Take No More by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788636537
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2020-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 32

Tuesday September 2nd

Next morning, after a troubled night’s sleep, I presented myself early at the Questura, as requested. It was not yet nine o’clock when I arrived yet I was ushered straight into Inspector Manieri’s office.

The appraisal of the requirements for the missing persons investigation was thorough and professional; Manieri asked probing questions on the details of Julia’s visit to Florence that I answered to the best of my ability, my answers informed by my reading of Julia’s files the night before. A uniformed police officer took notes as the interview proceeded.

“So the last you know of her whereabouts was she checked out of Hotel Leonardo at 9:30 AM on Friday,” Manieri said.

“That’s what the hotel manager says. I think he informed on me and got me abducted, as I told you.”

“But that’s the last time you can place your wife, she’s not been in contact with you since?”

“Only once; by email. A message that was sent after she checked out of the hotel, the same day I found the body in the apartment in London.”

I showed Manieri the message on my phone. He noted the time on the email header – 1.30 PM – and then took in the message – help me.

“It’s what convinced me I should come here.”

I called up the image of Leda and the Swan.

He frowned. “What do you take the painting to mean? Why do you think she sent you that?”

“I don’t know. Just this image and a cry for help.”

“And you think the message has a bearing on the death of the woman in the apartment in London?”

“Julia was looking for that painting, or others as valuable. Maybe there is a deeper connection.”

Manieri was impressed by my attempt at impartiality. “Is there anything else you feel is material that you haven’t already told us?” The inspector’s tone suggested he was about to bring the interview to a close.

“Just this picture,” I said.

I handed Manieri my phone once more. I’d copied the pictures I’d discovered in Julia’s files. I was showing him the picture of Julia and her murdered twin seated in the restaurant.

“The two women together.” Manieri looked carefully at the picture. “So we have proof they did meet before the woman’s death.”

“The date stamp on the picture puts that as just two days before the murder in London.”

“Indeed,” Manieri said. The intensity of his interest in the picture was sharpening. “Seeing the two women, side-by-side like this, the first sensation is how alike they are. They are identical, as you say in England. Your wife, educated and middle-class; the other woman, a woman living a hard life. And the more I look, Mr Blake, the more I realise we know her. Here at the Questura. The woman is known to us, I am sure.”

“Grassi,” he said to the uniformed officer who had been taking the notes, “get me Leonini from Squadra Mobile. Get him to come in.”

The officer left and returned with the portly plainclothes policeman, Leonini, just a few minutes later.

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