Chapter 25
THURSDAY LUNCHTIME
Getting back down from the top of the boulder turned out to be unexpectedly enjoyable.
Oscar showed us the way by throwing himself down the steeply sloping gulley and sliding nose first all the way to the ground.
When he reached the bottom, he turned and looked back up at us, tail wagging, and barked a couple of times as if to tell us to do the same.
The three of us looked at each other for a moment or two before Anna came to a decision.
‘Well, if there’s one thing I know I can do, it’s slide down snowy slopes, so let’s see if I can do it here.
I’m not as brave as Oscar, so I’m going feet first.’ She stretched out on her back at the top of the gulley, for all the world as if she were at the top of a fairground slide, and pushed herself off.
Cinzia and I looked on anxiously, but she slid smoothly to the ground, landing in a snowdrift where she was joined by a very happy Labrador.
I glanced at Cinzia. There was something I wanted to say to her while the two of us were alone.
‘Can I tell you something about your husband?’ I saw her eyes narrow, but I continued.
‘What he did in taking that money was very wrong, but you need to know why he did it. He did it for you. He was trying to somehow make amends for the fact that he couldn’t give you the child you’ve always wanted.
He did it for love, Cinzia, so maybe you should give him a second chance.
He’s going to lose his job and he’ll need your support. Think about it at least.’
She stood there for a few seconds, staring down at her feet, before raising her eyes and reaching out to catch hold of my arm for a second or two. ‘Thank you, Dan. You’re a good man.’
With that, she turned, sat down at the top of the gully, lay back and looked up at me once more. ‘Help me on my way, will you? I promise I won’t be coming up here again.’ There was even a hint of a smile on her face. It looked as though a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Obediently, I gave her a push, and she set off down the slide. I waited until she had safely slid to the ground before taking a last look around, reflecting on what had happened up here so recently.
I could see why ancient man had chosen this spot as a sacred place, halfway between the earth and the sky.
Maybe they had come up here to appease their gods, and it wasn’t hard to believe that this remote space, now covered by a serene carpet of fresh snow, could tell tales of brutal sacrifice.
For Bartolomeo, it had been his refuge, his escape from the pressures of everyday life but, ultimately, it had claimed his life.
Maybe the coppelle had been crying out for another sacrifice, and his death had been murder, just not by a human hand.
I felt a shiver run down my back that had nothing to do with the icy conditions.
Keen to get away from this sinister place, I had no hesitation in following Cinzia down the slide, but I realised halfway down that it would have been a good idea to zip my jacket tightly before setting off.
By the time I had reached the bottom, I had snow up my back and coming out at my collar.
The first thing I had to do was to pull the jacket off and shake myself.
As I did so, I caught Anna’s eye and saw her grinning.
‘You see, Dan, you might be able to ski, but I’m a better snowplough than you’ll ever be.’
As we made our way to the villa, I let Anna walk side by side with Cinzia and I deliberately stayed a few paces behind to let them talk.
We got back just in time to see Ingrid’s Ferrari heading off along the track, the rear wheels snaking from side to side when she accelerated. I hoped she would make it safely.
When we got back inside the house, Anna went straight upstairs with Cinzia. I draped my jacket over a radiator and was about to go and change out of my damp trousers when Marina appeared.
‘You found Cinzia, then? Is she all right?’
I had been thinking about this as we walked back. ‘Yes, I think she’s going to be all right now.’ I didn’t say more, and Marina didn’t ask. ‘Any idea where Orlando is?’
‘He’s in his father’s study – well, I suppose it’s his study now – and Valentina’s with him.’
I thanked her, walked along the side corridor to the end and tapped on the door.
It was opened a couple of seconds later by Valentina, who smiled as she saw me.
‘Hi, Dan, we were just talking about you. Come on in.’ She closed the door behind us and crouched down to pet Oscar.
As she did so, there was a movement, and I saw Winston heave himself to his feet and wander over, tail wagging in greeting.
Somebody had tied a large, red bow around his neck and had perched a pair of red plastic reindeer antlers on his head.
He looked like the spirit of Christmas personified.
‘Dan, everything okay?’ Orlando was sitting behind his father’s desk, and the first thing I spotted was the folder of plans for the Alpine resort open in front of him. ‘Do sit down.’
I thanked him but refused. ‘I’d better not.
My trousers are soaking wet, and I wouldn’t want to ruin your chair.
I’ve just spent five minutes sitting in the snow talking to Cinzia.
’ I didn’t mention her pregnancy. This would be up to her if she felt like it.
‘I’ve been helping her come to terms with the fact that her husband has been stealing from the company. ’
Orlando nodded. ‘About that: I took your advice and spoke to him. He was immensely grateful to be given a chance to make amends and he’s already instructed his bank to repay everything he took from us.
’ He tapped a piece of paper sitting at the side of his desk.
‘I didn’t need to ask him for his resignation. He had already prepared it.’
I gave a satisfied smile. ‘I think that’s the best outcome for everybody. Of course, this means that now you’re going to need a new Head of Accounts.’
Orlando glanced across at his sister before looking back at me. ‘Valentina had an interesting suggestion. I’m going to sit down with William after lunch and see if he feels prepared to take on the job.’
I caught her eye and gave her a surreptitious wink, smiling as I glimpsed a little flush of embarrassment appear on her face. I returned my attention to her brother. ‘I’m sure he’s the right man for the job.’
Orlando carried on. ‘Valentina and I both want to thank you for everything you’ve done.
To be perfectly honest, I think my father had only himself to blame – not only for the way things ended, but for his behaviour generally, but I’m very glad you’ve been here to investigate all the same.
Can we take it that you agree with the Carabinieri that it was an accident? ’
I had been expecting the question and had prepared what I hoped would be a suitable answer. ‘They’re the experts. I went up on top of the boulder this morning to see for myself, and I ended up sliding down again on my backside. It would have been easy for him to slip and fall.’
If either of them noticed that I hadn’t given a clear-cut answer to the question, they made no comment. Instead, Orlando asked me what plans I had now. I had been thinking about this as well.
‘I think I’ve done all that I can do here, so Anna and I will be leaving this afternoon, if that’s okay with you.
We’re driving up the Aosta valley to meet her daughter in Courmayeur.
’ I pointed to the open plans on the desk in front of him.
‘Would I be right in thinking that you have the Alpine resort project there? Are you going to go ahead with it?’
Again, I saw him exchange glances with his sister before replying.
‘Maybe. This is the first time we’ve seen the full plans and we both feel it’s altogether too ambitious, too invasive.
I’m all in favour of creating the new resort, but it needs to be done tastefully and with minimum environmental impact.
I need to get expert advice to see how the project can be reduced to less overwhelming proportions but, yes, if we can do that, I’d like to see it go ahead. ’
I sensed his sister’s hand in this very sensible decision, and I queried the other project with her. ‘Are you going to reopen the old mine? If there’s cobalt there, it could be very profitable.’
Valentina shook her head. ‘Not for now. Yes, it could make us a lot of money and it could offer valuable employment prospects here in the valley, but it would also inevitably risk spoiling what is an area of outstanding natural beauty. First things first, I’m going to get some solid new gates made and I’ll see that the entrance to the mine is sealed, so that no more mineral hunters can go prospecting there.
If we ever decide to carry out a survey, and it indicates a sizable deposit of cobaltite, we’ll need to talk to the local community before we consider reopening the mine.
It’s the least we can do.’ She gave me a little smile.
‘Whatever we may think about our father, he was right about this being too nice a spot to spoil.’
I smiled back. ‘Looks like you’re both going to have your hands full. I’m pleased for you.’
Orlando stood up. ‘You’d better go and change out of your damp clothes. I’ll see you at lunch. Thanks again.’
Oscar and I went upstairs to our room, where I found Anna, looking serious. I made sure the door behind me was closed before I spoke. ‘How do you think Cinzia’s going to manage? She was looking pretty grim up there for a while.’
‘I think she’ll be okay. We’ve been talking, and it’s clear that she’s looking forward to the baby, irrespective of its father.
It all depends how her husband feels, but he was in the room when I took her up there, and I left the two of them talking.
She’s got a lot of explaining to do but, then, so has he. Hopefully, they’ll sort something out.’
She was still looking concerned, so I queried what was bothering her.
Her answer wasn’t what I had been expecting.
‘It’s Selena – she’s given me a Christmas present.
’ She reached for a small box on the bed and revealed a beautiful gold ring with what looked like a crest on it.
‘It’s a replica of the ring Lorenzo the Magnificent gave his wife on the birth of their first child.
Selena had it made specially for me, and it’s unique.
The original disappeared centuries ago along with a lot of the Medici treasure, and she got a professor at UCLA to reproduce the design from a painting.
She then got an amazing antiquarian jewellery expert to make it specially for me. It’s a phenomenal gift.’
I studied it with appropriate awe but still couldn’t see why Anna was looking so worried until she pointed to a little package wrapped in Christmas paper sitting on the bedside table, and then I understood.
‘All I’ve bought her is a scarf – a nice silk scarf, but still just a scarf.
What can I do? We’re miles from any shops, and she’s leaving straight after lunch.
’ She sounded desperate, so I thought hard.
What do you give one of the richest women in the world?
Just in time, before I started suggesting giving her one of my kidneys, it came to me, and I gave Anna an encouraging smile.
‘I’ll be right back.’ I let myself out of the room and ran down the stairs to the hall.
I felt in the pocket of my rapidly drying jacket and retrieved the chunk of stone bearing the little cluster of garnet crystals I had found in the old mine.
Upstairs, I showed this to Anna, who looked impressed – it was certainly a lot prettier than one of my kidneys.
It was the work of a few moments to roll it up in the silk scarf and wrap the package again.
I gave her a word of warning. ‘I don’t think garnets are particularly valuable.’
Anna gave me a warm hug and a kiss. ‘It’s the thought that counts, and I knew I could count on you.’
After we had both changed and packed our things – and of course given Oscar his lunch – we went downstairs.
Just as we reached the hall, I saw the front door close quietly behind somebody.
Out of curiosity, I glanced out of the side window to see Calogero and Cinzia Naselli getting into the blue Lancia together.
They didn’t look back, and I didn’t wave as they drove off, but I found myself hoping things would work out for them.
It was still a bit early for our lunch, so we went into the lounge, where we found Umberto and Gloria, their expressions far more cheerful than before.
Orlando had his arm affectionately around Fiona’s shoulders and they were chatting to William and Valentina – all of them looking a lot happier.
Winston was still wearing his bow and his antlers, and Marina was behind the bar with a welcoming smile on her face.
There was a warm Christmassy vibe in the room.
Selena got up from a sofa and came over to meet us as we walked in.
‘I’m very sorry that we’ve had so little time to sit down together and chat. I’m afraid events rather took over, didn’t they? But never mind, I promise I’ll make it down to Florence to see you guys before long.’
In the meantime, Oscar had gone over to nuzzle her affectionately, and I’m sure he would have been only too happy to extend the invitation to her to come and see us. Anna gave Selena her present, repeating over and over again that ours was only a tiny token, but Selena looked genuinely delighted.
At that moment, Paolo appeared with his hands behind his back and he gave me a wink. ‘Winston normally gets his present on Christmas morning but, as Oscar’s leaving this afternoon, Marina and I thought it might be better to give both dogs their presents now.’
Hearing their names – or more probably smelling what Paolo was holding – Winston and Oscar came trotting over, and Paolo set down a handsome bone in front of each dog.
‘Happy Christmas, Winston, and happy Christmas, Oscar.’
The two dogs looked at each other for a second or two, hardly believing their eyes.
A moment later, Oscar and I exchanged glances, and I gave him a smile.
‘Go on, Oscar. As they say in the adverts, you’re worth it.
’ And he was. After all, without him, Bartolomeo’s body might have lain undiscovered under a snowdrift for days, weeks even, William with his broken ankle might have frozen to death, and Cinzia might have thrown herself off the top of Bartolomeo’s Crows’ Nest. As Oscar turned his attention to the bone with a reverent expression on his face, Anna looked on benevolently.
‘Buon appetito, Oscar.’