The Broken Frame by Claudio Ruggeri Read Free Book Online Page A

he tell you the reason for this appointment?”
    “He just said that he wanted to fix an old mistake.”
    “Did he have a will?”
    “Absolutely not, even though I told him to think about it, many times.”
    “You’ve been a great help to me.”
    “Oh, forget it.”
    Before returning to his car, Germano phoned his colleague Parisi, to inform him that they no longer had any need to intervene or continue the surveillance of Lucci.
    Virginia, along with her son Robert, was struggling with the toolbox that they’d hidden inside the attic, when someone rang the bell on the intercom. The woman, visibly irritated, opened the door.
    “Who is it?”
    “We’re from the power company!”
    “What do you want?”
    “We had to make some repairs this morning, and we left some tools here.”
    “Wait, I must call my son.”
    Roberto Lucci rushed to his mother and confirmed that what the man said was true, so the lady opened the door.
    Once the man was inside, Virginia Lucci made him aware of her doubts.
    “You don't look like an engineer from the power company.”
    “Really?”
    "I’m sorry, it was just an observation."
    “You’re saying the man who came this morning looked like an engineer from the power company, is that right?”
    “Roberto? What the hell is happening?”
    “Stay calm Mrs. Lucci. My name is Germano, I’m a policeman.”
    “Roberto! What are you doing? Say something!”
    “Leave your son alone. Why don’t we take a seat and have a little chat?”
    The two first looked at each other, and then they agreed to the Commissioner’s request. They made their way to the kitchen, and although they still didn’t understand what was going on, something prompted them to stay calm and listen to what the cop had to say.
    "I think you have a big problem, which unfortunately for you, has also been my problem for some time."
    “About what?”
    "It's about a murder case which at first was listed as suicide. That is what I’m investigating, Ma’am."
    “Is it someone we know?”
    “Don’t try to play games with me, Mrs. Lucci. I’m talking about Carlo Riva, and you knew him.”
    “He was an old flame, but that was many years ago.”
    "Are you sure? You know what the problem is, Ma'am? A couple of hours ago we were close to breaking into your house to arrest your son. To put him in jail on charges of first-degree murder. Do you happen to know what I’m talking about, Ma'am?”
    "Oh mamma mia! He hasn't done anything."
    "So you say. As far as I'm concerned, I have more than enough evidence, and I don’t need to argue who is guilty and who is innocent.  However, I get the impression that the persons who wanted to fool me are the same persons who would like to fool you."
    “Rubbish.”
    "Mrs. Lucci, why don’t you tell me when and why you resumed contact with the deceased Carlo Riva?"
    Mother and son exchanged a significant glance, confirming that their bluff had been uncovered. It was time to talk.
    “It was two years ago. Roberto is Carlo’s son. He was born many years ago during our relationship. During this time I never wanted to tell Carlo the truth. He had his family, and I didn’t believe that if Carlo knew it would have changed anything.  Roberto would still be left without a father, but the gossip and confusion would have made the newspapers."
    "Okay, so then you decided to tell him. Why was that? Economic reasons?"
    "Unfortunately, yes. Five years ago the company I worked for laid me off. When my compensation money ran out, I found myself broke. The only person to whom I could turn was Carlo Riva."
    "So you went to Carlo Riva and told him the story. Given the extreme resemblance to the other son, Michelle, he decides to help you."
    “Exactly, Germano. From that very moment...”
    "He starts to pass you two thousand Euros a month, so that the gas bills would no longer be a problem."
    “He was trying to help us.”
    “Indeed. Then what happened?”
    “It happened that he died. Poor