conveyed dignity. "It's a little idiosyncrasy."
"Did she take it to the wedding?" He sounded intrigued.
"Yes."
"And did she use it?"
"I don't know why you need to know that! It doesn't have anything to do with my grandfather." Carlina pressed her lips together.
His mouth twitched. "Humor me."
"Oh, all right." Carlina sighed. "She used it to sleep in Church."
"I take it the service wasn't fascinating?"
Carlina suppressed a giggle. "It was the sixth family wedding this year."
"In that case, I understand completely."
Carlina smiled. "Later, Mama used the cushion to sleep on the table."
"She slept on the table?" Now he sounded scandalized.
"Just with her head." Carlina hastened to add. "It doesn't matter; everybody is used to it. In fact, I think it's very considerate of her."
He blinked. "In what way?"
"Well, we always share a taxi back, and when she's tired, she simply goes to sleep. Other mothers would start to nag until the party broke up."
"I see." His tone spoke volumes.
He thinks we're a bunch of idiots. Carlina stared at her hands and concentrated on relaxing them. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw that he was still leaning against the door frame as if he belonged there, a relaxed panther.
From the street, she heard the faint noise of people walking by, talking, laughing. Inside, it was so quiet, her own breathing seemed too loud.
"To sum up, Signorina Ashley. You moved your dead grandfather because you didn't want to upset your cousin Emma. You allowed your great uncle Teo to call the police with a crazy tale because you didn't want him to have a heart attack. You lied to the police because you didn't want to upset your mother Fabbiola. I'm impressed. You're quite the philanthropist."
Carlina's ears turned hot.
"Well? Don't you wish to comment?"
His icy words cut through her like a steel blade. "No. I may not have told you the truth the first time, but this time, I have."
"Are you going to stick to this version?" His friendly voice sounded false.
"Yes." She pulled up her feet. "I take it the interview is over. Please go now. I can't keep my store closed for hours on end."
"Just a minute, Signorina Ashley. I have one more thing to tell you."
"Well?" Carlina bent forward on her footstool, ready to get up. Go. Just go away.
"Your grandfather was poisoned with an overdose of morphine."
A rushing sound like a giant waterfall deafened her ears. The floor came up to meet her, then everything turned black.
Chapter 6
I
When she regained consciousness, her nose was pressed against black leather. It smelled good, with an added hint of fresh air and soap. Two strong hands pulled her back into an upright position and leaned her against the shelf, only this time, she sat on the floor.
His lean face bent over her. He looked grim.
With detached interest, Carlina discovered a small scar next to his mouth. She concentrated on breathing. It was a full-time job.
"Weak moment over?"
She winced and managed to find her voice. "Repeat your last sentence." Maybe I misunderstood him.
"Your grandfather was poisoned with an overdose of morphine." He said it without emotion, as if he was the computer she had suspected all along.
So I've heard him right. Carlina closed her eyes.
"You going to faint again?"
She shook her head. "No. You can take your hands off me."
He snatched his hold away.
She almost toppled forward and had to place both hands flat on the floor to stabilize herself. "What happens now?"
He looked at her. "Now, I'm going to find out who killed him."
She didn't reply. Her head felt as if it had been filled with cotton wool, soft and sort of mushy.
"Signorina Ashley."
"What?"
“You still have to answer a few questions.”
She bit her lips so hard they hurt. “Go ahead.”
“Do you think it's possible that your grandfather killed himself?”
Carlina snatched up her head. “No. Absolutely not. Granddad enjoyed every moment of his life. He relished his phases and was constantly on the
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