Shadows in Death (In Death #51) - J.D. Robb Page 0,18
was smart and knowledgeable and involved, but he complained, very much, until she—what is it—cut back? Until she worked less. He wanted her to be available to him, for society and for … is it image? This is how she felt, this she did tell me in confidence.”
“Was he ever abusive?”
“With his hands? No, no, I think no. I believe she would not stand for such a thing. But with words, I think yes. Not shouted, not like this, but quiet and … like water against a rock, it eats away over time.”
She lifted her water, sipped, sipped again before she set it down. “He is cold in his heart, you see? He didn’t seem cold before they married, before she had the baby inside her. He brings flowers, he seems happy she is so good at the business, he shows pride and love. But it was false, I think, because he is cold by his nature.
“Today, this morning, before I even begin my duties, and I believe Galla is upstairs with Angelo, he calls me to his office. He tells me Galla is dead. When I’m shocked, when I’m upset, when I don’t understand, he tells me she was murdered, a mugging when she was out in the evening. And as I weep he tells me my services are no longer required.”
“He fired you?” Peabody demanded.
“He says he will see I have references, and he will pay me three weeks, but I must leave by tomorrow morning, only this day to pack and make arrangements. He wants only to be alone with his son, in his grief—but there is no grief in his eyes, you see? He will have a droid take my duties, and the duties of Angelo’s nanny, who must also leave.”
Isolate the boy, Eve thought.
“I beg him to let me stay, to help with the little boy, who’s lost his mother, but he says I must go. And this isn’t right, this isn’t how a loving husband and father is at such a time. I think of you, how you came to the house, and I want to say all this to you.”
“We appreciate that.”
“You may think I’m angry and hopeful to make trouble for Mr. Tween, but this isn’t true. I came to this country for Galla, and I would stay for her son. I would wish nothing more than Signore Tween be a good and loving father. But I fear, the way he spoke this morning, with no love, no grief, no shock, he … he maybe killed her. I fear it and fear for Angelo.”
“Do you think he’d hurt his son?” Peabody asked.
“I never thought this, but I never thought he would hurt Galla. Now I think it. He’s just a little boy. Can you protect him?”
“We’ll do all we can,” Eve assured her. “Ms. Modesto’s family is on their way to New York.”
Rinaldi closed her eyes, murmured something in Italian. “I thank the Blessed Mother. I thank her for hearing this prayer. I was to ask you if I could speak with them, but you will speak with them. Will you ask, if I can help them, they tell me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have a place to stay?”
Rinaldi looked at Peabody. “I will stay, when I must leave, with a friend I have. I must decide what to do, to stay or go home, but I must know about Angelo first. I must know he is safe. Galla would want me to.”
“We’d like your friend’s contact information.”
“Yes. Yes, however I can help. I will give you the same for Sofia, Angelo’s nanny. She loves Angelo, and is broken in her heart as I am.”
“That’s helpful. I’ll take that information and walk you out.”
“Detective Peabody will also give you our contacts,” Eve added. “If you remember anything, think of anything, let us know.”
Eve went back to her office. Time, she thought, to pull in APA Reo. She wanted Tween in the box.
“Reo. I’m heading to court, Dallas.”
“Last time I checked you could walk and talk.”
Reo pushed back her blond cloud of hair. “I do have that skill. Modesto, stabbing in Washington Square Park. You caught it. So?”
“The husband hired a pro.”
“And you know this because?”
“Because I have that skill. The pro’s identified by an eyewit as Cobbe, Lorcan—look him up.”
“I don’t have that detail.”
“Now you do.”
“Name of wit?”
“Roarke.”
That put a small hitch in Reo’s purposeful stride. “That’s complicating matters. How does Roarke know a paid killer?”