Death in the Dolomites by David Wagner (feel good books .TXT) 📕

Flavio said, “if someone vouched for him. You think that person can’t be trusted since he works for Umberto?”

Luca drank the last drops of the wine in his glass. “No, it’s not that. The problem is that if Melograno was in his office, his assistant wouldn’t know if the man was actually inside the whole time.”

“That’s true,” said Rick. “There’s a door to the back stairs. We saw it.”

“Exactly. So he could have been in and out several times and the kid sitting in the outer office wouldn’t have known. Melograno told me he’d gone to a bar nearby when he left the office at about five o’clock. I talked to the barman who said Melograno goes in there most days at that time, and he’s quite sure Saturday was one of them.”

“Quite sure but not positive,” Rick said. “That was about the time the body was being dumped from the gondola.”

Flavio finished his wine. “But if he was at the bar, that lets Umberto off the hook.”

“For the drop of the body, yes it does.” Luca pondered his statement and then snapped out of his thoughts. “Wine steward, are we going to continue with this wine for the second course?”

“No, of course not.” answered Flavio. “The secondo tonight is involtini, so a red is required. There’s a winery just north of Sondrio I deal with that makes an excellent Valtellina. We will have one of their bottles.” He signaled to the waitress who scurried over and took his order.

Rick watched her disappear into the kitchen. “Luca, Flavio and I ran into two of our suspects this afternoon, if I can call them that.”

“Really? Tell me.”

“First, Gina Cortese. We bumped into her when she was between classes, and of course the murder of Taylor came up. She broke down when talking about the guy, and it was real. Don’t you think so, Flavio?”

“Hard to tell, but I think so.”

“She’s got the best alibi of anyone, being with classes Saturday,” Luca said. “Well, let me clarify that; she was in classes from ten o’clock on, so I suppose there may be a gray area early in the morning. But what would be her motive? They could have had a fight Friday night, but it would have been quite a violent one for her to go home and find someone to murder the man.”

Rick recalled Gina slapping her ski school colleague, but said nothing. Three new glasses and the wine had arrived at the table. The bottle was opened and quickly vetted by Flavio before it was poured for Rick and Luca. They tasted and approved.

“I can’t think of any other motive she could have,” said Rick as he studied the dark red color of the Valtellina. “More likely would be her ex-husband, if she was really fooling around with Taylor before the divorce was final. Taylor could have even been the reason for the divorce.”

“I brought up his ex-wife when I talked to the mayor this afternoon. He gave the impression that he’s not shedding tears every night because of the divorce, not that he couldn’t also have had a grudge against the dead man. But now he’s married to his job as mayor, which, ironically, he is trying to use for an alibi. Essentially, he doesn’t have a real alibi, since he spends his days going around town glad-handing the electorate in anticipation of the election. So he was nowhere and everywhere on Saturday. But what intrigues me is his relationship with Melograno.”

The second course arrived, thin cutlets of veal that had been spread with bread crumbs, cheese, and mushrooms, rolled into meaty tubes, and lightly sautéed in oil and butter. They were arranged on each plate at right angles to a bundle of green asparagus sprinkled with parmegiano reggiano. The three men silently admired the food before putting knife and fork to it. After a few bites Luca returned to his point.

“I remember what you said, Flavio, about Melograno being the mayor’s largest contributor, and I know that the election campaign is heating up, but…” He tried to find the words. Rick and Flavio waited patiently, enjoying their veal and asparagus while they did. “Is there more to their relationship than the need to get Grandi re-elected?”

“It’s no secret,” said Flavio, “that Umberto has designs to increase his influence outside of Campiglio. The bribery case that was dropped involved a regional politician, not a local one. But he cultivates the local economy very carefully, winning friends, and weakening enemies whenever he can. Bruno Bauer, for example…Umberto lent him the money to renovate his store.”

“Bauer’s store looked brand new when we were there, didn’t it, Luca?”

“Yes it did. New carpeting, lighting. It looked very elegant. To go along with the merchandise. The hats, for example.” He pretended not to notice Rick’s grimace. “And who was the other person you two saw on the mountain while I was working?”

“Daniele Lotti,” Rick answered. “He was having a beer in a little place halfway down. He did not seem very happy, with a good friend dead and the sister ignoring him.”

“Did you ask him to describe all his movements on Saturday?”

“Hardly, Luca. But he did tell Flavio and me that all he’s done since he got here on Friday night is ski, so I assume that’s what he did on Saturday. Or will say he did.” Rick put the last piece of veal into his mouth. The asparagus spears were already gone. “If that’s the case, he has no alibi whatsoever for Saturday.”

“What’s his motive?” Flavio asked.

“His motive, Flavio, is Signora Taylor’s motive.” Rick and Flavio looked at Luca, waiting for him to continue. “It is clear the young lady has a motive, which is what we must assume is a large inheritance, that now she does not have to share. It also appears clear that Lotti is attracted to her, even if she does not wish to reciprocate. But this gives her a power over the poor man. They did have dinner