Free Love and Fear by Reed Farrel Coleman Page A

every day. The ones who asked the hard questions. The ones who canvassed the streets with him night and day if that’s what he needed. But he hadn’t heard a word from Bella’s mother. And that was about to change.
    They met at Hale’s Bar on Smith Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, which was only a mile or two from Gulliver’s office. The bar wasn’t open yet, but Gulliver was pals with David, the owner. David was glad to let Gulliver use an empty table now and then. He brewed a pot of coffee for Gulliver and his company. Afterward he went into the basement to do inventory.
    Gulliver hadn’t wanted to risk meeting on Staten Island. Too many prying eyes. Too many people who might spot Maria Vespucci. For Maria’s sake and for Tony’s, no one could hear what Gulliver had to say to them. He had no doubt that if Joey Vespucci ever found out how Bella had come to be, there would be blood. Tony’s blood. Joey wouldn’t hurt the mother of his children. But he could make Maria’s life very unpleasant. Gulliver felt there was no need to risk any of that.
    There was a knock at the side door. Gulliver got up and let Maria and Tony inside. He locked the door behind them. Gulliver had only seen photos of Maria. In the flesh, it was easy to see why men fell for her. In her mid-fifties, she was still classically beautiful. She had thick black hair that shone under the light. Not a hair out of place. She had high, sculpted cheekbones. Her skin was naturally dark. Except for her eyes, she wore very little makeup. Though there were some lines on her face, they only added character to her charm. Her eyes were almost as black as her hair. Her mouth was a dream, her teeth white and straight. Her lips had a lovely shape. Her legs were long. Her body curvy. And she knew just how to dress to enhance her looks. She didn’t wear too much jewelry. But the jewelry she did wear was custom-made and expensive. Yet for all her beauty and class, there was an air of great sadness about her.
    “Mr. Dowd,” she said, offering her hand. “You have something to tell me about Bella?”
    Even her voice had a smoky, sexy quality.
    Gulliver shook her hand and nodded at the booth where they were to sit. “Please call me Gulliver.”
    “Call me Maria.”
    After Tony and Maria sat, Gulliver poured coffee. He gave them a moment to settle in. To sip their coffee. To relax. Gulliver sat beside Tony.
    “Maria, you asked me if I had something to tell you about Bella.”
    “That’s right.”
    Gulliver laughed. Maria Vespucci looked shaken. Tony looked angry, and it was clear in his tone.
    “What’s so funny, Dowd?”
    “It’s not funny, Tony. It’s just that we should be asking Maria whether she has something to tell us about Bella. Not the other way around.”
    Maria smiled a heartbreaking smile at the little man sitting across from her.
    “You are a very smart man, Gulliver,” she said.
    “Not smart enough. Or at least, I was a little slow on the uptake.”
    “Will somebody tell me what the hell is going on?” Tony demanded.
    Gulliver reached into his jacket pocket and grabbed a piece of paper. He unfolded it and slid it over to Tony. Tony’s face went blank at the sight of the photographic images on the sheet. They were images of Maria leaving Bella’s building. In some, she carried frames. In one she had a folded easel. In another she carried two plastic garbage bags full of art supplies.
    Gulliver said, “Very early this morning I paid a visit to my friend who’s been doing a breakdown of the closed-circuit video we got from Bella’s building. Until last night, I only had him looking at male faces. When we found out it wasn’t Telenovich who had Bella, I asked my guy to go back to the video and do a new search. Now you see why we should be asking Maria about Bella?”
    “Maria…how could you do that to Joey? To me? I been worried out of my mind.”
    She reached a long elegant hand across the table and stroked Tony’s cheek. “I