L'Oro Verde by Coralie Hughes Jensen Read Free Book Online

scene. Luck? She repeated to herself. That’s an odd way to phrase it. “Is
that Giuseppe next to you? He was quite young there. Who took the picture?” the
nun asked.
    “My brother, Paolo. You remember Paolo,
Sister. His son, Giorgio, was always in trouble in your class. You called Paolo
and his wife in to see you all the time. He was at my party for the occasion.”
    “Ah, yes, Giorgio was quite an active
child. He’s a doctor in Milano now, isn’t he? I’ll always have to make sure I
don’t go to him by mistake. I’m afraid he might remember how miserable I made
him when he interrupted the class.”
    “Oh no, Sister. He talks very fondly of
you.”
    “What was the occasion for the picture,
Mrs. Reni?”
    “This was the day we brought him home. It
was in late April.”
    “From the hospital? He looks so big. I
would never have guessed he was a newborn here,” the nun said, holding the
photo lower to get a better look through her bifocals.
    Mrs. Reni smiled as tears welled up in
her eyes. “They kept him in the hospital for a while because of his
disabilities.”
    Sister Angela looked up, surprised. “I
don’t think I ever heard the story. Was this the hospital in Petraggio?”
    The woman smiled again and gazed at the
nun dreamily. “No. I went into labor while visiting my brother in Roma and had
Bernardo in the hospital there. We took the picture when we were finally able
to bring him home.”
    “I’m surprised I never heard that
story,” Sister Angela said. “How did Giuseppe stay out of work for so long? I remember
he worked at the foundry in the valley, and they never seemed to let him take
time off. You came alone to several conferences when Bernardo was in school
because Giuseppe had to work.”
    “He wasn’t with me in Roma. He remained
here in Montriano. I stayed at my brother’s house,” she said, turning to the
next page. “And did you see this one, Sister? This was
    his sixth birthday party.”
    “You have so many pictures. Do you have
any of you and Bernardo in the hospital?”
    “No. I told you Giuseppe wasn’t there.”
    “But surely Paolo had a camera. I would
think Paolo might consider getting some pictures for the proud father.”
    “I don’t know why Paolo didn’t bring his
camera, Sister, but look at this one. He was seven here, I believe…”
    And so passed the afternoon. Sister
Angela and Mrs. Reni went through every picture and reminisced about the boy
whose life had been cut so short. Giuseppe Reni did not return until late in
the afternoon. He had obviously been drinking, but Sister Angela felt she could
leave Mrs. Reni in the loving hands of her husband.
    “A few last questions. Did Bernardo ever
mention being afraid of anyone? Other than the fact he lived away from home,
was there any reason to fear for his safety?”
    “He never mentioned any problems,
Sister,” Giuseppe said.
    “You must have something to eat, Mr.
Reni. May I pull a meal together for you both?”
    “No, no Sister. I can care for my wife,”
he said. “I’ll make sure that she eats.”
    *
    The nun made her way down the hill to
her room. She could feel her stomach grumbling too. Dinner would not be for
another hour and a half. Perhaps she should stop by the station and to see
Alessandro. They could go over her visit. She would tell him everything
although nothing special happened at the Renis’. Bernardo’s childhood seemed
normal with no apparent troubles. It would not be a surprise to either detective
that they would have to dig a lot deeper for clues.

Five
    Sister Daniela loved taking over Sister
Angela’s first period history class. In fact, she would love to teach all of
the nun’s classes. Though teaching was somewhat threatening, it made her feel
important. Just a few years older than the students themselves, she had to
remind herself she was in charge before she walked through the door.
    It was not only teaching the young
novice looked forward to. She also wanted to help Sister