The Grotto's Secret: A Historical Conspiracy Mystery Thriller Read Free Page B

for the show?’
    He nodded suspiciously.
    ‘Well, Zelda is the perfect person to find them a new home.’
    ‘If you think so.’
    ‘Done deal. I’ll tell her about it later.’
    ‘Anything else?’ Jimmy asked as if he had nothing to do all day.
    She slid an envelope across the table.
    Jimmy lifted it and opened it. His eyes widened as he pulled out an air ticket. ‘What’s this?’
    She shrugged. ‘‘You’ve been piling on the hours so I thought you might want a long weekend to see your mum.’
    ‘But I can’t take time off now, it’s so busy.’
    ‘Now look who’s talking! Listen, Jimmy, you deserve a break. It’s only a long weekend.’
    He slapped the ticket at his palm and said in a soft voice. ‘Thanks Kelby.’ He scampered across the room, chuckling, ‘Jaysus, when I turn up on her doorstep, my ol’ mam will die of a heart attack!’ As he grabbed the door handle, he spun around. ‘By the way…’
    Kelby looked at him.
    ‘Barker is coming to fit the tyre tread monitor to your car tomorrow.’

7
    Right now, Barker needed to ensure the device clinging to the Maserati would send Teresina off in style. Such a pity that majestic beast would soon end up as a twisted metal carcass at the bottom of a hairpin bend.
    He whistled a tune she’d loved; Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive. Quite apt with today’s events unfolding.
    Teresina had a private family event this morning. She was always late, so she’d be in a spin and race around the mountain.
    Talk of the devil… Madame Millions belted out more demands. ‘Majella! Are you ready?’
    Barker heard a muffled reply wafting through one of the Palazzo’s upstairs bedrooms. He smiled, knowing the ten-year-old would be preening in front of her full size mirror in her girlie bedroom.
    ‘ Merde! Carino … did you hear me?’
    This time Majella yelled as loudly as her mother, ‘I said, yes , Mamma. I’m tying up my hair as you insisted.’
    ‘ Bene! I need to make a quick call and then we’re off. Nonna is waiting.’
    ‘And so is Rome.’
    Barker chuckled at Majella’s response. Imagine naming your daughter after the mountain under whose shadows you were born and raised. Although that wasn’t as bad as some names he’d heard. Kids today were named after superheroes, towns and even fruit, for God’s sake.
    He’d name his kid with elegance and beauty, a name that would prove his breeding beat that of any Italian aristocrat. A name like Grace or Kelby’s little Annie. He’d always liked that name. And Annie was a cute kid. Thank goodness his mother hadn’t been so tacky. He would’ve ended up called ‘Tango’ or ‘Rioja’.
    All told, Majella was a pretty decent kid. Anyone would think she’d be a spoilt brat with that old Italian money floating around, and a mamma who doted on her kid when she wasn’t prowling for prey. Kids, he liked. Spoilt brats, he hated.
    A downstairs shutter flew open, almost thumping Barker on the side of his head. She hadn’t noticed him as she spun around to her desk. Barker had to stay out of sight. Luckily for him, Teresina never gave anyone on the TV crew a second glance.
    From the corner of his eye, Barker watched her punch a number into her landline and flop into a luxurious leather chair. Her black espadrilles matched her sombre black dress and her grave face. The she-devil swung her heels onto the edge of her desk.
    One thing she had going for her was her innate ability to transform her father’s family ruin into a chic and glamorous yet classical home. The entrance hall’s chandelier pendant was over the top, but she had a good eye for design with her edgy, contemporary pieces.
    As usual, Teresina’s shoulder length, limp black hair had been tucked behind her goblin ears. It shone as if someone had sprayed a can of furniture lacquer over her head.
    Her stark dresses were always black with an occasional spray of white as if she were at a permanent wake. And those hooped earrings made her look like a