A smile relaxed Maurizio’s frown. “So, I was wondering about your daughter...” She never talked about her family back in Hungary, and he was expecting that question to stir up the waters a bit. That was the first personal question he asked her besides the relationship she had with the victim.
For one second Madlen’s blood boiled in her veins, wondering why he was now questioning her about her daughter. “Do you mean Irina?”
Maurizio grinned victoriously at Leonardo, “Yes, is she living with you?”
“No, she’s in Hungary. After I divorced my ex-husband, I sent her to live with my sister. There she would have had a more normal life than she would have had here with me.” With a sigh she relived her memories, and the feeling of loneliness for not having her in her everyday life grew stronger in her heart. “She was very young, and I knew what her life would be like once she started attending school. Her classmates would surely come to know her mother was working in a night club and she would have been bullied constantly, shaming her for the career I chose for myself. She didn’t deserve to suffer for my choices, so I agreed with my sister that she would live in her household and I would pay for her education and personal expenses. I called her every day to know how she was doing and to make sure she had everything she needed. I wanted her to know that her mother didn’t reject her.”
Maurizio turned serious as the only emotions he could clearly grab from her voice were regret and sadness. Yet, I’m wondering whether we are talking about the same girl. Perhaps it’s a coincidence that Luciano’s girlfriend’s name is Irina. Besides, it’s quite a common name and I bet if I’m looking through all the exchange students at the University or at the daughters of immigrants, I will find at least a hundred girls with the same name.
“I understand. Did she ever travel to meet you? How old is she?” Maurizio pursued, intrigued to know more about that woman and her past. Particularly, he needed to know something about her ex-husband, whether he could have had a jealous reason to kill Claudio Calvani.
“She is now 23 years old. Every now and then she comes to spend some time here, but never more than a couple of weeks for the holidays. She finished her studies and is now looking for a job, but also considering the possibility of going to the University.” She reached her car, and switching on the hands-free system, she started to drive to the offices of the insurance company. “She has a double passport, so she thought perhaps it would have been better to study here and then return back to Hungary. She is young and needs some time to focus on what she wants in her life.”
“Of course,” Maurizio mumbled, crossing his legs. His eyes met a pen lying on the table, and he leaned forward to grab it.
Promptly Leonardo snatched it, knowing he would have, otherwise, started ticking it against the desk, something that could drive him crazy. A disappointed pout brought a shadow on Maurizio’s face. “I guess that’s all for the moment. I will meet you this afternoon at three o’clock, then.”
“Yes, see you later, Detective,” she said, quitting the conversation.
“So, what’s the news?” Leonardo wondered.
“She indeed has a daughter called Irina, but according to what she said, she’s in Hungary, so I find it difficult for her to be the same girl Mrs. Moretti was talking about. Nevertheless, she also said her daughter comes home from time to time to see her and spends in Italy a couple of weeks. She is twenty-three years old, and she’s still thinking about her future, whether she wants to frequent the University here in Rome or to find a job directly.” Maurizio shook his head, still trying to fit that information together. “I also wonder about the father of the girl. She was married once, but she divorced. I guess I’ll have to ask her about her husband. If he’s still living here, he might have had a good reason for killing Mr. Calvani.”
Leonardo nodded, “So, before we only had two possible suspects, now we have four. This is brilliant; I can’t wait to see how many more had a reason to kill that poor man. Luciano wasn’t missing anything and could have lived his wealthy life carelessly for another five years, and then slowly entering into the business of his father. Then there’s the girlfriend. What kind of connection are you considering for her?” Leonardo didn’t get the idea behind her possible involvement and was curious to know Maurizio’s point of view.
“I’m not saying this is the truth, but think for a moment. Luciano is a wealthy and nice-looking guy. He likes to show off his money, particularly when he secretly borrows his father’s Lamborghini.” Maurizio started to explain. “Now that’s a car that doesn’t go unnoticed, and a girl might be tempted to snatch the opportunity. I haven’t seen her, but if she remotely resembles her mother, then she has more than one chance to reach the heart of any young man.”
Shaking his head, Leonardo didn’t consider it a good reason to kill. “If it’s true, and I repeat it, IF, why wouldn’t she try and get pregnant by Luciano, so to force him to marry her? What kind of advantage would she get from killing Mr. Calvani? Sorry, but this makes no sense!”
“That’s true, but what if Luciano and Irina were planning together the assassination of the father?” Maurizio wondered. “No, you’re right,” he added after a short pause to consider the facts. “There’s absolutely no reason that would lead to her involvement.”
“Another
