Chapter 13

“My father, after he was released by the local police, returned to his home and hired detectives in an attempt to locate her. It took him quite a while and cost him a great deal of money, but a few months before I was born, he located her. He begged her to divorce her husband and marry him, but her Roman Catholic background was too strong, and she refused. So, he purchased a house for her and hired people to take care of her. I’m told that by the time I was born, she was already descending into a form of madness.”

By this time, la Contessa’scontrol had slipped, and there were tears in her eyes.

“Father Rinaldo told me that you spat on your grandfather’s tomb and cursed him. Under the circumstances, I can hardly blame you.”

“Would you like to see a picture of my mother?” Marco said.

“If you would be so kind.”

He looked at me and said, “Dani, there’s a picture in my briefcase, do you mind?”

“Of course not,” I said.