SAY MURDER WITH FLOWERS: A Rex Graves Mini-Mystery Read Online Free PDF

turned onto a thoroughfare. Rex sat back on the worn seat and re-ordered his thoughts. Getting some sort of confession or at least confirmation of his hypothesis from Elise’s fiancé would be crucial to wrapping up the case.
    “But the police searched my premises.” The young Italian spread his arms wide, indicating the breadth of hangar filled with a half dozen imported luxury cars. He gestured impatiently to a mechanic to leave them. The place was immaculate, the smell of new tires and engine oil intoxicating. Rex who, incongruously for his size, drove an economical Mini Cooper, found himself seduced by the sleek long bonnets and sexy rear ends of these gas-hungry predators. Gino caressed the moulded front quarter panel of a cherry red Maserati GranTurismo with almost sensual pleasure. Clearly these machines were his passion.
    “I was referring to a body shop which you omitted to tell the detectives aboot,” Rex enlightened him. “I saw a freshly sprayed silver Ferrari in there.” He had shinnied up a drainpipe the previous night with a pocket torch, a precarious endeavour considering his bulk, but in the pursuit of justice worth the risk of a broken ankle.
    “So?”
    “It made me curious and more than a little suspicious, especially when I saw the diplomatic plate. I traced it back to a Vittorio Scalfaro whom you sold it to in March. Your personal assistant was very helpful when I called this morning posing as a potential buyer. As was the house agent who found you the new premises.” And Mr. Whitmore, of course. The solicitor had identified the Ferrari as belonging to the Italian Ambassador, a friend of Sir Howes’.
    “Your point?” Gino demanded, showing impatience.
    “The ambassador came to you for a repair job—a little quid pro quo .”
    “What do you mean?”
    “He’d been dining in Mayfair and left the club shortly before the accident, in which he has admitted his involvement. Perhaps he saw you at the scene.”
    “He didn’t. Nobody saw me.” Gino fell silent, realizing his error. His hand struck the two-door coupé he’d been fondling. “ Merda! ” he swore.
    “ Say It with Flowers stays open late at the weekend. The girl at the shop told me a man fitting your description paid cash for a bunch of chrysanthemums just before closing. Mums?” Rex asked emphatically, raising an eyebrow.
    “They were a peace offering for being late,” Gino explained—warily.
    “Roses are more romantic, not so?”
    “The roses were drooping and sad. I liked the look of the golden balls. So sunny, so alive! I got them on the way to her place.”
    “Spur of the moment?”
    “That is how I am. Impulsive. They told me at Presto’s she had left not long before. I saw her on the street and called out her name.”
    “What then?”
    “I explained I had overslept from a nap and was coming over to her flat to surprise her. I offered to walk her home, but she was having none of it. She was angry, and a little drunk. She only accepted the flowers when I threatened to throw them in the gutter. The next thing that happened was an accident. She stepped into the road still shouting at me over her shoulder. The driver took off in a hurry, and I couldn’t make out the number plate. It happened so fast.”
    Giannelli mopped his brow with the cuff of his spotless blue overalls. “I knew Elise’s father would blame me, even though it wasn’t my fault, so I left when I saw another person coming to her aid.” Rex felt sure he would have fled anyway. “Later, when Vittorio dropped off his Ferrari, I had my suspicions. A yellow petal was stuck in the grille.”
    “But you couldn’t be sure he hadn’t seen you, so you did the repair, no questions asked.”
    Giannelli made no reply.
    “The good Samaritan heard Elise say ‘Chris’ and ‘Jean’ with her dying breath. I suspect she was trying to say “chrysanthemums” and managed the first part of your name, Gin-o. The chrysanthemum in your country represents