Page 21 of Murder in Verona

‘What did the student say?’

‘I can’t remember the exact words but he was commenting on my cleavage. It was a hot day and I was wearing a very loose blouse – but I certainly wasn’t indecent.’

‘Can you remember the name of the student?’ I had a premonition that I would recognise the name when I heard it – and I was right.

‘He’s a man called Romeo. He’s okay but he’s just a bit too full of himself. You know the type – he reckons he’s God’s gift to women. Anyway, Rodolfo sent him off with a flea in his ear, but it put him in a bad mood so he told me he was going off to clear his head. I remember asking him to make sure he brought the car back before half past two as I needed it to go down to thehairdressers in Verona for a three o’clock appointment. I couldn’t drive my Porsche as it was making a terrible racket.’ She looked up at me. ‘That was the last thing I ever said to him.’ There was a catch in her voice and I gave her a minute to collect herself before I carried on with the questions.

‘And while you went into Verona that morning to buy the new exhaust for your vehicle, was the garage here locked or open?’

‘Definitely locked. I don’t think he went into the garage that morning. My car was parked outside the main entrance. The idea was to put it up on the ramp next morning and fix the exhaust.’

A thought occurred to me, and I changed the subject. ‘Do you know your husband’s agent…’ I consulted my notepad, ‘…Paolo Ruggieri? Can you tell me anything about him?’

She shrugged. ‘What can I say? Paolo’s an agent, and we all know what they’re like.’

I shook my head. ‘I’m sorry, but I have limited experience of theatrical agents. What are they like?’

She even managed a little grin. ‘Devious, honey-tongued and only too happy to promise the earth.’

‘And did he deliver the goods? Was he an effective agent?’

‘Yes, I suppose so, but you could argue that it was Rodolfo’s reputation that made things so easy for Paolo.’

‘Did you ever hear your husband complain about him? Was there ever any bad blood between them?’

‘Rodolfo sometimes moaned about the fact that Paolo did very little, but I never heard them argue seriously.’ She paused for thought. ‘Apart from just a few days before the accident. They had a major argument on the phone. I didn’t hear what it was all about, but it was clear that Rodolfo was furious about something that Paolo had said.’

‘And you can’t remember what the argument was about?’

She shook her head. ‘No, when the call finished, I askedRodolfo, but he was so angry, he just went out to his car and drove down to the lake again. That’s what he did when he was upset. He would park by Antonio’s café down there, walk along the lakeside until he calmed down and then he’d stop off for a coffee on his way back. According to Rodolfo, they make the best coffee in the area. By the time he came back again an hour after the argument with Paolo, he had settled down and when I asked him what it had been about, he just said, “Business.” I didn’t ask him again.’

‘I don’t suppose you have a contact number for Paolo Ruggieri, have you?’

She pulled out her phone and gave me the number. I thanked her very much for her help and we chatted a bit longer before she bade us goodnight and went off to her apartment.

After she’d left, I looked across at Anna. ‘What did you think of the mourning widow?’

‘I liked her and I definitely got the impression she loved her husband deeply. I’d be amazed if she were involved in his death. When you told her why you were here, she looked genuinely pleased. What about you? Did she make the same impression on you?’

‘To be honest, yes. Of course, she’s used to performing on stage so she might have been acting, but it was a very convincing act. I’m interested in what she said about the argument her husband had with his agent, only days before his death. I’d love to know what that was about and he’s going on my list of people I need to interview.’

Before I could say any more, there was the sound of a chair being pushed back and a young man, probably just into his twenties, stood up and launched into song. He had a fine voice and he sang for about three or four minutes, interestingly accompanied by about half the room by the end – mercifully not includingOscar. When they stopped, I joined in the applause before returning my attention to Anna.

‘The spirit of Verdi Wednesday lives on. Was that a piece by Verdi as well? I recognised the tune, even if I couldn’t make head or tail of the words.’

She beamed at me. ‘We’ll make an opera connoisseur out of you yet, Dan. That was probably one of the most famous pieces of opera in the world – “La donna è mobile”– and, yes, it’s by Verdi. It comes from Rigoletto and it’s sung by the Duke of Mantua. That young tenor has a fine voice.’ Her expression became more serious. ‘So you don’t think Alessia did it?’

‘Anything’s possible but, like I said, I tended to believe her and I definitely got the feeling she was a loving wife.’ I glanced down at my feet and saw Oscar surveying me closely. ‘And Oscar reckoned she was on the level as well. Yes, dog, you need your evening stroll, don’t you?’ I returned my attention to Anna. ‘Feel like coming with me?’

Anna shook her head. ‘To be quite honest, I don’t really. I’m absolutely full after that meal and all I want to do is go and sit down quietly and watch the news while I summon up the energy to take a shower and go to bed.’

I glanced down at Oscar. ‘Looks like it’s just you and me, buddy, or shall we see if your girlfriend wants to come with us?’

I swear he nodded.

I checked with the waitress, who explained to me where Dolores had her apartment, and I easily located this at the rear of the villa near the kitchens. I tapped on the door and Dolores appeared almost immediately with Elektra at her side. Oscar’s tail immediately started wagging furiously.

‘Hi, Dolores, I’m just taking Oscar for a walk and I wondered if you wanted me to take Elektra as well?’

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