Dominic pulls behind a white Bentley and kills the engine. He gets out and opens my door. Together, we stare at the elegant mansion before us.
The French-style edifice has white limestone walls with tall arched windows that are framed with black shutters. Carved stone balconies bloom with overflowing flower boxes, while manicured hedges and towering cypress trees line the front of the house.
Dominic whistles. “Wow, she has impeccable taste.”
“It’s amazing what money can buy,” I reply as we walk up the steps to the double front doors that gleam with black lacquer. “And she has a lot of it. After all, she’s a luxury real estate developer and a private venture capitalist. She’s one of the investors in my nightclub. She worked with my father back when he was alive. And word on the street is she’s been involved in many backdoor dealings, but no one has ever been able to pin anything on her.”
“That sounds like she could be involved in this,” Dominic muses.
The butler answers the door and leads us through the grand foyer. There is an old money aura about the place as I stare at the marble floors, vaulted ceilings, and crystal chandeliers.
I thought my house was big. Madeline’s place puts mine to shame.
We follow the butler who turns down a hall. At the end are two oak doors.
“Madeline will see you now.” He opens them and reveals a beautiful solarium filled with plants and flowers.
As we step inside, I see Madeline sitting in a beige silk armchair in the center of the room. She’s dressed in white dress pants and a black blouse. Glancing up at us, she takes a sip from a porcelain teacup.
“Cipriani, darling, what a pleasant surprise.” She sets the cup down and rises to her feet. Her heels click on the floor as she comes over to me and gives me a hug with an air kiss. Takinga step back, she eyes me up and down. “My, what casual attire you’re wearing today.”
Dammit. I should have dressed properly when I left the house today.
“I haven’t been feeling well.”
Madeline raises her eyebrows. “I’m so sorry, dear. I know it takes a while to recover from allergic reactions.” She brushes a piece of blonde hair behind her ear that frames her face in a chin-length bob. “I heard about Bruno and I’m very sorry. How is he?”
“He’s recovering but he has a long road ahead of him.”
I watch her brown eyes look past me, then widen as she catches sight of Dominic.
“Agent Cartieri?” she whispers.
“No agent, just Dominic. I retired two years ago and I run my own firm now. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He shakes her hand.
“I haven’t seen you two together in over a decade. Your father, Cipriani, used to talk about this man all the time. He even showed me pictures of him. I must say, Mr. Cartieri, you haven’t changed a bit. You’re still very handsome. I remember Vincenzo used to tell me how happy Dominic made you.”
Redness paints my cheeks again. Madeline is sounding like an embarrassing grandma who talks too much and doesn’t know when to stop.
“We’re working on a project together,” I interrupt before she can say anything else.
“How lovely. Would you two like some tea?” Madeline struts back over to her chair, sits down, and crosses her legs.
“No thank you,” I reply.
“I’d love some.” Dominic plops down on the patio sofa. I give him a look. I don’t know what he’s thinking. I don’t trust anyone. At this point, there could be poison in the tea.
Madeline takes the teapot and pours him a cup. I sit on the couch next to him. Funny how Madeline has multiple cups next to the teapot when she’s all alone. It’s as if she was expecting someone.
She leans back in her chair. Madeline is in her late seventies but her fair skin barely has any wrinkles thanks to her expensive cosmetic surgery. Sunlight spills through the windows, catching on her pearl earrings and sapphire brooch pinned to her black blouse.
“Now what can I do for you? I would love to think this is a social call, but the fact you’re working with an investigator, Cipriani, means something is up.”
Straight to the point, just like Madeline.
“Do you have someone who works for you by the name of Rafael Longo?” I ask.
“It’s possible. I have lots of people who work for me, too many to know their names by heart. That’s why I have hiring managers. I can get you in touch with them if you like.” She sips her tea.
