Chapter 15
Lombardy, February 1995
Detective Roberto Gallo was sitting at his desk in the Varisi police station, reading the details of a burglary case that had happened nearby. He was of average height, mousy-brown hair, slim and tidily dressed. He was not somebody who attracted attention, which in many ways was ideal for his role. He chewed absentmindedly on the end of his pen. This was about as exciting as his job got. Any bigger cases were handled by his colleagues in Milan.
He looked up as he heard a knock, then the door flew open before he’d had a chance to offer a response.
It was a young recruit by the name of Costa; his eyes were wide, and he delivered his news breathlessly: ‘Detective, it’s come through. Forensics have identified the body.’
‘And?’ Adrenaline rushed through Detective Gallo, and he felt a pang of shame, reminding himself that this had been a real person, with hopes and dreams and loved ones.
‘You were right. It’s him.’
Detective Gallo let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, and resisted the urge to punch the air.
Lorenzo Mancini.
The case had plagued him for a decade; it was one that Detective Gallo had always wanted to solve. Lorenzo Mancini had been a young man when he’d disappeared on his way home from church. He had seemed to vanish into thin air, and the rumour mill had whirred into action. There were whispers that he’d run away, or that he’d simply left home and moved to the big city, perhaps following a girlfriend no one knew about. There had been mutterings that the Camorra might have been involved.
But Lorenzo’s mother was insistent that none of these was the case – something had happened to her boy, she was sure of it. Detective Gallo thought so too. Something was off; his gut told him that something wasn’t right, and he was determined to find out what had really happened.
He had faithfully promised Lorenzo’s distraught mother that he would solve the case, and he intended to honour that commitment. Her son’s disappearance had haunted her ever since; it was such a quiet town, and things like that didn’t happen in Cannegia.
But there had been no leads, no evidence, no witnesses and no body. The trail had gone cold, and the file languished, unsolved, at the back of Detective Gallo’s cabinet.
Now, with Lorenzo’s remains on ice in the morgue, everything had changed. The body’s remains had been partially preserved by the unique conditions in which it had come to rest, caught on a ledge – too high to be seen from below and too hidden to be seen from above. Frozen for most of the year on the ledge where sunlight rarely reached, and unreachable to the forest creatures who might have feasted on the remains. Now there would be an autopsy, DNA samples, forensics.
It was no longer a missing persons case.
‘Marco? It’s Gina.’
Gina was back in her office, making a call to Marco’s mobile. It had been half an hour since she’d returned from Lucia’s suite, and Gina hadn’t done a stroke of work since. She’d kept replaying her conversation with La Leonessa in her head, and had finally decided she couldn’t put the inevitable off any longer. She dialled Marco’s number.
‘Gina! This is an unexpected pleasure.’ She could hear the smile in his voice, but couldn’t find her own right now.
‘I need a favour.’ Gina closed her eyes, grimacing as she said the words. She concluded that she had no option; perhaps Lucia was bluffing, but Gina didn’t intend to find out. If La Leonessa wanted a dinner date with Marco – and Brad Redford thought it was a good idea – then Gina would do everything in her power to make it happen. That was her job, she told herself.
‘Sounds intriguing,’ Marco replied. ‘I’m actually on my way to the hotel right now, with Edoardo. I’ll come and find you?’
‘That would be great, thanks, Marco,’ Gina sighed in relief. ‘I’ll see you soon.’
‘ Ciao .’
Gina, Marco and Edoardo were sitting in the glamorous surroundings of the hotel’s Casanova Bar . It was decorated in the same extravagant style as the rest of the White Palace, with flock wallpaper and wingback armchairs, and a Canaletto painting on the wall that was almost identical to the view of Venice that could be seen through the arched windows. A long marble bar ran the length of one wall, with scores of bottles on glass shelves, and suited waiters attending to the guests as piano music played softly in the background.
Across the low table, Gina looked at Marco, trying to work out how she felt about him. The last time she’d seen him, when they’d sheltered from the rain after the opera, there’d been a chemistry and connection between the two of them. But now the situation was completely different; they were in a work environment, and had to be professional. Still, Gina couldn’t help noticing how good he looked in jeans and a chunky navy sweater, a smattering of stubble peppering his jaw. Beside him, Edoardo cut a more slender, wolfish figure, in black trousers paired with a black polo neck.
They made small talk until their coffees arrived, and then Marco sat forward and said, ‘You wanted to ask me for a favour?’
Gina hesitated only slightly. ‘It’s Lucia de Santis …’
Marco raised an eyebrow as he sipped his cappuccino, but didn’t say anything.
‘She would like you to accompany her to dinner one evening.’
Marco spluttered, almost choking on his drink, as Edoardo exclaimed in shock. When Marco had recovered, he said, ‘She wouldn’t be my first choice for dinner.’
‘I know,’ Gina apologized. ‘But she’s insistent. She wants to talk about the movie.’
‘Sure she does,’ Edoardo snorted, as Marco and Gina both turned to look at him. ‘What?’ he snapped. ‘What’s the problem? If it was me, I’d say yes without hesitation.’
‘Sorry Edoardo,’ Gina shrugged. ‘She specifically requested Marco.’
The two men looked at one another, an awkwardness rippling between them.
‘The chosen one,’ Edoardo muttered under his breath. ‘First my father, now Lucia …’
Marco ignored his brother-in-law’s jealous sniping. ‘And if I say no?’ he wondered, his thick brows knitting together in a frown as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
‘Well, of course it’s your choice,’ Gina said, hoping her tone conveyed how much she wanted him to say yes. ‘But it would certainly grease the wheels. Lucia would be happy, Brad would be happy … I’d be happy,’ she added, looking up at him beseechingly.
‘Would you?’ His dark eyes searched hers.
‘Well, it would mean I’d get to keep my job.’ Gina forced a laugh, trying to keep it light-hearted. ‘And I wouldn’t have Lucia de Santis on my case any longer.’
‘But why me?’ he asked. ‘What does she want?’
‘Like I said, I think she wants to talk about the movie – she mentioned that she’d discussed it with Brad.’ Gina paused, before deciding to continue. ‘And I think you made a great impression on her at the opera.’
Edoardo laughed humourlessly, looking at Marco with a disdainful expression. ‘La Leonessa could have any man in the world, and she wants my brother-in-law …’
‘It would all be strictly above board, of course. She understands that you’re … not available. I’ve explained that I’m not a matchmaking service,’ Gina added quickly. It wouldn’t do her reputation – or the hotel’s – any good to be seen procuring dates for their guests.
Marco mulled it over as he finished his coffee, then sighed. ‘All right, if it helps,’ he said eventually.
Gina breathed an inner sigh of relief, but an undercurrent of anxiety still lurked in her stomach. At least Lucia would be off her case for now.
‘But in return,’ Marco continued, ‘ you owe me dinner.’
‘OK. Sure. Fine.’ She would have agreed to anything right now. ‘How about L’Ombra?’ she suggested, and was gratified to see a grin spread across Marco’s face, his eyes lighting up. Once again, Gina felt a frisson between them, and felt sure she wasn’t imagining it.
‘Sounds good,’ he said casually.
Edoardo was looking from one to the other, his eyes narrowed, his expression suspicious. ‘Marco, didn’t we have some questions for Gina about using the hotel for the stunt? We said we’d need to discuss some issues …’
‘We did,’ Marco agreed uncertainly.
‘Issues?’ Gina frowned, looking at Marco for an explanation.
‘Just a few health-and-safety points we wanted to clarify. Brad had some questions about access and timings that we weren’t able to answer, but you—’
‘Gina, how about I take you for dinner,’ Edoardo cut in, ‘and we can talk it over?’
‘I …’ Gina, already feeling on the back foot after her clash with Lucia, wasn’t quick enough to parry.
‘C’mon Gina, what do you say?’ Edoardo pushed.
Gina glanced briefly at Marco, but he didn’t meet her eyes. She was unsure what Edoardo was suggesting. Was it a work meeting, or something more?
‘Sure,’ Gina said, swallowing her reservations. Brad Redford was a White Palace guest, and if the dinner was to discuss how she could assist him, then how could she turn it down?
‘Great. I’m more fun than this stuffed shirt.’ Edoardo laughed and clapped his hand roughly on his brother-in-law’s back, before sitting back in his chair, looking like the cat who’d got the cream.
‘Mamma mia! Che bella che sei! ’ Vittoria exclaimed, as Gina walked out of her bedroom and into their shared lounge.
‘What, this?’ Gina glanced down at her outfit. She was wearing a plain black dress with cap sleeves and a high neck, but its dowdiness only served to highlight her figure and fine features. Her hair was slicked back with a light dusting of make-up, and her only jewellery was a pair of diamond ear studs; Gina was still mourning the loss of her grandmother’s bracelet which had disappeared at Carnevale. ‘It’s only because you’re used to seeing me in work clothes.’
‘No, this is more than that! What’s going on? Do you have a date?’ Vittoria pounced excitedly. ‘You’ll break Leo’s heart.’
Gina rolled her eyes. ‘No. I hope that’s not what’s happening, anyway.’
‘Tell me everything!’ Vittoria’s eyes were dancing. She threw down the book she was reading and spun round on the sofa to give Gina her undivided attention.
‘I’m meeting one of the guys from Elicotteri Conti, to discuss what they need for the shoot.’
‘Ooh, is it the handsome one? The tall one, with the dark blond hair?’
‘No, it’s …’ Gina tried to think of a better phrase but failed. ‘The other one.’
‘Oh.’ Vittoria pulled a face which made it clear what she thought. ‘But you must like him though, even a little bit, or you wouldn’t have agreed to go.’
‘We need to discuss the movie, and he suggested we go to Harry’s Bar.’
‘Harry’s Bar? Then I’d say he definitely likes you.’
‘ Cazzo ,’ Gina swore. ‘Vittoria, what have I done? I should have said no and told him we’d discuss it at the hotel, in a formal meeting. Do you think I’ve given him the wrong impression?’
Vittoria shrugged. ‘How do I know? But are you quite sure you don’t like him?’
Gina thought about it. ‘I don’t really know him.’
‘Then why not give him a chance? You never know what might blossom. You need to discuss business anyway, and this way you get a nice meal out of it. Get him to order a bottle of vintage champagne!’
Gina laughed at Vittoria’s brazenness. In reality, there were many reasons she didn’t want to go on a date – if that’s what it was – with Edoardo. Reasons that she could never share with Vittoria.
Besides, it sounded ridiculous, but Gina couldn’t stop thinking about the man she’d met at Carnivale . It was absurd; she didn’t even know his name, and she had no idea what he looked like. She could walk right past him in the piazza and not even know it. But there’d been something between them, she was sure of it. She remembered how her body had tingled with excitement as he’d wrapped his cape around her in such a gallant fashion. How she’d almost swooned when he’d quoted Casanova at her. How he’d stood up to the three threatening men and scared them off, as though he wasn’t afraid of anything.
Gina had been preoccupied since then, thinking about the roof terrace where they’d spent a little time together, trying to remember how they’d reached it and wondering whether she could ever find it again. She found herself daydreaming that she’d managed to track it down, and when she got there he would be waiting for her. Neither of them would need to say a word, and he’d sweep her into his arms before—
‘Two brothers,’ Vittoria was saying, sounding gleeful. ‘It’s like a Shakespeare play!’
‘They’re brothers-in-law,’ Gina explained, wondering at herself daydreaming over a man. ‘Not brothers.’
‘Ah, that explains why they look so … different,’ Vittoria nodded sagely, trying to suppress a smirk and failing.
‘You’re not selling him to me,’ Gina frowned.
Vittoria laughed. ‘Just go and have fun. You’re young and beautiful – you should be enjoying yourself. I never see you with a man.’
‘No, I …’ Gina trailed off as she was assailed by a sudden impression: rough hands, male sweat, scratchy stubble against her skin .
‘What?’ Vittoria asked, looking at her curiously.
‘Nothing.’ Gina shook her head to clear it. ‘I’d better get going. Wish me luck.’
‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,’ Vittoria giggled, as she waved her off.