Vipers Read Online Free PDF Page A

announced as Armando, the butler, who actually made a formal bow, as if he were at a ball. The third, a strapping, shifty young man who grunted hello, was Tullio, Madame Yvonne’s son: the woman explained that he was a handyman, in charge of maintenance, and also took care of security. All three of them swore that they hadn’t left the main hall all morning.
    Once they’d taken names and gathered what little information was forthcoming, Ricciardi summoned Lily.
    The girl hadn’t changed expression or attitude; now that he’d seen all the girls, including the victim, the commissario had made up his mind that the blond was the most attractive, with the possible exception of Viper herself: but her physical beauty clashed with the girl’s hard and determined features.
    â€œSignorina, can you confirm the statements you made earlier? That you found the body, by looking through the half-open door in the victim’s room, while you were walking to the balcony for a new customer?”
    The woman held Ricciardi’s gaze confidently; that didn’t happen often.
    â€œYes, that’s what happened. I found her. Around three.”
    â€œAnd did you call for help immediately, calling for Madame?”
    â€œCertainly.”
    Ricciardi exchanged a glance with Maione, who was desperately trying to keep his eyes from resting on Lily’s spectacular breasts.
    â€œI don’t believe you.”
    The young woman betrayed no surprise.
    â€œAh, no? And why don’t you believe me, Commissa’?”
    â€œFirst: because Viper’s bedroom is at the end of the hallway, and you wouldn’t have gone by it on the way from your room to the balcony. Second: because you said that you had finished and that you normally tidy up your room before bringing in another customer, and Maione saw for himself that your bed is rumpled and unmade. Third: because through the gap of the half-opened door you can’t see the leg dangling from the bed, but only the fingertips of one hand.”
    Lily had listened to Ricciardi’s tirade without blinking, her hands on her hips.
    The commissario said:
    â€œWho are you covering for, Signorina? And why?”
    The question was met with silence. The girls looked at one another, no longer weeping. Madame Yvonne was twisting her hands, in a state of anxiety. Ricciardi said loudly:
    â€œIf that’s the way things are, then this establishment is going to remain shuttered and you won’t get to leave until I’ve discovered who actually found the body and in what circumstances; this is necessary information, and without it you all can’t get back to business. On the other hand, I want to be clear that finding a corpse does not amount to the commission of a crime, and therefore this stance may only be casting suspicion on an innocent person. We have all the time in the world. We can wait.”
    Madame Yvonne took a step forward, her eyes on Lily, and said in a broken voice:
    â€œI can’t allow this, if we have to stay closed, we’ll be finished. Already, having a death in here is a terrible tragedy for our establishment’s good name: our only hope is to get right back to work. Commissa’, Viper’s body was found by one of our clients: Cavalier Vincenzo Ventrone, proprietor of the sacred art shop.”

VI
    D r. Bruno Modo entered the large drawing room panting, his collar unbuttoned, his hat askew, and his bag in hand.
    â€œHere I am, what’s happened? Which girl was it?”
    Ricciardi and Maione could hardly help but notice that the doctor’s demeanor was quite different from his usual: normally, even in the presence of the most heinous murders, he remained detached and ironic, even as he brought to bear his vast and impassioned expertise, which is why the police continued to request his personal assistance.
    This time the doctor’s brow was furrowed by a deep crease under the shock of snow-white hair. He seemed