Free Death of an Obnoxious Tourist by Maria Hudgins Page B

next few days. We were scheduled to stay four nights in Florence, then go to Pisa on the West Coast, but things being like they were, we might stay on here a bit longer. “This hotel has room for us if we need to stay. In fact, you’ll probably be able to stay in your current rooms, if you want to. We can go to Pisa as scheduled, but we might just make it a day trip and return here for the night.
    “We didn’t get to do our excursion to the Piazzale Michelangelo yesterday, of course, but we can still do that. We just don’t know exactly when, yet.” Tessa paused and looked around. “Is this okay with everybody?”
    Lucille Vogel boomed, “Will we get a refund on whatever we don’t get to do, because of circumstances beyond our control?” and silence dropped like an anvil.
    It was an outrageously inappropriate question, but Tessa had to say something. “Pellegrino Tours always goes out of its way to be fair to its guests. I’m sure they will be this time, too, but you must understand that we haven’t been able to discuss any specifics yet. Today was scheduled to be a free day, anyway. So that won’t change, but Captain Quattrocchi has asked that you keep the front desk here informed about where you are. Not in any great detail, of course, but if you’re, say, taking a bus trip to San Gimignano, you should let the hotel know. In the event that Captain Quattrocchi needs to speak with you again, he will probably want you to come to the caserma—that’s what we call carabinieri headquarters. It’s located down near the river on the Borgo Ognissanti, easy walking distance from here. Now. Amy wants to tell you a couple of things.”
    Amy Bauer released her sister’s hand and stood up. “Beth and I want to thank you for all the help you’re giving us. This is a hard time for us, but everyone has been so kind.” She cleared her throat and lowered her head. “It was Meg’s desire to be cremated. We’ve decided to have that done here, and then we will take her ashes back to the States. Our brother Joe is planning a service for her at home, but the date will have to be left open until we know how long everything here will take. We understand a cremation may take some time. At any rate, until then, Beth and I will continue on with the group, and like I said, we appreciate your help.”
    Tessa smiled at Amy and stepped forward again. “One more thing. Since it’s Saturday, restaurants all over town will be jammed tonight. I thought some of you might like to have an authentic Tuscan country dinner, so I’ve contacted a charming little place I’ve been to many times. It’s about ten miles out of town. Achille can drive us. If you want to go, tell me soon so I can call in a reservation. We’ll leave here about seven.”
    Paul Vogel stood up. “I heard they’ve arrested some local guy for the murder. Is that true?”
    “Captain Quattrocchi has asked me not to discuss specifics of the case with anyone, and to tell you the truth, I don’t know much about it, since I only sat in as translator when he was talking to each of you.” She hesitated a moment. “But, yes. I think it’s okay to tell you that they did arrest a man yesterday. That’s all I really know.”
    I had a strong feeling that Tessa knew a great deal more, but, of course, she really couldn’t talk about it. People began to stir, and it looked as if the meeting was over.
    Shirley Hostetter barred the doorway with her body before anyone could get out. “May I have your attention for a minute?”
    “Oh dear, Shirley, I forgot to call on you,” Tessa said, her voice apologetic.
    “As you may have heard, Crystal is missing.” Shirley’s whole face betrayed the fact that she hadn’t been to bed at all last night. Her hair was a mess and her makeup was gone. “She was last seen by some of the hotel staff outside on the street at about nine o’clock. They saw a young man—black hair, about five feet eight, wearing a blue denim shirt and