Page 39 of Murder at Christmas

Oscar and I went upstairs to our room, where I found Anna, looking serious. I made sure the door behind me was closed before I spoke. ‘How do you think Cinzia’s going to manage? She was looking pretty grim up there for a while.’

‘I think she’ll be okay. We’ve been talking, and it’s clear that she’s looking forward to the baby, irrespective of its father. It all depends how her husband feels, but he was in the room when I took her up there, and I left the two of them talking. She’s got a lot of explaining to do but, then, so has he. Hopefully, they’ll sort something out.’

She was still looking concerned, so I queried what was bothering her. Her answer wasn’t what I had been expecting. ‘It’s Selena – she’s given me a Christmas present.’ She reached for a small box on the bed and revealed a beautiful gold ring with what looked like a crest on it. ‘It’s a replica of the ring Lorenzo the Magnificent gave his wife on the birth of their first child. Selena had it made specially for me, and it’s unique. The original disappeared centuries ago along with a lot of the Medici treasure, and she got a professor at UCLA to reproduce the design from a painting. She then got an amazing antiquarian jewellery expert to make it specially for me. It’s a phenomenal gift.’

I studied it with appropriate awe but still couldn’t see why Anna was looking so worried until she pointed to a little package wrapped in Christmas paper sitting on the bedside table, and then I understood. ‘All I’ve bought her is a scarf – a nice silk scarf, but still just a scarf. What can I do? We’re miles from any shops, and she’s leaving straight after lunch.’ She sounded desperate, so I thought hard. What do you give one of the richest women in the world? Just in time, before I started suggestinggiving her one of my kidneys, it came to me, and I gave Anna an encouraging smile.

‘I’ll be right back.’ I let myself out of the room and ran down the stairs to the hall. I felt in the pocket of my rapidly drying jacket and retrieved the chunk of stone bearing the little cluster of garnet crystals I had found in the old mine. Upstairs, I showed this to Anna, who looked impressed – it was certainly a lot prettier than one of my kidneys. It was the work of a few moments to roll it up in the silk scarf and wrap the package again.

I gave her a word of warning. ‘I don’t think garnets are particularly valuable.’

Anna gave me a warm hug and a kiss. ‘It’s the thought that counts, and I knew I could count on you.’

After we had both changed and packed our things – and of course given Oscar his lunch – we went downstairs. Just as we reached the hall, I saw the front door close quietly behind somebody. Out of curiosity, I glanced out of the side window to see Calogero and Cinzia Naselli getting into the blue Lancia together. They didn’t look back, and I didn’t wave as they drove off, but I found myself hoping things would work out for them.

It was still a bit early for our lunch, so we went into the lounge, where we found Umberto and Gloria, their expressions far more cheerful than before. Orlando had his arm affectionately around Fiona’s shoulders and they were chatting to William and Valentina – all of them looking a lot happier. Winston was still wearing his bow and his antlers, and Marina was behind the bar with a welcoming smile on her face. There was a warm Christmassy vibe in the room.

Selena got up from a sofa and came over to meet us as we walked in.

‘I’m very sorry that we’ve had so little time to sit down together and chat. I’m afraid events rather took over, didn’tthey? But never mind, I promise I’ll make it down to Florence to see you guys before long.’

In the meantime, Oscar had gone over to nuzzle her affectionately, and I’m sure he would have been only too happy to extend the invitation to her to come and see us. Anna gave Selena her present, repeating over and over again that ours was only a tiny token, but Selena looked genuinely delighted.

At that moment, Paolo appeared with his hands behind his back and he gave me a wink. ‘Winston normally gets his present on Christmas morning but, as Oscar’s leaving this afternoon, Marina and I thought it might be better to give both dogs their presents now.’

Hearing their names – or more probably smelling what Paolo was holding – Winston and Oscar came trotting over, and Paolo set down a handsome bone in front of each dog.

‘Happy Christmas, Winston, and happy Christmas, Oscar.’

The two dogs looked at each other for a second or two, hardly believing their eyes.

A moment later, Oscar and I exchanged glances, and I gave him a smile. ‘Go on, Oscar. As they say in the adverts, you’re worth it.’ And he was. After all, without him, Bartolomeo’s body might have lain undiscovered under a snowdrift for days, weeks even, William with his broken ankle might have frozen to death, and Cinzia might have thrown herself off the top of Bartolomeo’s Crows’ Nest. As Oscar turned his attention to the bone with a reverent expression on his face, Anna looked on benevolently.

‘Buon appetito,Oscar.’

EPILOGUE

THURSDAY AFTERNOON

We got to Courmayeur at four and checked into the hotel. This was a charming stone construction, only a few steps from the main piazza. After depositing our things in our room and separating Oscar from the bone he had been assiduously gnawing all the way up the valley, we went out for a walk. The air temperature in the shade was close to zero, but the sun was shining brightly and people were strolling about or sitting outside cafés, enjoying the end of what had been a beautiful winter day. Virginia and Guy were expected around six, so we found a free table outside a busy café, sat down and relaxed.

In the middle of the piazza was a fine Christmas tree, hung with baubles and lights, and behind it was a spectacular backdrop of snow-covered mountains, bathed with pink as sunset began to approach. There was a happy hum of conversation all around, punctuated by the heavy clomp-clomp of people in ski boots returning from the slopes. It would have been a perfect Alpine holiday scene except for one thing. At the far side of the square were two police vehicles, an area had been taped off, and an officer was standing guard. What, I wondered, was going on there?

When the waitress came to take our order, I had no hesitation in asking for a cold beer – no more grappa for me for a while – and Anna chose a glass of Prosecco. I queried what was happening across the square, and the young woman explained, her tone hushed and awed.

‘They found a dead body over there this morning. The police say a man’s been murdered. Can you imagine that? Fancy somebody being murdered at Christmas!’

Anna and I exchanged glances, and I replied, ‘Murder can happen any time. Who was the victim?’

Before the waitress could answer, I felt Anna grip my forearm. ‘Murder is no business of ours, Dan. We’re here on holiday, right?’

There was a movement at my feet and I looked down to see Oscar roll his eyes at me. I got the message. Seeing that he and Anna appeared to be in agreement, I accepted the inevitable. Mustering a broad smile, I glanced back at the waitress.

‘My wife’s quite right, we’re on holiday, it’s no business of mine. Let’s hope we all have a happy, peaceful Christmas.’

After the waitress had gone off, Anna gave me a little smile and wagged her finger at me. ‘No murders, no investigations, no work – doctor’s orders. You need a holiday, and I need to know that I’ve got you all to myself.’

There was a movement at my feet and Oscar’s head popped up between us, a look of concern on his face. Anna leant down and gave him an affectionate pat. ‘And you, Oscar, of course. Where Dan goes, you go, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.’

Oscar’s expression changed to one of satisfaction, and he reached up to nuzzle her cheek with his nose. Anna and I might think we were a couple, but he knew we were a trio.

And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

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