‘And what did she say?’ asked the lieutenant.
‘She told me the animosity was years ago. Wanted to start afresh now she’d moved out here. I still didn’t believe her but I thought my energy was better used seeing for myself. So I suggested that I come too. Abby agreed but I was to arrive a couple of days after Ellie. Then last week Abby rang me. Begged me not to tell Ellie about what she’d done to her little sister when they were children. I’ve kept it secret for years – I’ve felt guilty about that too – and it did occur to me that if Abby wanted a clean slate, then maybe it was a good idea for her to explain what she’d done. But she insisted on keeping it quiet. She got quite upset with me about it.’ Susanna sighed. ‘I didn’t like the sound of any of it. That’s why I came here a couple of days early. I was wary of Abby being alone with Ellie.’
‘You still haven’t explained the injury,’ said Baroni, pointing at Susanna’s head.
‘This is all complete rubbish,’ said Matteo, unable to contain his frustration anymore. ‘Sorry, Susanna, but Abby’s not some child abuser. She asked her sister here because she genuinely wanted to get closer to her.’
‘She has a history of lying,’ said Susanna quietly. ‘When I brought the drinks out on the terrace, I could see she’d upset Ellie. Then she told her’ – Susanna looked visibly shaken, placed a hand on her chest – ‘that Ellie had been poisoned as a child but that I had done it. I couldn’t believe it. All those years I’d protected her and then she did that. Lied about me like that. I could see Ellie was distraught and I went to her but she was so traumatized she pushed me away. I fell and must have blacked out. Cut my head on the broken glass.’
Lieutenant Baroni took all this in. Susanna saw Matteo shake his head in disbelief.
‘Where is she now?’ asked Baroni. ‘Where are both of your daughters?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Susanna hopelessly. ‘They’re not here and Abby’s car is gone. I’m guessing Abby took Ellie somewhere.’
‘Any idea where?’
‘No. I mean, I’ve only just arrived. I don’t know the island or where Abby would go.’ Susanna looked up at Matteo for assistance.
‘Are you trying to suggest she’s gone on the run?’ he asked incredulously.
‘Well, she didn’t stay and help me,’ replied Susanna. ‘Might as well have left me for dead.’
Matteo stood. ‘I’m going to be late for work,’ he said and went out of the room.
Susanna heard him go upstairs. She turned to Lieutenant Baroni. ‘We need to find them. I’m worried about what Abby might do to Ellie.’
‘You think that she still might harm her?’
‘I’m convinced of it. She’s psychologically damaged, has an obsessive personality – controlling almost. She did nothing but work until she was able to retire early. But even coming out here hasn’t made her let go of Ellie. She’s always hated her, hated the bond Ellie and I have. Something that ironically Abby made even stronger by causing Ellie’s illness.’ Susanna paused. ‘That must have hurt a lot.’
Susanna got her bag from the floor and found her phone. She turned the screen to face the police, so they could see the photo she’d pulled up. Captain Santini’s eyes widened, as he made no attempt to hide his interest.
‘Yes,’ said Susanna, clipped. ‘She’s beautiful. Something else Abby resented about her.’
Baroni frowned at Santini’s lack of respect. She’d never worked with him before but she’d been distantly aware of his reputation. He was known for his violent undertone – nothing that would get him into trouble, but there had been rumours of him breaking the rules with prisoners when no one was looking. Baroni had been dismayed when he’d been assigned to the investigation with her. She’d requested an alternative officer but her boss, irritated by her challenging his authority (not for the first time), had refused.
Matteo, now changed into his uniform, had come back into the room. He seemed agitated.
‘Are you leaving for work now?’ asked Susanna.
‘No,’ he said. ‘I can’t.’ He ran his hand through his hair, seemed unsure of what to do.
‘I thought you said you were going to be late?’ said Susanna.
Matteo paused. ‘My gun is missing from the safe.’
The room fell silent.
Susanna felt goosebumps run up her arms. ‘Who knew the code?’ she asked quietly.
Matteo was wrestling with himself. ‘OK, so, yes, Abby did too,’ he said defensively. ‘But it doesn’t mean she took my gun.’
He wasn’t convinced, Susanna could tell. She shifted her eyes over to the police and was relieved to see they were taking her concerns a whole lot more seriously. She also saw Santini’s look of relish. This investigation had clearly just stepped up a gear.
TWENTY
The farmer drove his tractor along the road, enjoying the quiet warmth of the evening. The sun had almost set and if he looked up into the hills to his right, he could see his olive groves becoming blanketed by the dark. It gave him a sense of well-being, of the right order of things. Soon he would be home where his wife would have a hearty stew on the table, which he would enjoy with a glass of Sangiovese.
As he rounded the corner, he clocked something in the shadowy road up ahead. He frowned; it looked like a car, abandoned. He approached, stopping just before the vehicle. Switching off his engine, he climbed down and walked over to the car. He saw the wall and whistled. This land belonged to his neighbour, Antonio, who would be most disgruntled at the amount of damage to his wall. This section would need rebuilding completely! The farmer checked up and down the road – night was coming and drivers wouldn’t see the deserted car in the dark. He took his phone out of his pocket and dialled for the police.
TWENTY-ONE
‘Their phones are going straight to voicemail,’ said Lieutenant Baroni. ‘We’ll check the ferry records – see if Abby’s car was registered with any of them.’
‘You think they’ve left the island?’ asked Susanna.
‘It’s possible. Can you show us their rooms?’
‘Why?’
‘They’re looking for bodies,’ said Matteo. ‘They’ll search the whole house.’
Susanna looked from Matteo to Baroni, aghast. ‘You think they’re here? Ellie’s here?’
‘We don’t know anything yet,’ said Baroni with a reprimanding look at Matteo. ‘But if we could see their rooms . . .?’
Susanna stood and led the way upstairs. The Carabinieri followed, with Matteo bringing up the rear. Susanna stopped outside Abby’s room first but, aware Matteo was behind her, didn’t like to encroach any further.
The lieutenant had no such qualms and stepped forward. ‘Have any of her clothes gone?’ she asked.
Matteo uncrossed his arms and went over to the wardrobe, looking inside. ‘I think so. A few.’
‘Anything else you notice?’
‘No.’
Susanna watched from the doorway as the police moved around the room, looking on shelves, opening drawers. Captain Santini moved over to the bed, began to rummage around the bedside cabinet. From the top, he picked up the book Abby must have been reading, turned it upside down and flicked through it, but nothing fell out. He opened the drawer and pulled out a couple more books and a bundle of envelopes.