And Then You Die by Michael Dibdin Read Free Book Online Page A

unambitious, with a huge pool of resentment at having been passed over in favour of more motivated rivals and stuck away here as the holiday cop in a town which, like Brigadoon, only came into existence for brief spells at long intervals , and vanished off the map the rest of the time. He would be pompous, long-winded and a stickler for the rule book. The way to deal with him was to take the initiative, but without getting too pushy.
    ‘May we sit down?’ Zen asked, bringing a chair for Gemma from those stacked against the wall.
    ‘Of course, of course,’ the officer replied without looking up. ‘Please excuse me, I’ll be with you in a moment. I just have to finish perusing this report.’
    Like hell you do, thought Zen, fetching himself a chair and sitting beside Gemma. He gave her an encouraging smile. She was glaring in a manner which suggested that she might lose her patience very rapidly, which with a man like this would be fatal.
    The carabiniere stacked the papers he had been reading neatly together and looked at them both.
    ‘I’m sorry to have to bring you here so late…’ he began.
    ‘Your colleague already apologized,’ interrupted Gemma tartly . ‘What do you want with us?’
    The major gave her a glance evidently intended as a warning.
    ‘It concerns the death today of one Massimo Rutelli,’ he said after a significant pause.
    ‘We know about that,’ Gemma returned. ‘I heard that he had a stroke. What’s that got to do with us?’
    ‘There are various unresolved questions regarding the precise circumstances of the event which we are attempting to clarify . We have therefore compiled a list of all those clients of the bathing establishment where the body was discovered who were present on the beach today, with a view to interviewing them concerning what they may have seen or heard. Both your names appear on the said list.’
    He pulled a notepad towards him.
    ‘I propose to start with you, Signora Santini. You are resident in Lucca, I believe?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘At Via del Fosso number 73·’
    ‘Correct.’
    ‘You will be returning there tonight?’
    It was said with just a hint of impertinent innuendo.
    ‘Of course,’ Gemma retorted.
    ‘Then let us try and get you on your way as soon as possible, after which I will deal with your companion.’
    ‘How do you know he’s not coming with me?’ demanded Gemma brazenly.
    The carabinieri major gave her a look which Zen found himself quite unable to decipher. He seemed to be trying to think of a suitable answer to Gemma’s question. Failing to do so, he ignored it and asked one himself.
    ‘What time did you arrive at the beach today, signora?’
    ‘I got there this morning at about ten and left again just before one, then returned after lunch.’
    ‘According to the chart of the bagno drawn for us by the owner, Signor Rutelli apparently occupied the place immediately opposite yours.’
    ‘Well, today he did. But in fact that’s Pier Giorgio’s place.’
    She glanced at Zen, who leaned forward and cleared his throat.
    ‘It is actually rented by the Rutelli family,’ he said, ‘but Girolamo, the elder brother, is an acquaintance of mine and gave me permission to use it. Massimo Rutelli evidently didn’t know about this arrangement, so when he showed up unexpectedly he naturally took their usual spot.’
    The major nodded absently, as this was merely a confirmation of old news.
    ‘Did you see Signor Rutelli arrive?’ he asked Gemma.
    ‘No. I must have been sunning myself. But when I started sorting out my stuff before leaving, I noticed that there was someone else in Pier Giorgio’s place.’
    ‘Didn’t you recognize him?’
    ‘How could I? He was lying on his stomach with his face turned away from me. It could have been anyone.’
    ‘So how did you know he wasn’t Signor Butani?’
    Gemma gave a throwaway gesture, as though this was obvious.
    ‘His fingers.’
    ‘What about his fingers?’
    ‘They were thick and blunt.