Texas Tango: A Flint Rock Novel by Glenn Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

be at least in her early 60s but she did not look it.   Her olive skin was vibrant, her eyes were animated, and she was trim, not an ounce over 102 pounds.   She was the shortest person in the room at a tad over five feet, but she was clearly in charge.
     
    Gina announced that dinner was ready.   Murphy asked to be pushed into the dining room.   Ava had ordered him to stay awake.   The gurney at the end of the dining table looked odd, but the room was large and it worked.  
     
    "Flint," Gina said.   "My English is very poor, but I will try to avoid Italian so Ava won't have to translate.  
     
    "Your English is excellent Signora Lezioni," Flint replied.
     
    "Ava tells me that she is a target for assassination.   Is that true?" Gina said mildly.
     
    "Not known for sure, but it looks likely," Flint replied.   He had decided not to bother being diplomatically coy.   "A United States government agency thinks that either you or Mr. Gambini might be involved.   Are you?"
     
    Gina's eyes narrowed.   "No."   Then she also skipped diplomatic politeness and continued.   "Your fellow countryman, Mr. Murphy, may be a good CIA agent, but he is, how do you say, headed up the wrong tree.   When Ava told me a couple of hours ago what she had discovered at the clinica, I made a phone call.   I intend to tell you more than I normally would do.   Because I have regard for Ava who has come a long way and trusted me to help.   It is in my direct interest to let your CIA continue to misunderstand, but if I do that Ava will be killed while you are looking in the wrong direction."
     
    Flint excused himself to listen to Murphy whisper to him briefly.
     
    Gina continued.   "I have sent a trusted person to get rid of the ambulance that brought Ava and Mr. Murphy to my house.   Also I have caused information to be leaked from San Leonardo Hospital that says Mr. Murphy is dead.   I have caused the male nurse who poisoned the drip solution to be named as his killer.   That person will not be found because he has fled, most likely to Morocco."
     
    "Mr. Murphy," Flint informed Gina, "has warned me that you are not who you seem to be."
     
    "Most of us," Gina replied, "are not entirely who we appear to be.   We all wear masks.   Five centuries ago, an Italian political philosopher named Machiavelli said that we must.   If we had more time,” Gina continued, “we could enjoy slowly revealing our true selves to each other.   But the leisure needed for that is not available.   I recommend that you believe in the possibility that I might be telling you the truth.   The facts I am about to disclose can save your life.”
     
    Everyone around the table waited for Gina to continue.
     
    "My son, his name was Paolo, was rising in the Italian underworld.   He was killed because he did not listen to what I told him.   His natural father was Frederico's older brother."   She looked at Freddy whose face had gone pale.   "Freddy is eighteen years younger than his brother whose name was also Paolo."
     
    Gina paused to quietly say something to Ava in Italian, then she continued.   "Paolo the papa was assassinated in Genoa two weeks before Paolo my son was gunned down in New Jersey.   I urged my son not to go to the States, although I did not then know who had killed my cousin Paolo or why.   I have confirmed only recently that the same group of ambitious men had both Paolo's killed.   And it was for no good reason.   They were, how do you say in English, paranoico."
     
    "Paranoid," Ava translated.
     
    "Yes.   Paranoid.   They are part of a secret society that calls itself Società Angeli Trombà, the Angel Trumpet Society.   It is named for a poison shrub that has trumpet shaped flowers.   The angel trumpet members specialize in being assassins for hire.   The group's members compete with the main Naples underworld, though they are sometimes hired to do special killings."
     
    Gina paused to signal the cook to bring in