Unlessâ¦â
âUnless?â asked the man, curious.
âUnless she had an accompliceâ.
âAn accomplice?â
How the hell can Bassani not bloody get it? Maybe Caslini didnât have to worry about losing his job after all.
âYes, an accomplice, for Godâs sake. A crime of passion. To get rid of the betrayed husband. The wife, along with her lover and accomplice, kills the husband. A story as old as time!â
Bassani stood there with his mouth open, his eyes like saucers.
âDo you really believe that woman and her lover might have killed that guy?â
âOf course not,â answered Walker straight off, quickly waving his hand through the air, as if he wanted to slap away the idiocy of what he had just heard. âWhy would they put that necktie around the victimâs neck?â
Bassani was fed up with the Inspectorâs flights of fancy. Firstly he would say one thing, and soon after he would dismiss it. You need to have a lot of patience with your superiors.
âMaybe to mislead the investigations, Chief.â
Walker smiled, allowing himself a blessed moment with his cigarette.
âDo you mind?â he asked after he lit it.
The man gave his approval opening his arms ambiguously. What else could he do?
âBut have you seen her, Bassani? Does she look to you like someone who could mislead an investigation? That is a frustrated woman, in search of something her husband couldnât give her anymore. Iâm afraid that Ghezziâs death, on the other hand, is the work of a professional.â
âDo you really think so?â
âMh-mh. And the tie around his neck is nothing else than the killerâs signature.â
The man nodded, showing a bitter resignation.
After a beat, it was Walker who spoke again.
âAnd what can you tell me about her lover, detective?â
Bassani thought about it.
âI donât know Chief⦠Iâve got the impression that somehow Iâve heard that name before,â he said succinctly.
CHAPTER 15
When Inspector Walker entered Café Cielo, the man who had invited him to breakfast was already sitting down.
Walker greeted him with a nod and approached him.
âGood morning.â
âGood morning, Inspector,â replied Carobbio. âPlease, sit downâ he added, inviting him to take a seat.
Walker obeyed. Then he took off his gloves and scarf and rubbed his hands.
âWhat would you like?â
âWhatever youâre having will be fine,â said Walker, without giving it much thought.
âTwo Scotches, then,â declared the Chief Inspector of Forensic Police.
Walker gave him an incredulous look.
âI was joking,â continued Carobbio, smiling. âYou really think Iâd have Scotch for breakfast?â
David smiled too.
When the waitress came, Carobbio ordered two cappuccinos with soy milk and two wholemeal chocolate brioches. The girl nodded, firstly showing a perfect smile and then, when she turned her back to them, a rear worthy of a standing ovation. Both men admired the ass, catching each other doing so. However neither one hazarded a comment.
âChocolate in the morning wakes the mind up, Inspector,â said Carobbio. âDid you know it?â
Walker, still absorbed in following the progress of the girlâs bottom, was caught unprepared.
âNo,â he answered, bringing his eyes towards the other man. âIâve never heard this one. Maybe because in the morning I wake my mind up with these,â he concluded, throwing his packet of Marlboros on the table.
âOh, Inspector, thatâs a