Free Farewell to the Flesh by Edward Sklepowich Page B

and these guests knew Signor Gibbon.”
    Urbino, not exactly sure of what she meant, remained silent.
    â€œThe problem, you see,” she said a bit impatiently, “is Commissario Gemelli.”
    â€œHow is he a problem?”
    He asked the question even though his own previous experiences with the Commissario had shown just how much of a problem the Sicilian could be.
    â€œHe’s been asking questions of the guests all day—and he isn’t finished yet! He’s disturbing them.”
    â€œBut it’s the police’s job to ask questions.”
    Mother Mariangela looked at Sister Teresa, who was sitting in a high-backed chair beneath a lithograph of Saint Catherine of Siena. Sister Teresa must have understood the import of the look, for she said, “Yes, of course, it is their job to ask questions, Signor Macintyre, but Commissario Gemelli is not the most delicate of men. He treats everyone like a criminal.”
    Ah, yes, Urbino thought, he had noted this in Gemelli before: guilty until proven innocent.
    â€œPardon me, Sisters, but the Commissario has to begin somewhere. What better place to begin—what only place to begin—but with the people Gibbon was lodging with?”
    â€œHe’s stirring them up!” Mother Mariangela said impatiently. “Can you imagine what can happen? The reputation of our lovely Casa Crispina would suffer! We need the money we get from it. If the shadow of a murder hangs over the Casa Crispina, we will be ruined! Not one guest must leave with a question in his mind. It will be like feathers in the wind. Do you think they will find out what really happened when they go home? No! They will have doubts, suspicions! Maybe one of the sisters was the murderer, maybe one of the other guests! No, Signor Macintyre, we cannot permit such speculation.”
    She pointed to a large, worn black book open on the desk.
    â€œThis is our ledger. Our guests will not stay forever. Signora Campi and Signor Lubonski—who, by the way, was rushed to the hospital last night—will remain, of course. The first of our guests will start to leave on Ash Wednesday, and soon all of them will be replaced by new guests. You see what the problem is.”
    â€œI understand, Mother Mariangela, but it doesn’t explain why you’re upset about Commissario Gemelli. It’s his job to find out the truth. And one of the things he must do is to meet with each of the Casa Crispina’s guests and—”
    â€œI have no faith in Commissario Gemelli.”
    â€œWhat Mother Mariangela is saying, if she will excuse me for interrupting, is that she has more faith in you, Signor Macintyre.”
    â€œIn me? To do what?”
    â€œTo do what the Commissario must do but to do it better.”
    â€œYou are gentler than the Commissario,” Mother Mariangela said. “He stirs people up, as I said before. You do the opposite. You can calm everyone down while finding out the truth before Ash Wednesday. I want this settled by then.”
    When he pointed out that he had none of the authority or any of the resources of the police, she reminded him that being a policeman here in Italy could also be a limitation.
    â€œA private person like yourself, with your excellent Italian and your commitment to Venice, is the best one to get at the truth. We believe that you have the best chance of doing just that by Ash Wednesday.”
    â€œAnd if the truth is that one of the guests himself is the murderer?”
    Mother Mariangela shrugged her shoulders.
    â€œThe truth, Signor Macintyre, we need the truth by Ash Wednesday—yes, even if one of our guests remains behind in the custody of the police. But I have no doubt that the murderer has absolutely nothing to do with Santa Crispina. I will prepare the guests for your visit. Here is a list of their names.” She handed Urbino a sheet of paper. “You can return later in the evening after Commissario