Death Of A Sad Face (A Serafina Florio Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page B

she had digested her mother’s words, she went to the desk and scribbled a note to Badali, a carabiniere who’d helped her in the past.
    On the landing, Serafina remembered her mother’s directive and retraced her steps. She opened the door to the nursery and greeted the wet nurse, pecking her on both cheeks.
    “What time did Teo leave last night?”
    The nurse arranged her pendulous bosoms and spoke, eyes closed, bandana canted to one side. “The moon were a golden orb over the sea. It rose, shimmering, and when it were at its zenith …” Here she paused, opened her eyes, stared at Serafina. “… Teo kissed his brother goodbye and departed.”
    With that, the last piece fell into place in Serafina’s mind, and she took a moment to finalize her plans. Swallowing her fears, she walked downstairs and asked her factotum to deliver her note to Captain Badali.

A Light Supper

    Early Thursday evening, October 29, 1868
    As she entered the dining room, she saw the upturned faces of her children, smiling and expectant, except for Maria who hunched over her score. Rosa and her daughter, Tessa had arrived. All were gathered around the table.
    “About time,” Rosa said. She wore her purple velvet and matching pillbox with feathers.
    “We’re going to the circus!” Totò, her youngest, said.
    “Right you are, my brightest boy!” Serafina kissed him and sat. After the domestic served a light supper— pasta con le sarde and squid salad—she stood, about to detail her plan, when she was interrupted by a knock at the door. Vicenzu ran to open it.
    A blast of cool air brought Captain Badali into the dining room, removing his three-cornered hat and greeting everyone. His eyes locked onto Carmela’s, whose cheeks reddened. Lovely, Serafina thought. Vicenzu helped the captain to his seat, poured his wine, and filled his plate.
    “No interruptions, please,” Serafina said, “while I tell you our plans for this evening. After supper, Carmela, you ride with the children and don’t leave their side. Rosa, Vicenzu, Badali and I will follow in another carriage, and we’ll meet in front of the big tent and sit together.”
    The children nodded. Totò grabbed an olive from Tessa’s plate and grinned, whispering, “We’re going to the circus!”
    “Shhh!” someone said.
    “Vicenzu, bring Papa’s stiletto.”
    Serafina glanced at Badali whose eyes rounded.
    “We’ll enter and sit together until the circus begins, when Vicenzu, the captain, Rosa and I will leave for a short while, returning in time to watch the finale.”

The Leaps Of A Wizard

    “Tell us what this is all about,” Rosa said as the carriage wheels spun through the piazza and down via Serpentina on the way to Barco’s Circus.
    Serafina told Vicenzu and Badali about the pink strand of fabric she’d found in the Lanza entryway, probably from the costume of a performer.
    Rosa scowled. “We know all that. Hurry up and finish with your story, I smell elephants.”
    As they pulled into the road leading to the tents, Serafina told them what she’d learned about Cecco and Roberto from talking to Lucia, her maid, and Mother Concetta.
    Rosa hung onto her hat and rolled with the coach. “What makes you think that Roberto works in Barco’s circus? That Teo is with him? That Roberto killed Cecco?”
    “It’s impossible to argue with my mother when she has that look in her eye,” Vicenzu said.
    “Two events happened simultaneously: Roberto shot Cecco, and Teo left our home. Lucia told me that she’d heard a shot when the moon was high in the sky and saw a cloaked figure ‘leap away into the night’; the wet nurse said Teo left ‘when the moon were at its zenith.’ I think what happened is that Roberto collided with Teo. He thought the boy had witnessed his flight, so he kidnapped him. How else would Teo have vanished so quickly?”
    “By taking a train or a boat,” Rosa said and rolled her eyes. The madam was silent for a moment. “Still, I’ve