Chapter 18 #3
It was a gratifying outcome for them, although Emiliano couldn’t claim his birthright without taking that letter to a lawyer. Perhaps he and his mother might decide it was worth pursuing one day. Either way, Signore Scala hadn’t won. He didn’t possess the letter.
“You are a marvel, Miss Wheeler,” I said.
“She is,” Oscar said warmly.
Their gazes briefly connected only for them both to look away as our food arrived. We tucked into sliced salami and wedges of cheese with crusty bread. Freedom tasted wonderful.
When Oscar finished, he asked Miss Wheeler if Mr. Defoe had left Monteoro as planned.
“He’s still here. We’ve extended our stay one more day.” She dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “So, gentlemen, do you believe Scala when he said he thought it through overnight and decided to scare us into leaving by having us arrested?”
“I don’t,” I said. “We called on him yesterday morning but were arrested very early this morning. Why wait so long?”
Oscar sat back in his chair, realization dawning.
“We were seen last night. Those voices we heard as we returned from Pecco…we dismissed them as ordinary locals, but what if it was Scala, and he saw us? He recognized Signora Colombo and Emiliano and realized we’d worked out the connection to his family. ”
“It probably wasn’t Scala himself,” I said. “My money’s on Rocco, meeting up with De Angelis in secret again.”
“You think he lied about breaking off all contact with De Angelis? About the strength of their association in the first place?”
“I do, yes, although I can’t be certain. We know he wanders in and out of Villa Corzoni at will. He probably went there after seeing us, told Scala, and Scala set the wheels in motion to have us arrested.”
“Rocco is an anarchist,” Miss Wheeler added, in case Oscar hadn’t worked it out.
“Or, at the very least, he sympathizes with them. I think Rocco told Scala that he saw us because he wanted to get rid of us. Ever since you put the connection together, Professor, he’s been worried that you would tell Scala.
By having you arrested, you get scared and leave immediately upon your release. ”
Rocco certainly wasn’t as innocent he claimed to be. Whether he was in love with Scala or merely using him to spy on his business, I couldn’t say. I was about to ask their opinion on whether we should inform Scala about Rocco’s anarchist connections, when Oscar spoke.
“Rocco won’t be happy to discover De Angelis was arrested for the murder and other crimes. He’d better hope his name doesn’t come up during the interrogation.”
Miss Wheeler set her knife and fork together on her plate. “About the murder…I don’t believe De Angelis and his friend did it.”
“Nor do I,” Oscar said.
I pushed my glasses up my nose to regard them both properly. “Why not?”
“We saw them arriving at the boatshed as we fled that night,” Oscar said. “Why come back if they were guilty?”
It was a good point. Miss Wheeler had another. “The anarchists wanted Giovanni Colombo alive. He was no use to them dead. According to Signora Colombo, they never learned her husband wasn’t a firework magician. They still hoped they could convince him to work with them.”
“I see,” I murmured, studying the crumbs on my plate as I tried to fit the pieces together in my head. “You think Signore Scala is the murderer.”
Both Miss Wheeler and Oscar nodded. “He has the most to lose if that letter comes to light,” Oscar said. “The abbot has no worldly goods, so he wouldn’t have been as upset if there was a claim on the business from an illegitimate brother.”
I suddenly stood, scraping the chair’s feet on the floor. “Did you say Signora Colombo went home? What if Scala went there to get the letter back?”
Oscar swore under his breath and stood, too. “We should check on her.”
Miss Wheeler remained seated. “She didn’t return to Pecco.
She’s still at the hotel. I just told Scala that so he’d think she went home.
I agree that we should go to Pecco, however, and confront him although there is no hurry.
I just wasn’t entirely sure if you gentlemen wanted to pursue the matter to its conclusion.
It could put you both in danger of arrest again. ”
Oscar and I glanced at one another. We both nodded. We were in agreement.
“He needs to be held accountable,” Oscar said. “Gavin, you don’t have to come. In fact, it might be best if you don’t. That way if it all goes wrong, you’ll still be free and can contact Matt.”
“I’m coming with you. In fact, I have a better idea than confronting Scala and risking our freedom.
We go to the abbey and tell his brother.
The abbot is a prickly fellow and not fond of us, but he won’t stand by knowing his brother killed a man, their half-brother no less.
I think it’s our only chance of seeing justice served.
Pietro Scala is powerful, but I think the abbot may be just as powerful.
Folk around here are superstitious, and I think even the Carabinieri will trust the word of a Godly man. ”
“I think it’s a good plan,” Oscar said. “As long as the abbot doesn’t take his brother’s side.”