Into the Killer Sphere Read Online Free PDF

only sharing his opinion with Angelo about a few crimes and issues his friend couldn’t solve by himself, and that had always happened sitting around a table and tasting some good traditional Tursenian wine. But this time it was different: Chase was smelling the pungent solvent used by forensics in the library, just like when he was working at Scotland Yard. Some officers were taking inventory of all the stuff there and observing him with a suspicious eye. Chase greeted them with a nod. They replied to him with a mumbled “ Ciao ”.
    For a moment he felt such a knot in his chest, a mixture of anger and sadness, but then Angelo’s voice, shouting something to one of the other officers at the entrance, brought him back to reality. He saw that Marco Galli, Piero’s brother, was looking around the room. He was a tall, podgy man with little eyes very close together, high cheekbones and round, pink cheeks.
    The photos on the main desk of the library, all depicting Piero with his dogs, seemed to be looking at Chase. Piero Galli was a man marked by time and depression, although he had a sincere smile while hugging his creatures. His beard was almost completely black, like his hair, which was weird for a sixty-nine year old. Probably black hair dye was fashionable in Tursenia, and it made Chase think of Marcella’s black hair. In the pictures Piero always wore camouflage or hunting clothes and a pair of muddy black boots.
    His brother, Marco, stared around looking very upset. The traces of smears of blood on the mantelpiece were still clearly visible. Chase noted that there were still some shards of glass under the cupboard, although the room had been cleaned as much as possible. Marco’s hands were clenched, while his springy walk revealed a certain agitation.
    “Were you fond of your brother, Signor Galli?” Chase had entered the room in silence, so the man gave a start. His chubby cheeks reddened.
    “You gave me quite a turn!” Marco gasped, then recomposed himself. “Poor Piero, he wasn’t an easy man to understand, but he surely didn’t deserve to die. Who will take care of his dogs? They were everything to him. I mean, his daughter can get by on her own… and my mother too, of course. No one cares about the dogs, too bad.”
    The man fell silent for a moment, holding back the tears.
    “I think I’m going to take them on. I owe it to Piero.”
    “You have kids too?” Chase inquired. He knew from Signora Testi that he had three children but he asked anyway, to make conversation. Chase didn’t want to interrogate Marco, as Mecci and Angelo had already done that. He wanted only to have a chat with him to figure what he was doing there in a police-restricted area, probably without permission.
    “Two daughters and one son.” Marco sighed. “Kids are the real joy of life, but how many sacrifices you have to make for them. My poor brother knew that only too well! We want them all to graduate with high grades, and stay away from drugs, alcohol and trouble. They cost us a fortune, and my wife and I have had to give up so many things to be able to afford to keep our children happy. You know, because of the economic crisis and everything. Sometimes I’m afraid my wife isn’t suited to this kind of selfless lifestyle, but every day I hope to be wrong. I don't want my kids to become like that silly Romanian maid .”
    While the man was surreptitiously drying a tear, caressing Piero’s picture with his big fingers, a figure popped in through from the east French door, wiping her feet on the doormat placed on the doorstep. She wore old trousers, thin work gloves, a sturdy green raincoat, a pair of gardening boots and a yellow apron which matched her wide-brimmed hat.
    “ Why do you need a hat like that when there’s no sun? ” Chase wondered to himself.
    “There’s always a way to avoid making sacrifices, my dear,” the lady said. She seemed quite comfortable with her outworn clothes, even if they clashed with the