Susan Anderson - No More Brothers

“To visit my friend, the admiral.”

Of course. It fell into place, the shoemaker’s trips to Bagheria, perhaps to Palermo. He booked passage on a ship. How else would a family flee with their belongings?

“His office is onboard a ship docked at the cala .” Rosa’s eyes sparked. “Tell me the details on the way.”

Serafina opened the door. “Wait for me in front. Must tell my family I’ll be late for supper.”

“Rosa’s waiting outside. Sorry, I must leave for-”

“Where have you been?” Carlo stood at the table holding an empty wine glass and pulling on the napkin wedged into his collar. He slammed the linen onto the table, just missing a platter with the remains of dinner-risotto, pork, and peas-the juices now congealing.

As she stood taking in his words, Serafina scooped up a spoonful of lemon custard poured over cassata which sat melting in a bowl on the sideboard. Vicenzu sat at his desk, oblivious to everything but his abacus and ledger.

“Our dinner was cold because we waited too long for you. I’m sure Giulia and Maria were late for school. Carmela is doing whatever it is she does to Rosa’s gardens. Her baby’s been yowling most of the day until I finally changed its…pantaloons. And your youngest has been crying for you. His nose is stuffed; he’s sick to his stomach; his head is flaming. Gloria departed for Prizzi this morning. All my friends are enjoying a holiday in Taormina. And here I sit in a cold house acting as the only mother Totò knows. Once again, you leave me with your work.”

Lying on the sofa in the sitting room, Totò stuck out his lower lip, turned away from Serafina, and buried his mop of golden curls in his blanket. When she tried to hug him, he squirmed away.

The domestic, who sat rocking in her corner, motioned with her eyes to Serafina. When she bent to listen, Assunta said, “The male twin talks too much. I changed Carmela’s baby and rocked him to sleep. Totò has a chill, nothing much.”

Serafina smiled, patted Assunta’s arm, and whispered her thanks.

She strode back to the sofa and sat next to Totò. “Let me hold you. You’ll feel better.” She heard the ticking of the clock’s pendulum.

After more coaxing, he climbed into Serafina’s lap and she kissed his forehead. As she soothed her son, she felt a heaviness in her limbs. Soon she’d have to explain to Rosa why she couldn’t go. She’d learned a lesson: there were limits to the amount of truth anyone could discover. Besides, the commissioner was satisfied with her work.

A rasping began in her ear. Its inflection sounded like Maddalena’s voice at its most strident. Serafina pulled on an earlobe. The disturbance did not abate.

Presently, Totò quieted. She eased him onto the sofa and was about to go tell Rosa of her change in plans when she heard Carmela’s footsteps in the hall.

“Rosa sent me in to find you.”

“I can’t go. Totò’s ill.”

“You’ve a killer to catch.”

“Not that again!” Carlo said.

Vicenzu turned from his abacus. “I suppose it’s all right with you if her stipend dies and you can’t finish school.”

Carlo’s eyes flicked from side to side. “But these are my free days and I’m left with a mess.”

Carmela glared at her twin as she strode into the sitting room and bent to kiss Totò’s forehead. “He’s fine. Give him to Assunta. She can take him for an ice.”

Totò’s head popped up.

Carmela stomped over to Carlo. “Grow up. And, Mama, you need to go. Now!”

The hissing in Serafina’s ears receded.

A knock on the door. Steps in the hall. A policeman appeared at the edge of the sitting room. All eyes were on him as he stood facing them.

“Badali, here.” He smiled.

“He’s going with us,” Serafina said.

“Rosa’s not taking her guards?” Vicenzu asked.

“Her guards scare bandits on the road. A show of strength, nothing more.” Serafina stood. “I might be gone a few days.”

“Then you’ll need a change of linen. I’ll pack for you.” Carmela raced out, glancing at Badali.

Serafina blew kisses to the room, motioned for the policeman to follow. Tall, handsome, young. Angle of nose, Roman. Perfect.

“Have you told your wife you might not be coming home tonight?”

“Not married,” Badali said.

Yes, indeed. Perfect!

Badali rode with the driver. Rosa’s guards surrounded the coach. On their ride to the cala , Palermo’s ancient harbor where the admiral’s ship was docked, Serafina told her about finding Ugo’s body on the beach.

The coach wheels bounced over the cobbles. Serafina hung onto a handle as they careened down Via Serpentina. She told Rosa about finding gold and silver in Ugo’s home, catching Abatti at the scene of the crime, and his confession to poisoning then stabbing Ugo.

“Where’s the gold?”

“I’m coming to that.”

They were silent a moment as they swayed into a turn.

The madam shielded her eyes from the glare of the sea. “The most important evidence of all and you leave it for the end, but let me guess. Colonna believes Abatti and you don’t.”

“How did you know?”

The madam chuckled. “Cold cod, the shoemaker. But if Colonna had the gold in his possession and-”

“You’re getting ahead of my story. Now listen.” Serafina told her about her interview with the shoemaker on the day she found Ugo’s body. She spoke of Graziella’s melancholia. She told Rosa about the shoemaker’s shocked reaction at the wake when questioned about the rat poison, about finding a tin of it in his backroom, and finished with the account of the caretaker-that he’d taken the whole family to the station where they’d boarded the train for Bagheria.

“Must be headed for Palermo docks.”

“He didn’t know.”

Rosa was silent for a moment. “Do you have proof that the shoemaker knows Abatti?”

“I remember Abatti bounding down the shoemaker’s steps as I prepared to enter his shop shortly after I found Ugo’s body.”

“Perhaps the soldier bought shoes?”

Serafina canted her eyes in Rosa’s direction.

“A joke. Your word is enough for me. Quick: get back to the gold.”

The madam’s mind is like a trap. “Colonna plays shady dealings sometimes, but-”

“Sometimes?” Rosa asked. “How much?”

“A chest full of the stuff. The inspector told me he had an understanding with the shoemaker.”

Rosa held onto her hat as the coach rounded another corner. “I’ll bet. Where’s the gold now?”

“According to Colonna, the shoemaker has it.”

The madam rolled her eyes. “Except for Colonna’s generous cut-that’s the ‘understanding’ part. No wonder he swallowed Abatti’s confession.”

“But now the commissioner’s involved. He wants me to question the shoemaker in a more formal setting.”

“No doubt you persuaded him.”

“I reminded him that should fratricide be hinted and our initial investigation appear to be less than thorough, the press might-”

Rosa chuckled. “They’d have a delicious romp.” Her eyes exploded as she turned to Serafina. “What’s this I hear about you and Loffredo?”

Serafina felt queasy when she stepped on board the admiral’s ship. She presented her identification and asked to see the admiral.

“Not here at the moment, dear lady.”

Rosa spoke up and soon the sailors escorted the group down to his office where the admiral gave her a blustery kiss. She grabbed the admiral’s sleeve, pressing it to her chest. “We depend on you. I know you’ll help.” She turned to Serafina who explained the reason for their visit and requested information regarding the shoemaker’s family who she believed had tickets on a steamer.