SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Somewhat gingerly, I climbed back into Alice’s launch with Oscar. After helping me on board, Diego confessed that the chase through the canals had fulfilled a long-held ambition of his.
‘I’ve spent all of my life chugging around here at little more than walking pace. I know it’s bad for the foundations of the buildings, but being able to tear up the rule book just once has been immensely satisfying.’
He was most appreciative both of my acrobatics – however poorly executed – and of the performance of the musician on the balcony. He told me that the instrument the man had been playing was an old favourite, a lute, and the tune a traditional Venetian seafaring song about a sailor who returns to his loved one after months on the ocean wave. It occurred to me that I would also be quite happy to return to my own loved one in Florence after what had been an eventful weekend.
The trip back to the island was conducted at far slower speed, and I was more than happy to sit back, nursing my shoulder, and enjoy the sights. When we emerged from the network of narrow canals, we passed beneath the Bridge of Sighs, and Diego told methis had gained the name as it connected the Doge’s Palace and court of law with the ancient prison. Hopefully, Freddie Baker would also now face a long spell in prison for the two brutal murders he had committed – all for the sake of money. This reminded me to pull out my phone and call my dad to thank him for his advice and to tell him that we had cracked the case. He sounded happy for me and maybe a bit envious. As I gradually massage my bruised shoulder, I reflected that jumping off a bridge onto a moving boat was one experience I wouldn’t be in a hurry to repeat.
Sergeant Scarpa followed us back to the island in a police launch and informed everybody that they could now leave. I stood alongside him and translated as he broke the news that Freddie Baker was a murderer who had struck twice. Antoinette looked appalled, but not too saddened, and the reaction of most of the others was one of relief and satisfaction. To my surprise, I received an unexpectedly hearty handshake from Desmond Norman and kisses from Maggie McBride and even Sandra Groves. I wondered if Alice had had a chance to sit down with each of them and talk about their part in her autobiography, but I didn’t make any mention of that to them.
It occurred to me that since my arrival here on the island on Friday, nobody had mentioned my books, and my hopes of a Hollywood film deal had melted away. To my surprise, I almost felt relieved. After what I’d learned about Hollywood in the last forty-eight hours, I wasn’t too sure how badly I wanted to be involved with that kind of thing. Maybe writing a few paperbacks and a job as a private investigator was going to be a far more satisfying way of life.
Alice also looked relieved. After hearing of Diego’s prowess at the wheel of the launch, and of what she called my heroic exploits – and personally inspecting my bruised shoulder – sheinsisted that I stay until next morning. She was looking far more cheerful than before, and although I was sure that this was in no small part due to the fact that we’d managed to catch the killer in our midst, it was also patently because things were going well between her and Mary. I spotted Mary briefly as I walked back to my room and she gave me a sparkling smile, which appeared to indicate that she, too, was very happy with the way things had worked out. I rejoiced for them.
When I got back to my room, I took a couple of paracetamol and lay down for a rest. I must have gone out like a light, and it was almost six by the time I opened my eyes and headed for the shower while Oscar continued to snore happily on the blanket beside the bed. My bruised shoulder was now a Technicolor shade of purple, but the warm water of the shower and the painkillers I’d taken meant that I could move it normally. I dressed and we went outside into the fresh air.
Valentina and her daughter were already busy stripping the beds in the now empty guest rooms and both gave me a cheery greeting. They asked how I was feeling, and I was quick to reassure them that I was doing fine. Valentina even stopped work for a few moments to query what her husband had no doubt already told her.
‘Is it true that you really jumped off a bridge into a speedboat?’
‘It was a very low bridge and a slow speedboat. If I’d timed it a bit better, I wouldn’t even have fallen over.’
‘And the man with the silly shoes, why did he kill these people?’
‘Money, mainly. I think he was an unhappy character and his frustration just boiled over.’
‘And Diego said he tried to kill you with a huge great wrench.’
‘He certainly tried but, luckily, my four-legged friend came tomy rescue. I don’t suppose you’ve got an odd bit of steak for him, have you?’
Valentina nodded and assured me that she would see that Oscar was suitably rewarded. ‘Miss Graceland’s having another party tonight – not a big one, just for us – and Diego’s going to barbecue some meat. She told me when I saw you to ask you to go over to see her. She wants to talk to you.’
Alice was sitting under the pergola with Mary at her side. There was a champagne bottle in an ice bucket and glasses on the table in front of them. Alice waved me over and got up to kiss me on both cheeks before crouching down to make a fuss of Oscar. ‘Thank you so much for everything you’ve done this weekend, Dan. I hope your poor injured shoulder doesn’t hurt too much.’
‘I’m fine, thanks. To be honest, looking back on what happened, considering that there were a couple of police launches involved in the chase, it was probably a pretty stupid and unnecessary thing to do, but at moments like that, you don’t really have time to stop and think.’
‘Well, the important thing is that you’re fine. And now, my daughter and I would be very pleased if you would be so good as to open this bottle of champagne, and we can have a toast.’ Her expression of satisfaction when she spoke of her daughter was a joy to see.
I reached for the bottle and shot a smile across towards Mary as I did so. ‘Have you got over the shock yet? It’s been quite a weekend, hasn’t it? Two murders and then this amazing news. You could be excused for feeling a bit overwhelmed.’
Mary stood up and came over to my side to help with the glasses. Close up, I could see that her eyes were still red. I could well imagine the emotions that must have been coursing through her body all day.
‘Yes, it’s taken me a long time, but I’m beginning to come to terms with everything.’ Her voice became more husky. ‘I thought my mum had died a few months ago and now I find that I’ve got another one. I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster, but I’m getting there.’ She shot an affectionate glance across at Alice. ‘It’s probably going to take a while before I get the hang of calling you Mum, but I’ll manage.’
We all sat down and Alice held up her glass to clink it against ours. ‘I couldn’t be happier. Neither of you can possibly imagine what the last twenty-five years of my life have been like. Not a single day has passed without me thinking of the little baby I had to give up.’ She looked across at Mary with an expression of desperation in her eyes. ‘I know it was the selfish way out, but I was under contract to one of the biggest studios at that time, and if word had got out that I’d had an illegitimate child, they would have sacked me on the spot, and my career would have been finished. I don’t expect you to forgive me, Mary, but all I can tell you is that I’ve regretted it every day of my life, and maybe you will at least pity me. Seeing you now, grown into a beautiful, intelligent and successful woman, has been the greatest satisfaction of my life. Forget the Oscars and the Emmys; this is what true happiness is all about.’ She held the glass aloft ‘To Mary.’
I joined in the toast and took a sip of the predictably excellent champagne. I was dying to ask why Alice had chosen to reveal everything to Mary on this day of all days, but I felt that this was a personal question and best avoided. I was therefore very interested in the course of the conversation when Alice volunteered the information, addressing herself to me, almost as if in a confessional.
‘Although Mary never knew it, I followed her life and her career from afar. On countless occasions, I’ve had to fight hard to resist the temptation to go and see her and tell her everything,but it wouldn’t have been fair. She was fortunate to have a wonderful, caring family who loved her every bit as much as I could have done and, however much I might have missed her, I knew I couldn’t break up a family.’ Tears appeared in her eyes once again and, alongside her, I could see Mary reaching for her tissue as well.
Predictably, Oscar stood up on his hind legs and stretched up to nuzzle Alice’s chin before turning to Mary and repeating the process. As for me, I stayed quiet and waited for Alice to pick up her story again.
‘Two things happened this Easter. Rose, my long-time PA, finally married her man and moved to Australia with him, and the news broke that Mary’s adoptive mother had passed away. I could imagine how distressed Mary would be and I had to suppress the instinct to run to her to explain everything and offer comfort. Instead, I knew she needed time to grieve and I also knew that I couldn’t just spring my news on her without giving her the chance to get to know me first. That’s why I managed to engineer a drinks reception for media journalists and academics where I would have the opportunity of meeting and speaking to Mary’s tutor. She put me in touch with Mary and, as a result, I managed to persuade her to come over here to work for me but, really, so she could get to know me.’
I was fascinated and could well imagine what must be going through the heads of both women. Seeing as the conversation had already taken a very personal turn, I felt I could ask the other question that had been intriguing me.
‘And what about Mary’s father? How are things there?’
