Page 98 of Secrets of the Brother
“You burned it down?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I felt like it.”
“You expect me to believe that you burned a perfectly good cottage to the ground… just because?”
Cesare interrupted. “It’s one of those funny rich people things.”
Longo pulled on the waistband of his trousers. “More like you were getting rid of the evidence of the savage beating you gave your wife.” He wrinkled his nose. “Whichbedtime storydo you think is more believable? That you burned it downjust because… or to hide evidence of amurder?”
Before I could answer, my father arrived.
He strolled into the office, his sharp gaze missing nothing. He nodded to us both. “Boys.” He then turned to the inspector. “Jesus Christ, Longo, is that you?”
Longo’s mouth thinned. “Don Cavalieri.”
“Damn, man. Your wife stop feeding you?”
Longo pointed to the red and silver shoulder epaulettes showing two silver stars and three bars. “It’sLuogotenente Carica SpecialeLongo now.”
My father’s eyebrows rose. “They actually promoted you? Was there some kind of mass casualty event in theArma dei CarabinieriI wasn’t aware of? That’s the only way an incompetent, corrupt little shit like you would makeLuogotenente Carica Speciale.”
Longo’s face flushed a mottled red. “We both know you killed Angelina. And now I’m going to put away both your sons for murder!Like father like son.”
My father snatched Longo by the front of his uniform and lifted him off the floor.
Longo cried out, “Unhand me! I’m aLuogotenente Carica Speciale!”
“Listen to me, you little asshole. I’m going to find out who is paying you to launch this puppet investigation and when I do, I’ll personally see to it that you spend the rest of your career cleaning up horse shit from the mounted brigade.”
Papà tossed him to the floor.
Longo scurried backward on his ass before rising. He pointed a finger at us before storming out. “You’re all going to pay for this.”
I looked at my father. “Old friend of yours?”
“He was a civilian recruit in his first six months when your mother died. He suspected I killed her and was trying to impress his superiors.”
Cesare laughed. “Bet it really chapped his ass that he was right, and no one would listen.”
“You could say that.”
I rubbed my eyes. “Whoever is behind this, they are fabricating evidence and buying off witnesses.”
My father laid a hand on my shoulder. “Well then, we’ll just have to buy off better witnesses.”
Cesare smirked. “It really is annoying when someone uses our own toys and tricks against us.”
I shook my head. “Yeah, can’t say I care for it.”
Cesare headed toward the door. “I have a few things to finish up here and then I’ll swing by Benito’s office on my way home and warn him about Longo sniffing around.”
“Maybe we’ll get lucky. Maybe that buffoon will actually lead us to the third man. Especially since Bruno Moretti hasn’t moved any money or put in for any land permits since this whole mess began. The Agnellos are definitely laying low. They know we are on to their land scheme, but they won’t wait forever. They’ll get anxious to get moving again soon.”
Papà nodded. “Good point. We’ll put some of our men on him.”
