Murder On The Rue Cassette (A Serafina Florio Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page B

she’d lost focus. Serafina rubbed her temples. “The success of
this investigation depends on all of us, especially on me and my mind. A
terrible murder has been committed, a deed against humanity. It’s up to me to
find out who killed Elena. If I fail, I’ll never work again, and that will have
dire consequences for all of us.”
    There was a hush in the room,
except for the tick of the clock’s pendulum.
    “Who was this Elena, anyway?”
Arcangelo asked, coming into the room, followed by Tessa and Rosa.
    “Yes, do tell us,” Carlo said,
fetching more chairs for the newcomers.
    “Enough, all of you.” Serafina
shot Rosa a look, defying her to say one word. “Elena was Dr. Loffredo’s wife,
the countess of Oltramari. Her body was found yesterday morning on a street in
Paris. Her father, Levi Busacca, has asked me to find her killer.” As Serafina
answered Arcangelo’s question, Maria, her breakfast uneaten, left the room.
Tessa smiled at Teo who scowled back at her and lowered his head into a book.

 
 
 
 
    Chapter
6: The Journey to Paris

 
    The ship’s crew was efficient and
friendly and as a special treat, Arcangelo, Teo, and Tessa were given a tour of
the engine room. There were games on the main deck and plenty of room to
stroll. Even Rosa was impressed with the food. They ate their meals in the
formal dining room with several other travelers, and met a Parisian couple who
offered to take Tessa to the École des Beaux Arts since their son was a student
there, attached to the atelier of Gérôme.
    “Not my taste, Mama,” Tessa told
Rosa after the couple had left. “I want to see the new school of painters.”
    “We’ll see plenty of those,”
Serafina said. “Many of Elena’s friends are painters, the unconventional kind,
rejected by the Salon. They’re planning a show this month, I know as much from
the last time I saw Loffredo. That’s why Elena wanted him in Paris, my
star-crossed lover.”
    Tessa’s eyes widened.
    Rosa put down her fork. “Just
you wait, my girl, I took you to Paris for a reason. You and Gesuzza will have
a time going to the shows and the grand department stores, mark me.”

 
    * * *

 
    Representatives of Messageries
Maritimes met Serafina’s party in Marseille and drove them to the Gare St.
Charles where they’d catch the train Busacca called “the PLM,” the “ Companie des chemin de fer de Paris à
Lyon et à la Méditerranée .”
The station was built on a plateau overlooking the harbor and lower city. It
reminded Serafina of a stony general surveying his troops, but it was not
without its charm, and in spite of a small incident, the hour layover proved to
be a respite. The journey through choppy waters had been tiring and they still
had a long train ride ahead. Before they departed, they’d have time to stroll
the plaza fronting the building. It would be the last real exercise until they
arrived in Paris that evening, so they ambled around the circumference, feeling
the warmth of the sun, marveling at the view, and munching on figs, warm
croissants, and sardines sold by a street vendor.
    Carmela, who’d taken charge of
Arcangelo and Teo with the intent of forming a skilled surveillance team,
tapped Serafina on the shoulder. “Don’t turn around, but someone’s following
us, I’m sure of it. No need to tell Rosa.”
    “No need to tell Rosa what ,” the madam demanded. “If you refer to those two louts
following us, I’ve been watching them ever since they hailed a hansom at the
harbor. They’ve been trailing us at a safe distance. And this is the first
you’ve noticed them? Arcangelo failed to find the men who were following Fina
in Oltramari; the three of you will have to do better in Paris.”
    Arms folded, one foot tapping
the dusty ground, Carmela opened her mouth to speak, but looked down and kept
her mouth shut for a moment before she managed to say, “You’re right, of
course.”
    Serafina frowned. Rosa had a
point, but what had