The Chianti Case by H L Marsay

Author:H L Marsay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2025-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“I think I might go and see how Gino is,” announced Emma as they neared the hotel. “Do you want to come with me?”

Nico gave her another sceptical look, then shook his head. “No. I need to take a shower after my run, and I expect the police will still be at Gino’s. I doubt he’ll be allowed to receive visitors.”

“Well, it can’t hurt to try,” she replied.

Then, as she turned to go, she heard him call after her, “Be careful, Emma.”

She waved without turning back. Honestly, sometimes it was like he could read her mind, she thought as she walked away. In truth, she didn’t only want to see Gino. First, she wanted to visit Aldo’s bar. And, as much as she didn’t relish visiting the place alone, she knew Nico and probably Paddy, too, would both have tried to stop her.

If Emma had wanted to describe the inside of Aldo’s bar, she would have called it old-fashioned. Not in a quaint, charming way or a cool, retro way but a strange stuck-in-the-past way. There were whole Parma hams hanging from the ceiling, a huge wheel of Parmesan on the bar, and empty bottles of Chianti in their traditional fiascos or baskets on every table with red candles wedged in them. Emma guessed Aldo must have opened the bar during the early 2000s and hadn’t changed a single thing since, from the music blaring out of the speakers of the dusty old CD player to the photos on the wall of Aldo, with his arms around famous singers, actors, and sportsmen of the era. There were quite a few of a young Aldo in the boxing ring as well as a row of slightly tarnished trophies.

From the smouldering cigarettes hanging out of the mouths of the cronies gathered around him at the bar, it looked like the smoking ban of 2005 hadn’t reached this establishment yet either. Emma was a little surprised to see Gino’s great-uncle Antonio there too. He was sitting at one of the tables with Monica snoring on the floor next to him. The old man appeared engrossed in his newspaper and didn’t notice her walk in.

As for Aldo himself, there was only one word she could use to describe him, and that was smug. He looked up when Emma approached the bar and pointed a chubby, nicotine-stained finger at her.

“You. You are the English wine buyer. You wouldn’t help me last night,” he said in an accusing tone.

“That’s right. My name is Emma King,” she replied brightly.

“And you are friends with the murderer.”

“Kiara hasn’t actually been charged.”

“Not yet,” he replied with a nasty laugh.

“You were at Gino’s bar last night. Did you see Kiara serving any wine?”

“The carabinieri have already asked me this. I told them. Why should I tell you?”

Emma was surprised and pleased to hear that he’d already been visited by the police, when Cesare had seemed so reluctant to speak to him. However, he really didn’t seem very friendly. In fact, he looked like he might throw her out of the bar.

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