The Savage Garden

    'Why?' insisted Maurizio.

    'I didn't have a choice. I had to find out.'

    Maurizio turned suddenly and used the screwdriver to prize the plaque free of the wall. His torch revealed nothing behind other than bare, raw stone. There was certainly no gun, and no bullets.

    'Very clever,' muttered Maurizio. 'Very clever.'

    Instinct told Adam to keep his own confusion to himself. Where the hell was the gun?

    Maurizio sat himself down on the end of a pew. There was something defeated about his body language that Adam found hard to square with the man, so he kept his distance.

    'Well, now you know.'

    'Why?' asked Adam. 'He was your brother.'

    'It happened. I don't have to explain to you.'

    'Because of all of this ... a house, some land?' He wanted to believe that something else had played a part —a clash of ideologies, anything other than simple greed.

    'But you made sure. With his own gun?'

    Maurizio didn't reply; he stared at his hands, as if they alone had been to blame for his actions.

    'Where was Gaetano?'

    'He arrived as the Germans were leaving. He was coming upstairs when he heard the shots.' Maurizio raised his head and added flatly, 'There's nothing you can do.'

    'I can tell your mother.'

    'Yes. And she will do nothing.'

    'How do you know?'

    'Because I won't permit her to.'

    'Oh really?' scoffed Adam.

    A slyness crept into Maurizio's smile. 'You're an intelligent boy—work it out.'

    Even in the half-light Adam could make out the cold and creeping cunning in his eyes. Maurizio seemed to be saying he was ready to add matricide to fratricide, if that's what the situation called for.

    'It's your decision.'

    Ugo's sudden bark sounded like a triumphant cry, applause for the brilliance of his master's devilish strategy.

    'Zitto,' spat Maurizio. But Ugo had no intention of remaining silent. He barked again, bounding toward the door of the chapel.

    Maurizio moved with impressive speed, but the door still swung open before he got there.

    Maria stepped into the chapel, shielding her eyes from the glare of Maurizio's flashlight.

    'Maria ...'

    Maria pulled the door shut behind her, her face set in stone. 'I heard everything.'

    Maurizio's eyes flicked back and forth between her and Adam, searching for a connection. Adam could have told him there was none, if Maurizio hadn't figured it out for himself.

    'What are you doing here?'

    'Listening.'

    'Who for? My mother?'

    Maria didn't reply, but her silence seemed to speak to Maurizio.

    'Who, then?' he asked. 'Antonella?'

    Again, Adam saw nothing in Maria's face that constituted an answer. Maurizio clearly knew how to read her better. 'Of course ... she knows it will come to her if I don't get it,' he said, his tone suggesting that the pieces were now falling into place for him.

    Adam, on the other hand, was struggling to keep up, his mind reeling, trying to process the information.

    He gave up the fight when Maurizio added, 'Whatever she's giving you, I'll give you more.' 'She's giving me a lot.'

    'It's nothing.'

    Maria took her time before replying. 'I want a house of my own. Not an apartment. And I want money.'

    'How much?'

    'Enough so I don't ever have to worry again.'

    'It's yours,' said Maurizio.

    Adam didn't intend to speak. The English words just exited his mouth. 'Maria, what are you doing?'