Free Family Business by Michael Z. Lewin Page A

forgotten to tell the family that their phone line was bugged on a seven-day free trial. He’d intended to say something. He never wanted to listen to their conversations. He’d only talked to this Boiling person because of Rosetta. But it was definitely Angelo’s responsibility to tell everyone, and he had failed.
    And violation of privacy just didn’t happen in the Lunghi household. It was not talked about but it was universally understood. This was less an Italian thing than an offshoot from the fact that the family violated other people’s privacy for a living. Even though this particular violation had happened innocently it couldn’t possibly be admitted now.
    Suddenly understanding of Mrs Shayler’s inability to address her husband directly about the bottle of washing-up liquid became more complete. Families evolved their own rules, whatever they might be. What Angelo saw more clearly now was that transgression of family rules could not be undertaken, or admitted to, lightly. Rule-breaking had consequences. Rule-breaking was dangerous. A family without rules was in chaos. If Marie were to react by running away from home, no one would approve but everyone would understand.
    â€˜It might be nothing,’ Angelo had said to Gina, trying to convince himself. ‘He sounds like an older boy. Marie would say such things to impress him.’
    But Gina was uncertain how to take what Marie had said. The tape revealed an underbelly of Marie’s life that had no parallel in Gina’s own teenage history. Raised in Brum, Gina had always been her family’s good child, the one who studied, the one who went away to art college to do a course in textile design. For Gina, dropping out to marry a detective was the closest she’d come to rebellion. Not many girls of Marie’s generation would make their break for freedom by becoming the wife of a man who was himself a dutiful son.
    Finally Gina said, ‘At least this Terry is still at school.’
    â€˜What do we do now?’ Angelo asked. ‘Set up surveillance on our own daughter?’
    Gina said, ‘Adrian Boiling’s catalogue has a location transmitter with a Velcro strap. We can fit it around her ankle. Choice of colours.’
    â€˜Gina!’
    â€˜We wait and watch. We be patient.’
    â€˜I don’t feel patient.’
    â€˜And we’ve got to be normal at dinner,’ Gina said.
    â€˜I don’t feel normal,’ Angelo said. ‘Suddenly I’m Papa and Salvatore’s heading down a path I know is wrong.’
    At dinner Mama was enlivened and distracted by the fact that Salvatore had brought Dr Muffin again. Thus the only person who might have noticed that something was up with Gina and Angelo had other things on her mind. ‘It was so generous of you to bring all this wine!’ Mama said.
    â€˜It’s only three bottles,’ Muffin said. ‘And with this many people, it’s really just a taste.’
    â€˜Very very generous,’ Mama said. ‘A lovely quality.’
    â€˜It was the least I could do, Mrs Lunghi. You’re all being so kind to me. I feel almost a part of the family.’ She patted Salvatore’s hand.
    Mama beamed. ‘Call me Mama. Everybody does.’
    â€˜I don’t,’ the Old Man said.
    â€˜Don’t mind him,’ Mama said. ‘He’s putting the world to rights. That always makes him grumpy.’
    â€˜Huh!’ the Old Man said. He was still feeling tired.
    Salvatore was deputed to open the wine. Because it had come from a guest, David and Marie were each allowed half a glass.
    â€˜I’d like to propose a toast,’ Muffin said. ‘Is that all right?’ It was. ‘Here’s to the Lunghi family. Beautiful people living in a beautiful city.’
    Everybody drank. David said, ‘Hey, this is good.’
    â€˜What would you know about it?’ Marie said. She sniffed her glass.