The Company of Saints Read Online Free PDF

academic. He spoke excellent English, also German and French. He joined Davina and Johnson at just before midnight. Walden had excused himself after dinner.
    â€˜I’m sorry to be so late,’ Modena said. ‘My headquarters is like a madhouse. There are times when I’d like to shoot every media man on sight!’
    â€˜I don’t envy you,’ Davina said. ‘The last thing you need in a situation like this is outsiders getting in the way.’ Be tactful, Humphrey had advised on the telephone. You have a unique opportunity to get in on the investigation, but remember how touchy the Italians are.… She decided to be tactful, as he’d said. ‘Signor Modena, I hope you don’t put me in that category. As I happened to be practically on the spot and staying in the same hotel, I felt you’d understand my request for information.’ He wasn’t going to respond. She saw the resentment in his eyes as he looked at her.
    â€˜The United States is principally involved,’ he said. ‘I am expecting a planeload of their people. I have to give them priority as far as any information is concerned. All I can make available to you, Signorina Graham, are the preliminary reports.’ He handed a thin file to Davina. ‘There’s nothing much there. We’re waiting for the forensic reports and laboratory tests. Then we’ll have a clearer picture of what happened. But it’s definitely murder. The petrol tank exploded, but only after a primary explosion of great force set it off.’
    â€˜That would be pretty obvious to anyone who saw the boat go up,’ Davina said. ‘Nobody suggested it was an accident at our end.’
    â€˜But accidents occur.’ Modena’s tone was sharp. ‘And not only in Italy.’
    Prunehead was right, Johnson said to himself. They certainly don’t like outside interference.
    Davina said, ‘What most concerns us, Signor Modena, is whether this is an Italian organization or an international one. What is your view?’
    â€˜Until I have studied all the reports and collated all my facts, Signorina, I don’t have a view.’ He detested abrasive, abrupt women who squared up to men as equals. But then he was old fashioned. The English had made a woman head of their government. It wouldn’t happen in Italy.
    â€˜But you must have a private opinion.’ Tim Johnson decided to take it up. ‘Is it the Red Brigades?’
    Modena shrugged. ‘It could be. It could be the Dutch Red Hand, or what’s left of the Baader–Meinhof coming back into the picture. Or the PLO. After all, Franklyn was a Jew.’
    â€˜But not a Zionist,’ Davina said. She glanced quickly at Johnson. We’re wasting our time, the signal said. Let’s cut it short.…
    She stood up. ‘Thank you for coming to see us. Mr Johnson will be here for the next few days and is anxious to consult with you. I’ll be on my way to London tomorrow. As I said, I don’t envy you. Especially when the CIA arrives in force.’
    There was anger in his voice. ‘They are already blaming us for lack of protection. I believe my government will point out that you can’t protect someone unless you know he’s in your country. I can’t think how our American colleagues could have taken such a risk with a public figure.’
    â€˜Perhaps they thought it was less of a risk than letting other people know,’ Davina answered. ‘We mustn’t keep you. Good night, Signor Modena. I hope you catch whoever did it.’
    He shook her hand without enthusiasm. ‘I shall do my best. Good night.’
    When he had gone, Johnson said, ‘That was below the belt, wasn’t it, Miss Graham? He didn’t like that last crack at all.’
    â€˜It happens to be true,’ she said. ‘The country’s so bloody riddled with Mafia and corruption of every kind that nobody would trust them