“I know. I was a bit curious, and I have been literally bombed at work and by people I know, about this case. I always say that you don’t have permission to talk about it with me, so I don’t know anything about it. However, sometimes it’s difficult to keep them quiet. I wish there was more information about it from the press, but I’m afraid I will have to contain those news-hungry beasts.”
An amused laugh escaped her.
“I know, I understand it mustn’t be easy,” he grinned sarcastically.
CHAPTER 8
On Friday, Maurizio reached the attorney’s office a little in advance. He wanted to have a chat with Silvia Antonioni, who had arranged to summon the heirs.
She was a woman of an undefined age, possibly between thirty and fifty. Her career would have suggested the latter, but glancing at the fire burning in her eyes, and the care in the way she chose her dress, she could have been younger. That was the kind of person Maurizio feared the most because there wasn’t any chance to predict her thoughts, not at least based on the generation she’d been growing into.
Luckily for him, she wasn’t one of the suspects, rather a possible ally, which made him more comfortable with the questions he needed to ask, before the reading of the testament.
“Thank you for granting me an appointment before the reading,” he commenced, shaking her hand and smiling amiably at her.
“There are no reasons for me to deny you some time, and I agree in this case, you will need all the information to find the person who murdered Mr. Calvani. Please, have a seat,” she replied, inviting him to get more comfortable. “I have to admit the news of the death of my client came as quite a shock.”
“Thank you,” Maurizio replied, smiling. “There is one thing I keep constantly thinking, that being the time when Mr. Calvani gave you his holographic will.”
She brought a hand to her mouth, thinking about it, and lowered her gaze at the pile of papers she had accumulated on her desk. “Let me check; I believe he changed it many times,” she browsed through the folder. “He gave me the first version of the testament five years ago. At that time, he was still married to his wife, Mrs. Giulia Martini. A couple of years ago, he gave me a new one and informed me that he added three life insurances, one in favor of his son, one in favor of his mother who remained alone after the death of her husband, and another to a certain Madlen Fazekas.”
At hearing her name, Maurizio froze, feeling he got a great piece of information that could have produced an important milestone.
“How much is the sum to be corresponded to each of those three beneficiaries?” His heart thumped in his chest.
“It was twenty million euros. However, since his mother died last year, her part will be divided between the other two beneficiaries, according to the contract he undersigned with the insurance company, so at the moment his son and Ms. Fazekas would receive thirty million each,” she explained, raising her eyes back to Maurizio. She knew exactly what he was thinking.
He averted the glance from her and scanned the room to find a place to fix his attention on, a place that could have given him the chance to focus on his consideration. The library at the right side of the desk where Silvia was seated grabbed his attention and offered him the best item to focus on.
Well, we have two winners in the lottery of life. One is the son, who would have inherited most of his father’s wealth, so thirty million more or less wouldn’t make a big difference in the whole jackpot. Yet, this is not a good reason for excluding him from the list of the people who had a reason to have Claudio Calvani dead. The other one is a stripper for whom the same figure would have meant a radical change of life. She was certainly maintained by her boyfriend, but we all know that relationships come and go, and he might have dumped her as he did with his wife. If this had happened, she would have had to return to her dancing career, but this time, considering the age, she wouldn’t find another deal.
His mind was working like an overheated machine, and the possibility that Madlen had one of the best reasons to kill Claudio started to take over his mind, giving him a steady direction for his investigation.
I need to know more about this woman’s background, where was she born, her family, why did she choose to come to Italy... I need everything, Maurizio pondered, caressing the stubbles on his chin, keeping his glance steady on the bookcase.
Silvia remained watching him, trying to guess what his thoughts were. It wasn’t difficult to imagine he was contemplating the idea of having Ms. Fazekas accused of the murder of Claudio Calvani, and if she had to be honest, it sounded like the most promising lead to solve the murder. Yet, there is still time and a long list of details, I’m afraid will come out from this case.
“So, let me understand one thing,” he turned his eyes on her. “He changed his will, and he added a life insurance policy to make sure his new girlfriend wouldn’t have had to fight legally if the direct heirs contested the will, and they would most probably have won, leaving her without anything, back to where she started.”
“That’s a possibility, yes.”
