“Had he been abusive toward you? Was he ever arrested for domestic violence?” Leonardo wondered, leaning on the couch.
“No, he was not violent, but he was extremely jealous. He was always thinking there was another man trying to get me away from him. It was an obsession, which led him to follow me wherever I went and check all the telephone calls I made. He never raised a hand to me, but it was impossible to live that way.” She paused for a moment then, widening her eyes, unclenching her fists, she turned her eyes to look at them both. “You are not suggesting that he might be the one who killed Claudio for jealousy?”
“Why not?” Maurizio answered with a calm tone on his voice, raising his glance from his notebook to her. “A jealous man doesn’t stop being obsessed with his wife simply because they aren’t married anymore. To be honest, this was something you should have told us since the beginning, and we will check his alibi.”
Averting her attention from them, she covered her mouth with a hand, considering Maurizio’s words. They made sense, but she wasn’t ready to believe he would have reached that point. “I… I personally don’t think...”
Suddenly all the words failed her.
“We’re only trying to see all the possibilities. I’m not saying he is for sure the murderer, but he had a good motive for killing Mr. Calvani. Your former husband was a jealous man, and if he knew you had a new boyfriend, he might have lost control over this, and do something irrational. Did you ever notice him or his car around the night club where you were working?” Leonardo asked, trying to put her at ease.
“No,” she shook her head. “I haven’t seen him or noticed anything strange when I was at work, or with Claudio.”
“We will find this out, but there’s another question I need to ask you.” Maurizio started flicking the pen between his fingers. “Why did you have a meeting with the insurance company? You should have been aware that until the case is closed, or we give permission to release the fund they aren’t allowed to make any payments.”
“I need money. While Claudio was alive, he paid me an allowance of 2000 Euros every month. Now I’m left with nothing at all, I’m not his wife, so I have no access to any social compensation, or any inheritance. I don’t have any other income, but I need to live.”
“Have you tried looking for a job?” Leonardo’s voice arrived like the screeching of nails against a chalkboard, leaving Maurizio and Madlen surprised.
Maurizio’s face turned red as if it wanted to explode, and the veins on his temple got swollen and pulsed like crazy. “Romizi!” he yelled, his voice thundering through the room.
Leonardo wished the ground would swallow him up and tensed his shoulders, understanding he’d been tactless in his question. Moreover, he also knew his incautious words would have led him to the room of the chief commissioner as they’d reach the Police Department. He hoped there wouldn’t have been any disciplinary measures.
Me and my big mouth, Leonardo cursed within himself. “I… I’m sorry, Ma’am, I didn’t mean to be impolite,” he muttered.
Madlen’s expression relaxed, she had to start thinking about her life. She needed to get her hands on that settlement at any cost, and she hoped the chat she had with the representative at the insurance company would have given her a good result. They said they would look into the situation and would give her an answer.
I hope Irina was right and they will be ready to pay half of my share. I wish I could leave this place forever and live my life with my daughter in peace. I swear I’ll never mess up my life with any man ever again.
She felt bitter, not because of the rude improper comment of Forensic Inspector Romizi - after all he’s right, and the only chance I have is to find a job at least to make sure I’m not going to live on the streets. She glanced once again at Maurizio sending inflamed glares at his colleague.
“I understand you didn’t mean to be offensive, and you’re right, I should start to think about my life and take it back in my own hands,” she said.
“You’ll be reported to your supervisor,” Maurizio growled, as Leonardo’s body tensed up.
Maurizio couldn’t think clearly any longer. He scanned back his notebook taking a fast look at everything he’d been asking trying to figure out whether there were any other open questions. One thing he knew for sure, was that next time he was bringing someone to question a suspect, he would have made sure the man was mute.
So, to sum it up, there’s a jealous husband we need to locate, and question. There’s still the question of her daughter; I still can’t say whether she’s the same person as Luciano’s girlfriend or not. According to what she said, she can’t be the one, as she comes to Italy only to visit her once in a while. Yet, she might have kept her relationship with the son of her boyfriend a secret. I can see how the situation might be a bit bizarre.
He turned his back to glance at Madlen, “May I ask to see a recent picture of your daughter?”
Like awaking from a dream, she startled on the couch. “Of course, hold on a moment,” she said, standing and walking to a closet. From one of the shelves, she grabbed a picture album, returned to her seat and opened it to the latest page. “Here is a photo of her last birthday, five
