Death Under the Venice Moon Read Free Page A

the first time since we met.
    "Come on." He took my hand. "Let's go talk to Augusta. You will understand."
    We had made it to the door when he stopped. "Almost forgot. I'll be right back." He disappeared behind the door of what Pia had indicated was his bedroom and returned carrying a Prada gift bag. The blue lettering on the white background was hard to miss. "Now I'm ready. Let's go."
    "We are going to talk to Augusta the concierge?"
    No answer. He pulled me along to the elevator, down to the street level and into Augusta's office. He raised his hand to knock, but when his knuckles met the door, it opened.
    Pia had introduced me to the older woman known as the concierge when we arrived around noon. Distracted, I hadn't paid much attention.
    Augusta sat at her desk. The moment she saw us she stood and smiled, magically losing twenty years.
    "Manuel, you're back," she cooed, extending both hands to him.
    He smiled, accepted the offered hands and placed the Prada bag in them, then kissed the plump concierge on both cheeks.
    "Not for long, I'm afraid. But Kyle's mamma"—he nodded in my direction—"she is on vacation, so you'll see a lot of her and perhaps Kyle also." He moved his hands away from hers. "Do you think we can take a look at the menus? Of course, I already know what I want." More smiles. "But Kyle's mamma has no idea about the good care you take of us."
    I wanted to shout that my name wasn't Kyle's mamma but decided I could put up with his immature sense of humor for one evening. After all, he was willing to put up with the imposition of my unscheduled presence.
    Augusta went back to her desk and removed a folder from one of the drawers. The lamp put a shine on her silver hair. She opened the folder and laid at least a dozen restaurant menus on the desktop. While she motioned me to look at them, she kept glancing at the Prada bag, obviously dying to open it.
    Small golden bells chimed eight p.m. The lovely sound came from a handsome old clock on the wall.
    "I never get tired of listening to that beautiful sound. Thank you, Manuel." Augusta sounded a little misty.
    I stared at the menus, unable to decide what to do. "Cruz, you are more familiar with these restaurants than I am. What do you suggest? Something light so I won't toss and turn all night."
    He chuckled at my remark, spread the menus on the desk, picked one, and suggested some risotto di frutta di mare . While it literally translated to "rice with fruits of the sea," when served it would be a light risotto with mussels, scallops, and calamari. Perfect. He worked out the details with Augusta, who apparently ordered his food when he stayed at the condo.
    She assured us everything would be delivered within forty-five minutes.
    More kisses on both cheeks, then we left.
    "Let me see. You get here in the dark so as not to be seen and hide in the condo while your star-struck old girl provides you with your daily needs, then you take off again in the dark. That's your wonderful life in Chioggia? How long have you been calling this gilded cage home?" Why was I so mean? The poor man did nothing to deserve my criticism. Misplaced anger or a preview of the mood swings my ob-gyn predicted for my near future?
    "Gilded cage? Hide waiting for darkness?" We paused by the elevator door. "You don't know a thing." He grabbed my arm. Like a man on a mission, he firmly dragged me along toward a dim corridor. Smoke might have flared from his nostrils, but I couldn't tell in the low light.
    "Where are you taking me?" All his passion could be a sign of craziness. The narrow hallway grew even darker and seemed to close in around us.
    He stopped at a door. I knew it was a door because a low-voltage light bulb above it made it possible for Cruz to insert a key, unlock and open it wide.
    A gush of cold air took me by surprise. Were we outside? This wasn't just cold air; it had a damp, chilling effect and smelled of mold and rotten wood. Memories of my grandfather's cellar popped into