Chapter 16
Chapter sixteen
Thirty minutes later, Dominic turns onto the winding road that snakes through the hills toward Madeline Toma’s estate.
The ride is quiet. Mostly because I don’t know what to say after Dominic dropped that bombshell about his cousin on me. Even though we had gotten pulled in different directions, maybe there was a way we could have made it work.
I can’t dwell in the past right now. I have a murderer to find.
At the gatehouse, a uniformed guard places a quick call before waving us through.
The wrought-iron gates swing open, adorned with twisted vines and roses that gleam in the afternoon light. We follow the semicircular paver-stone driveway that features a marble fountain in the center. Winged lions spew arcs of water into a black stone basin.
Dominic pulls behind a white Bentley and kills the engine. He gets out and opens my door. Together, we stare at the elegant mansion before us.
The French-style edifice has white limestone walls with tall arched windows that are framed with black shutters. Carved stone balconies bloom with overflowing flower boxes, while manicured hedges and towering cypress trees line the front of the house.
Dominic whistles. “Wow, she has impeccable taste.”
“It’s amazing what money can buy,” I reply as we walk up the steps to the double front doors that gleam with black lacquer.
“And she has a lot of it. After all, she’s a luxury real estate developer and a private venture capitalist. She’s one of the investors in my nightclub.
She worked with my father back when he was alive.
And word on the street is she’s been involved in many backdoor dealings, but no one has ever been able to pin anything on her. ”
“That sounds like she could be involved in this,” Dominic muses.
The butler answers the door and leads us through the grand foyer. There is an old money aura about the place as I stare at the marble floors, vaulted ceilings, and crystal chandeliers.
I thought my house was big. Madeline’s place puts mine to shame.
We follow the butler who turns down a hall. At the end are two oak doors.
“Madeline will see you now.” He opens them and reveals a beautiful solarium filled with plants and flowers.
As we step inside, I see Madeline sitting in a beige silk armchair in the center of the room. She’s dressed in white dress pants and a black blouse. Glancing up at us, she takes a sip from a porcelain teacup.
“Cipriani, darling, what a pleasant surprise.” She sets the cup down and rises to her feet. Her heels click on the floor as she comes over to me and gives me a hug with an air kiss. Taking a step back, she eyes me up and down. “My, what casual attire you’re wearing today.”
Dammit. I should have dressed properly when I left the house today.
“I haven’t been feeling well.”
Madeline raises her eyebrows. “I’m so sorry, dear. I know it takes a while to recover from allergic reactions.” She brushes a piece of blonde hair behind her ear that frames her face in a chin-length bob. “I heard about Bruno and I’m very sorry. How is he?”
“He’s recovering but he has a long road ahead of him.”
I watch her brown eyes look past me, then widen as she catches sight of Dominic.
“Agent Cartieri?” she whispers.
“No agent, just Dominic. I retired two years ago and I run my own firm now. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He shakes her hand.
“I haven’t seen you two together in over a decade. Your father, Cipriani, used to talk about this man all the time. He even showed me pictures of him. I must say, Mr. Cartieri, you haven’t changed a bit. You’re still very handsome. I remember Vincenzo used to tell me how happy Dominic made you.”
Redness paints my cheeks again. Madeline is sounding like an embarrassing grandma who talks too much and doesn’t know when to stop.
“We’re working on a project together,” I interrupt before she can say anything else.
“How lovely. Would you two like some tea?” Madeline struts back over to her chair, sits down, and crosses her legs.
“No thank you,” I reply.
“I’d love some.” Dominic plops down on the patio sofa. I give him a look. I don’t know what he’s thinking. I don’t trust anyone. At this point, there could be poison in the tea.
Madeline takes the teapot and pours him a cup. I sit on the couch next to him. Funny how Madeline has multiple cups next to the teapot when she’s all alone. It’s as if she was expecting someone.
She leans back in her chair. Madeline is in her late seventies but her fair skin barely has any wrinkles thanks to her expensive cosmetic surgery. Sunlight spills through the windows, catching on her pearl earrings and sapphire brooch pinned to her black blouse.
“Now what can I do for you? I would love to think this is a social call, but the fact you’re working with an investigator, Cipriani, means something is up.”
Straight to the point, just like Madeline.
“Do you have someone who works for you by the name of Rafael Longo?” I ask.
“It’s possible. I have lots of people who work for me, too many to know their names by heart. That’s why I have hiring managers. I can get you in touch with them if you like.” She sips her tea.
“Rafael Longo made a delivery to my warehouse a little over a week ago. He gave a package to one of the people there and said he had been instructed to deliver it to me. There was no return address and no name. I’m trying to find out who sent it.
The trucking company that he works for is in your name. ”
Madeline places her cup down. “My name is on many things, darling. I invest in hundreds of companies as did my late husband. Some succeed and some fail. Many are managed by others. I didn’t send you a package, dear, if that’s what you’re thinking.
I brought your birthday gift to your party.
But I can call up my hiring manager and have him put you in touch with Rafael. ”
“That would be a little hard considering he’s dead,” I reply.
“Dead?” A puzzled look crosses her face.
“Yes. He was found shot in his truck at a rest stop,” Dominic chimes in.
Madeline clasps a hand to her chest. “And you’re investigating his murder?”
“In a way. But we came to ask you about your grandson Elio. Why did you bring him to my party? He wasn’t on the list. You know my parties are invite only and guests have to be approved.”
“I’m sorry, darling. I know that. But Elio never comes to visit me. He’s so busy studying law at the university. I wanted him to come to the party so we could spend more time together but instead he spent it all with your sister.”
I cringe at her response.
“I got your mother’s approval but I know I should have spoken with you directly,” Madeline continues. She pauses. “Do you think Elio is involved in this somehow? Or me? That’s why you’re here?”
“I’m not accusing you of anything, Madeline.”
“Darling, you think I don’t know how this world works.
When one person in a family gets hit, it usually means a war is going to start and retaliation is in place.
I had nothing to do with Bruno’s shooting or Rafael’s.
And I know Elio doesn’t either. You have our full cooperation. I don’t want any trouble.”
“Well, if you could send over any information you have on Rafael that would be great.”
“Done. I’ll call my hiring manager right away. Now if there is nothing else, I have a video call with one of my partners.”
“Thank you for your time, Madeline. I will be in touch if I need anything else.” I stand up and brace myself as she hugs me.
The butler appears out of nowhere to escort us to the front door.
“It’s like she was expecting our visit or a visit from someone else,” Dominic mutters as we get into the car.
“Oh, you noticed the extra tea cups.”
“I’m an investigator, Cipi. That’s my job.”
I buckle my seatbelt. “I don’t care what Madeline says or what the cameras from the ballroom show. I know Elio is involved in this somehow.”
“I agree. I’ll have someone on my team do a deep dive into his past.”
I lean my head against the seat. I wish my sister would stay away from him.
You can’t tell Gigi anything. She’s as stubborn as I am.
My mind drifts to the camera footage that confirms Elio was in the presence of Madeline the whole time.
But that doesn’t mean shit. Just because he didn’t pull the trigger doesn’t mean he wasn’t the mastermind behind it all.