At the End of a Dull Day Read Online Free PDF Page B

from it. You’re a smart boy and you have all my esteem and affection and that’s why you have to believe me when I tell you that I don’t owe you a penny—”
    â€œI find it difficult to believe you, especially when I think of the fact that you kept me out of the Croatian deal.”
    He spread his arms wide. “I already explained why that had to happen. The Fearless Leader is increasingly at risk of making a crash landing, and we have to brace ourselves for impact if that happens, so we can survive the end of his rule and go on governing. This is the time to reach out and make new alliances and develop new strategies.”
    â€œTalk to me about money, Counselor. It’s the only subject I’m interested in.”
    He sighed. “All right, all right! I give you my word that, within a year from today, I’ll reimburse you for your loss with 25 percent interest.”
    â€œThat strikes me as a pretty daunting commitment,” I replied, baffled.
    He refilled our glasses and raised his in a toast. “Just remember who I am and what my word is worth.”
    I picked up my glass and accepted his toast. Brianese got to his feet.
    â€œDuty calls, I have a party meeting to decide on the upcoming candidates.”
    â€œGood luck.”
    â€œI’m going to need it,” he muttered as he pulled a box of mints out of his jacket pocket and tossed a couple into his mouth.
    Brianese was an intelligent, skillful, pragmatic man. I’d always respected those qualities of his and I ought to have been satisfied with the way he’d come around on the two million euros, but there was something that didn’t add up. I had the feeling that his final toast of farewell, offered as a guarantee of his promise, was just dictated by his haste to win over the latest asshole in a long succession of suckers. It didn’t strike me as being in keeping with his style. My doubts became intolerable over the course of the next half hour, and when I caught myself being rude and abusive to the chef for no good reason, even though I know how hard it is to find good cooks in this city, I decided to make a phone call to a person who might be able to help clear up my lingering misgivings. He was willing to meet me but since I couldn’t very well show up empty-handed I gave Nicoletta a call.
    â€œDo you have a couple of girls free?”
    â€œYes. The two Venezuelans.”
    â€œI’ll swing by to pick them up.”
    A moment of silence ensued. “For personal use?”
    â€œI need to give a gift.”
    â€œUnderstood.”
    â€œThis is a useful investment for the company,” I lied. “Anyway, I’ll take care of the girls.”
    I made a quick round of the tables and I took a seat at the one where Martina and Gemma were sitting. Gemma hastened to point out the absence of Professor Salvini.
    â€œHe didn’t make a reservation tonight,” I explained. “He must have moved on to try the cooking in some other restaurant. Anyway, I doubt we’ll see him in here again. He said that he wasn’t used to spending so much for a meal. The classic bullshit you hear from the radical chic crowd.”
    Martina smiled at the cutting comment. I ordered a grilled tenderloin with a side of roasted vegetables.
    â€œHow’d your run go?” I asked.
    â€œIt went great. My time’s improving.”
    I caressed her cheek and turned to Gemma. “She’s prettier with every day that passes, don’t you think?”
    â€œShe has the good luck of having a man who loves her to distraction.” I shot her a warning glance not to exaggerate, but Martina blushed slightly as she nodded: “It’s true. I really am a lucky girl.”
    I stood up. “I have to leave you two. There’s a wine tasting outside of town and I’m running late.”
    I left Piero, the oldest waiter, in charge of the place and headed for the garage where I