Following the indications Laura had made on my map, I went to the outdoor market of Saint Lawrence. I carefully selected my purchases. Then I discarded my suddenly very shabby-looking old purse, replaced it with my new one, and tied one of my new silk scarves around my neck.

  My next stop was the Ponte Vecchio. The footbridge was lined on either side with jewelry shops. I took time to admire the artistry of the precious metals and stones that filled the display cases, but a woman just ahead of me caught my attention. It was Graziella Bartolini, Ernesto's wife. A shopkeeper greeted Graziella by name. He took her arm in his and praised the piece she had been admiring. Then with an expert move, he guided her into his shop.

  Unable to resist my curiosity, I went to the window display Graziella had been admiring. It was filled with bejeweled pieces, none priced below thirty thousand dollars! While I had already noticed that Italian women in general, and Graziella in particular, wore more jewelry than American women, ten thousand dollars was quite a bit more expensive than I had expected. I quickly calculated how many new purses and scarves I could buy for that amount, and decided it was more than I would ever use in a lifetime!

  *****

  I found the palace, as Laura had called it, which housed the library and the Whitehorses' home. They lived on the top floor of the five-story building, a privilege allowed the Director of the British Council. Brass wall plates announcing the library's presence led me into a dark courtyard, then up stone steps to the front door.

  As I went in the door, I stepped straight into a London social club, or so it seemed. Light flooded in from large windows that overlooked the Arno River. Portraits of benefactors, royal and otherwise, decorated the walls, surrounded by bookshelves full of leather-bound volumes. Leather armchairs circled a large coffee table covered with English-language newspapers. Reading lamps glowed on side tables, so the elderly men seated there could read with ease their Financial Times, The Independent, or the Times.

  "Bert, right on time!" Colin spoke in the characteristic librarian's whisper.

  I responded in kind, a response to being once again among the stacks of books that had filled my life. "What a lovely library, Colin! I feel transported to England."

  Colin beamed with pride. "Our members wouldn't have it any other way." He led me to the windows to show off the view. "Across from us is the most important wine association in Tuscany." He pointed out other famous palaces along the river embankment, and I admired them with delight. "And that's the U. S. Consulate, the wedge-shaped building." He lowered his voice even further and explained, "We used to deal with them quite a bit, when we were a cover for MI-6 agents."

  Before I could respond to this bit of spy news, Colin had hurried me through a door in the corner of the room. A spiral staircase brought us to the ground floor level. No sunlight entered this part of the library and the climate and humidity felt artificially controlled.

  "Most of our collection is stored here. The more valuable books, however, are on the second floor and can be seen by appointment only. I'll show you them on your next visit."

  Aisle upon aisle of bookshelves filled the massive room. We walked up and down the aisles, and Colin described the collection.

  Suddenly Colin's hand shot up and caught a book as it fell from a shelf. "I tell them to replace the books with care, but our book sorter can barely reach the top shelves." Tall Colin replaced the book on the top shelf with ease, and pushed it back in line with the other books. "Let's go upstairs. I want to show you our computer room where we access the digital book collections."

  I followed silently, still in shocked amazement at Colin's incredibly fast reflexes. I had not even seen the book falling! He must have caught sight of it out of the corner of his eye, and then reacted by reflex alone. I had never met a librarian with skills like that before. Lightning fast reflexes and the intricacies of the library sciences did not often go hand in hand, but perhaps they did if the librarian was also an agent of the British Foreign Intelligence Service, MI-6. The unlikely idea began to seem less unlikely.

  "Everything alright?" Colin asked his deputy librarian.

  "Only those school boys again, but they settled down as soon as they saw you." She indicated a group of teenaged boys seated at a study table.

  "I'll be in the computer room." Colin pointed to the glass enclosed space next to his office. "They can see me, and I can see them. You shouldn't have any more problems." He left the woman looking much relieved.

  Colin the peacemaker? The man who handled unruly youths? The man who had Antonio pinned down in less than a minute? He was like no librarian I had ever known. "Colin, what was that you said earlier about MI-6 using the library as a cover?"

  "Oh, yes, well, I can't tell you much about that." He said offhandedly, "National security. You know how it is."

  He sat me down at one of the computer workstations. I realized that, as Laura had warned me, Colin was not going to say any more. So I brought up another subject that was on my mind. "Colin, you and Michela seem so well suited to each other, but were there any cultural problems you encountered that Laura might learn from?"

  Colin thought a moment, then said cautiously, "I'm sure there are good and bad traits in Italians, and English, and Americans, but Michela and I found that our personal traits were more important than any national traits. Having said that, I'm sure I would never have met an English woman who could have made me as happy as Michela."

  What a beautiful thing to say! Colin was deeply in love with his wife, but were Italian women easier to get along with than Italian men? "What do you think of Tomaso's character? Do you think he's right for Laura?"

  Again, Colin thought long and hard before answering. "He's better than he used to be. I know that doesn't sound too promising, but I've only known the grown-up Tomaso a short time. I knew the boy Tomaso much longer and was not impressed by him, or his youngest brother, Antonio, God rest his troubled soul."

  "You knew Tomaso and Antonio as boys?"

  "Yes, I knew Ernesto, too. They used to come here with their English classes, like the boys out there." He pointed to the rowdy young men at the study table. "They harassed the foreign girls, terribly. They saw them as sport. I actually banned Tomaso and Antonio from the library for a short time as punishment. I'm not sure he remembers me. It was a long time ago and I was a lot younger."

  "They went to a very good school, didn't they?"

  Colin answered quickly, "A good education doesn't make one a better person. It just makes one more capable of achieving one's goals."

  Between Colin's position as the Director of the British Council in Florence, and Michela's charity work, I suspected they were very well connected in Florentine society. Recalling looks the couple shared the evening of the murder, I asked, "Our Marshal Tadeucci used to work in Florence. Had you ever met him before the other evening?"

  "It's funny you ask that! Michela and I put him together with a Franco Tadeucci who was very big in the Florence police force. He was a specialist of some kind who worked high profile cases and gave lectures in Europe and even in America about police technique. We didn't expect to see him in such a small town."

  That explained Franco's vague trips to the States, I thought. "He told us he moved to Montemorello to be able to spend more time with his daughter."

  "That may be right. His wife died from cancer a few years back. By the way, we spoke to Tadeucci this morning and told him we were on the property for a short time before we left to go antiquing."

  I felt this would be the best moment to ask my question. "What did you and Antonio fight about that morning, Colin?"

  Colin was out the computer room door before I had finished asking the question. He stopped on the other side of the glass wall and indicated for me to follow him. When I caught up with him, he was already at the library's main door. "Michela's waiting for you." He directed me to the stairwell at the end of the hall. "Just go up to the top floor and ring the doorbell. Give Michela my love. Got to run, Bert. It's been a pleasure!"

  In a matter of seconds, Colin was safely in his precious library, and I had been deposited in the hallway, none the wiser about why Colin had fought with Antonio on the day of the murder!

  *****

  "One thing that drew both Colin and I to Laura was her self-knowledge."

  Michela had an easy manner and an attentive ear. I felt I now understood some of the love and admiration Colin held for his wife. A natural teacher, she drew people out and encouraged their self-confidence. The tea and cakes on the walnut table before me, and the floral-patterned overstuffed furniture around me, made me feel like I was at the northern end of the European continent. Only the sunshine steaming through the windows overlooking the Arno River reminded me I was in Florence.

  "She's so much more self-aware than Tomaso. I think that's my greatest reservation about their engagement. I'll be honest with you, Bert. I suggested Laura hold off on the engagement. I think she's blinded by Tomaso's good looks, his important family, and his attentive ways."

  "You don't think Tomaso's sincere, do you?"

  "I think he's sincere without knowing why he's sincere. What I mean is, I think Tomaso wants to be the person he appears to be, and is trying very hard to become that person. The will may be there, but his willpower may not be stronger than his character flaws." Michela, the former schoolteacher, searched for a good example. "Colin told me how Tomaso reacted when he heard about Antonio's death. You might not have understood, but Giovanna explained to everyone how Antonio had died, which was gruesome, and that Laura had found his body, which was horrible for her!"

  "She suffered, poor thing. Marshal Tadeucci was very good with her."

  "Colin told me! Franco Tadeucci is a kind and decent man. But did Tomaso go to comfort Laura? No! He reverted to his true nature. He ran to Mama! That's what I mean by the will may be there, but the strength of character isn't."

  "So, it's a good thing Laura's cancelled the wedding."

  "Yes, I think it's a good idea but for the wrong reason. I would've preferred Laura had cancelled the wedding to give them both more time to see if they're really right for each other, not because of the murder investigation. I'm glad we're having this chance to speak privately, Bert. I think you hold great influence with Laura. She'll listen to you. If you have doubts, she may have doubts, and doubts can be a good thing. They help us avoid making mistakes." Michela stopped and checked her watch. "We just have time to get to the restaurant!"

  *****

  "They all know you here, Michela!" The walls of the airy restaurant were painted with pastel-colored murals depicting the muses. Angels made music and art all across the ceiling, and stylized vines and trees on the walls created the impression of being outdoors.

  "I entertain here a lot for my charity work."

  Three well-dressed women approached our table and addressed Michela in Italian. Michela interrupted them, "This is a friend from America. She doesn't speak Italian. If you want to talk, let's do so in English, to be polite."

  The women became silent and eyed me suspiciously. Then one of them said, "You just want to show off your school-teacher English, Michela."

  The second woman said, "I'd speak English like you if I had an English husband, but my husband is Italian, every part of him." She laughed cattily.

  The third woman said, "We've called an early vote next Tuesday on your plans. We don't think you're going to have enough votes, and we wanted to warn you."

  I noted that the woman's warning was made with a tone of deep satisfaction, and that all three women treated Michela with mock respect.

  "I'm entertaining my friend today, ladies. Work can wait for the office." Michela signaled to the waiter to come to our table. This was also a signal to the women that they were no longer welcome. When they were out of hearing, Michela said, "A bunch of backstabbers! I run a charity I set up, and they want to take it from me!" The waiter arrived and Michela asked him for a bottle of mineral water.

  After the waiter hurried off, I said, "Laura told me about your work. It sounds very rewarding."

  "It is!" Michela smiled. "It's lovely to see how children respond to just a bit of encouragement. Those women don't care about that! They just like the prestige that goes with the job."

  "Can they really get you fired from your own charity?"

  "I set it up as a foundation, and the foundation has a board of governors who choose the president each year. If I make a mess of things or there's a scandal, even a small one, I could be removed."

  The waiter returned with the water and our food.

  "Michela, I've been meaning to ask to something, out of curiosity. Why did Colin fight with Antonio the other day?"

  "It's a long and unhappy story that I'm not sure would interest you, Bert." I was about to disagree when Michela continued, "I understand that it must be especially difficult for Laura with Tomaso being a suspect. You may want to help by investigating."

  My coloring cheeks gave me away. "I'm worried about Laura, and I think it's best if this is resolved as quickly as possible."

  "So that's why you've agreed to help Marshal Tadeucci with his investigation?"

  Michela had no difficulty being direct. I wondered if the Bianchis had told Michela about my questioning them. "I'm sorry if I've offended you, Michela. The marshal asked me to keep my eyes and ears open, and to help Laura; I agreed."

  "It seems like you're doing more than just watching and listening." Michela paused a second and then said, "And I'm very impressed." She smiled kindly on me. "We want to help Laura, too. I'll answer your questions. I just wanted everything to be above board. No deceptions."

  "That makes me more comfortable, too." I was very relieved and pleasantly surprised.

  "But before I answer your questions, I think you should know more about Colin." Michela set down her knife and fork and concentrated on her words. "Colin is a very reserved man who prefers peaceful relations with everyone. He prides himself on not being an English thug, unlike many in his family. He learned to defend himself as a boy and then served some time in the English military, but Colin is not a violent man. My husband is a self-made man who's the man he is today because of his tremendous self-control, willpower, and talent."

  "I understand." I did understand, now. That was why Colin was so good at defending himself and why he felt no fear in the face of a bully. It was also why an expensive education did not impress him. He had managed fine without one.

  "A while back, Antonio ran his car into a young woman, one of my charity's promising pianists. He never accepted responsibility for the accident, and there were no witnesses other than the victim herself."

  A chilling thought came to me. "Paola Cecchi?"

  Michela looked surprised but continued, "Yes, Giusi and Cecilio's daughter. I acted as go-between for the Cecchis with Giovanna Bartolini. Giovanna is a fair woman."

  "Giovanna is paying for Paola's education at University. Was that the settlement you made?" Things were beginning to fit together in my mind.

  "Yes, Giovanna and Giusi were eager to settle things peacefully. Cecilio wanted the police involved or he would settle it his own way." Michela hurried to explain, "But that was a while ago! I don't think he killed Antonio, and besides, they were with Donatella for practically the whole time!"

  Now that I knew the story of Paola's accident, I better understood Cecilio's behavior the day of the party. He had enjoyed seeing Colin pin Antonio against the terrace wall, and his exaggerated anger with Antonio in the oil shed made sense now, too.

  "The fight started when Antonio recognized me at the party. He knew I was the one who had pushed his mother to pay for his crime. Antonio said something very rude to me, and so I told him what I thought of him, which made him even ruder! Colin reacted by reflex and made Antonio apologize," she said with undisguised pride.

  "But why would Laura invite Antonio to her party? She must have known it would upset Cecilio and Giusi, and you, for that matter."

  "We never told her it was Antonio who had caused Paola's injuries. We told her it was a hit-and-run, which is true, technically. She thinks Giovanna is paying for Paola's education out of friendship."

  "But why didn't you tell her?"

  "It was Giovanna's condition for settlement. Tomaso had only just started dating Laura, and Giovanna liked Laura very much. Giovanna didn't want to ruin Tomaso's chances with a wonderful woman because of something Antonio had done. She thought Laura wouldn't want to have anything to do with the Bartolinis if she knew the truth."

  "Is that why you didn't tell me about your charity when we first met? You were afraid I might put the pieces together and tell Laura?"

  "It seems you practically did put the pieces together," she said with a laugh. "I have to ask you, Bert, not to tell any of this to Laura. I have already advised all those involved to tell the marshal everything, so you don't have to worry about that."

  I answered without hesitation. "I don't like keeping secrets from Laura."

  Michela answered just as quickly. "You haven't told Laura you're helping Franco investigate her friends and her fiancé."

  "Well, yes. I see your point." I was caught.

  Michela continued cautiously, "I probably have no right, but I have a favor to ask of you: Promise me you'll keep investigating." Michela smiled at my surprise. "I want you to use your skills to uncover all the buried secrets of the Bartolinis and their friends. You're very good at it! Just look at what you've discovered from the Bianchis and from Colin and me. I just know the answer to who killed Antonio rests with that family, and Laura has to know the truth if she's to regain her peace of mind."

  "I think you're overestimating my skills." I tried not to give in to the flattery. "But of course, I agree, for Laura's sake."

  *****

  "No here. Non sono qui. Quindici minuti." The maid opened up her hand three times, wiggling her fingers each time.

  "Fifteen minutes, I understand. They're not here, yet. I'll wait."