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“Can’t help you.”
“I think you can.” Bernardi laid down another mug shot. “I understand you’re pretty close to this guy.”
Shit.
It was a mug shot of Dario.
“He’s my cellmate,” I said casually.
“Just your cellmate?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Maybe he’s your buddy.”
“Not particularly.”
“That’s interesting… because I have testimony from several inmates who say they saw you walk out of a hallway where Caproni and five other men were found dead… and that Dario Rosolini came out a few minutes later with blood on his clothes. What do you have to say about that?”
“I’d say your sources are trying to pin shit that they did on innocent people.”
“‘Innocent’ – that’s cute.” Bernardi narrowed his eyes. “I heard your buddy gets a lot of nice things because of his connections. Wine… better food than the shit in the cafeteria…”
When I didn’t say anything, Bernardi snapped, “Well? Yes or no?”
“I didn’t realize you were asking a question,” I replied coolly. “Yes, he gets some wine and food from the outside. But you probably want to talk to the guards about that since they’re the ones who let it into the prison.”
Bernardi smirked. “Does he share it with you? The food and wine?”
“Sometimes.”
“And you’re not his friend, huh.”
“Like I said – I’m his cellmate.”
“What do you know about Caproni and the five other dead guys?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing at all,” Bernardi said sarcastically.
“Nope.”
“What if I told you I don’t give a shit about you – that I only want Rosolini?”
“I’d ask you why.”
Bernardi grew more animated the longer he talked. “He got off easy on a plea deal when he and his fucking family should be in here for the rest of their lives. You give me something I can hang him with – anything – and I’ll get you out of San Vittore as a cooperating witness.”
My heart sped up.
“…anything,” I repeated in disbelief.
“I don’t give a damn about Caproni. He was a murdering piece of shit. But I do give a damn about Rosolini – because he’s a murdering piece of shit, too. If you agree to testify that Rosolini offed Caproni – or any of the others – I can pull you out of here right now and get the magistrate to vacate your sentence. You’d stay in protective custody until we taped your testimony and got it to the judge, but then you’d be free. You can leave Italy, go back to Sweden, whatever you want.”
When I didn’t say anything, Bernardi interpreted my silence as hesitance. He leaned forward and said in a low voice, “Look, I don’t care if you offed Caproni or any of the other guys – we’ll give you immunity. I just need something on Rosolini. A murder – a confession to any other criminal activity – anything we can use to invalidate his plea deal and keep him in here for life.”
My heart was beating wildly, but I stayed still.
