Medusa - 9 Read Online Free

cards, because the ten, nine and eight are missing. Gaetano claimed that this symbolized everything that was wrong with the Italian military. Almost a third of the total force consisted of senior officers while the rest were cannon fodder. The former weren’t always stupid and the latter were often brave, but what was missing was a solid, dependable corps of sottufficiali to pull the whole unit together and get things done on the ground. That’s what kept the Germans in the war, even after Stalingrad and Normandy. Their NCOs were the best in the world.’
    ‘Yes, Gaetano could be quite boring on military matters,’ Claudia replied languidly. ‘But I had to put up with it from him. He was my husband. I don’t have to put up with it from you.’
    Danilo’s glance seemed to be trying to spare her something. An uneasy silence fell.
    ‘Well, I think I’ll have a bath,’ Claudia announced briskly, heading for the inner hallway of the apartment. ‘Feel free to let yourself out when you’re ready.’
    Danilo strode across, gripping her wrist and pulling her back into the room. Astounded, almost excited, Claudia let herself be drawn. Danilo was her casual companion and card partner, an endless source of scurrilous gossip, a creature of varied charms and indeterminate sexuality. The one thing he never had been was physical.
    ‘There’s something I have to tell you,’ he told her. ‘Sit down. Let me get you a drink.’
     
    ‘I don’t drink.’
    ‘Yes, you do, cara . I can smell it from here. Vermouth, I’d say. The sweet variety.’
    Her shoulders sagged. She was aware that her robe was hanging open in an unseemly manner, showing half her bosom, but that was the last thing on her mind. Danilo was busily opening and closing the doors of the sideboard.
    ‘In the kitchen,’ she told him. ‘Above the sink.’
    Opening a silver box which looked entirely decorative, Claudia helped herself to one of her rare cigarettes as Danilo returned bearing a tumbler filled almost to the brim with Cinzano Rosso. He handed it to her and, in what he managed to make appear the same smooth gesture, proffered a flame from his lighter.
    ‘Well?’ she asked with marked sarcasm. Whatever was going on had already gone on much too long.
    There was no reply. Danilo just stood there, gazing into space. Claudia took a gulp of the red liquid, which tasted even more sickly than usual. But Cinzano was a ladylike drink. She could name some women who had moved on to gin and vodka and never found their way back.
    ‘Danilo, over the years you’ve made me laugh, you’ve made me cry and you’ve made me angry. Once or twice you’ve even made me think. Now you’re beginning to bore me. I never thought you’d do that. If you’ve got something to say, for God’s sake say it!’
    Danilo smiled nervously.
    ‘Sorry, I’m just not sure how to start. Riccardo was supposed to do this, you see. He’s had time to think the whole thing through, work out the best way to put it. But Raffaela interrupted and then hauled him off, so I’ve had to step into the breach. Anyway, basically it’s about that body they found in the mountains last week.’
     
    ‘So I gather. What about it, for the love of heaven?’
    He made three futile attempts to begin, then spread out his hands in appeal.
    ‘How much did Ricco tell you?’
    ‘Nothing. He was just getting to the point when Raffaela marched in on marital patrol duty.’
    With evident relief, Danilo seized the opportunity to laugh.
    ‘Ah yes, I see! Well, the point is that while the body hasn’t been officially identified as yet, sources in Rome close to the regiment have informally advised various people here as to certain relevant facts. Some of them in turn informed Riccardo, who told me, and we both agreed that it would be better if you heard it from us first.’
    ‘Heard what, for God’s sake?’
    Danilo faltered again for a moment, then plunged on like a horse taking a fence.
    ‘Leonardo