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“Any word on the women inside the room?”
“Paula is the only one accounted for. She was in the bathroom when it happened.”
“We lost one guard. Anyone else?”
“So far Pinto is the only confirmed casualty. Although I don’t have high hopes for the women in the room.”
I don’t, either, but it’s hard to hear. “Daniela said that some nun went into the room shortly before the explosion.”
“Sister Maria Gloria. I just tried to talk to her. She’s completely distraught. I’m going to talk to her again when she’s coherent. She’s been the caretaker of the room and has served every bride who’s been married in the church for the last fifty years.”
My phone rings.The Porto police captain.No surprise. His men were sent away when they arrived on the scene. “I need to take this.”
“Santa Ana’s is an important piece of our history, not to mention a church.” The captain doesn’t even say hello before he begins the lecture. “You have some balls sending my people away. The culprits need to be brought to justice.”
Stupid fuck.
“The culprits will be brought to justice. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about that. The explosion occurred mere feet away from wheremymother andmybride were standing. Justice will be done—and swiftly. Count on it. This is mine. Keep your people the hell away.”
I hang up, and seconds later the phone rings.The mayor’s chief of staff.Fuck him. If the mayor has something so damn important to say, he can contact me himself.
After I block the chief of staff, I call Cristiano.
“Everything battened down there?” I ask as soon as he picks up.
“Yeah. I can come—”
“No. Have you talked to Lucas?”
“A couple of times.”
“Contact the rectory and tellSenhorPadre we’ll make a large donation to rebuild the damaged areas of the church, but first get Pinto’s wife on the phone for me—and make sure there’s a deposit in her bank account before the sun goes down. He was a good man, always loyal. His family should want for nothing.”
“On it.”
“Is my mother airborne?”
“Not yet.”
“Let me know as soon as it happens.”
“Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but are you going to want to do anything for the families of the women in the bridal parlor?”
“Not until we’re absolutely sure that they weren’t culpable in any way. What do you know about Paula?”
“What do you mean?”
“She was in the bride’s parlor when Daniela left, but she was in the bathroom when the explosion happened.”
“She was checked out pretty thoroughly before we brought her into the house, but I’ll take another look.”
“Do that. Sooner rather than later. What about the nun?”
“An unwitting accomplice, if anything. Because my mother sings at the church, I’ve known her my whole life.”
I grunt out of frustration, because he’s probably right, which puts us no closer to a culprit. We’re going to question everyone associated with the florist, but they were heavily vetted too.
“I understand you’re running the operation on the ground.”
