Read The Ancient Curse for Free Online

‘There’ve been Sardinian shepherds around, from the Barbargia region. Tough characters.’
    ‘Yeah, I’ve heard about them.’
    ‘Let’s say that Ronchetti had set up shop with one of them and that the deal was that they would act as look-out for him—’
    ‘In case of a Finanza raid?’
    ‘Could be. You know how shepherds go everywhere. They’d be able to let him know if there was anyone coming . . .’
    ‘Go on.’
    ‘Well, let’s say that Ronchetti tried to cheat one of them. Refused to share the booty, or simply didn’t inform him about this last find. So this guy kills Ronchetti, strangles him, then carries the body somewhere else and lets one of his dogs loose on it – they’re very ferocious, you know. The dog mangles the body and destroys any sign of the strangling.’
    ‘And that sound I heard last night?’
    ‘I’m not sure . . . Why didn’t anyone else hear it?’
    ‘How do you know that?’
    ‘This is a small town. People here get upset over the sound of a leaf falling, let alone some horrible howling in the middle of the night. The next morning everyone would be talking about it.’
    ‘So I dreamed it, then?’
    ‘I’m not saying that. But sounds . . . sensations . . . are magnified at night. Even the howling of a stray dog, when everything else is perfectly silent.’
    ‘That may be, but I have a shotgun and I’m going to keep it loaded.’
    ‘Do you hunt?’ asked Francesca.
    ‘I like hunting hares sometimes. Why, are you against killing animals?’
    ‘I just ate a big steak, didn’t I?’ she said with a touch of feline satisfaction.
    Fabrizio fell silent for a little while without looking at her, then continued: ‘What about this mysterious project that’s keeping Balestra glued to his desk here, so far away from Florence?’
    ‘I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that. I would just risk saying something stupid, because I don’t have any first-hand information myself. Just what I’ve heard in the hallways.’
    Fabrizio nodded, as if to say, ‘I won’t insist.’
    Francesca ordered coffee. ‘How do you like it at the Semprini farm? It’s nice and big, isn’t it?’
    ‘Too big,’ replied Fabrizio. ‘It’s one of those traditional family homes, at least six bedrooms. Wasted on a single guy living alone.’
    ‘Doesn’t your girlfriend ever come down to visit?’
    Fabrizio was surprised at her personal question, after she’d skirted all of his. She evidently didn’t like talking about herself but didn’t mind poking into the lives of others.
    ‘No, since I don’t have a girlfriend. She left me a few months ago. A question of class, you might say. As in my class not measuring up to her economic expectations. Not husband material, I guess.’
    ‘She sounds nasty,’ commented Francesca.
    Fabrizio shrugged and said in a firm tone of voice, ‘Happens. I’ll survive.’
    He insisted on paying the bill and Francesca thanked him with a smile. At least she wasn’t a diehard feminist; who knows, maybe she even wore pretty underwear under those jeans of hers.
    They left the restaurant around eleven and got into the car, continuing to chat until Francesca pulled up at the museum entrance, where Fabrizio had parked his Punto.
    She didn’t seem to expect a peck on the cheek, so Fabrizio didn’t try, saying only, ‘Goodnight, Francesca. I had a nice time. Thanks for the company.’
    She brushed his cheek with her hand. ‘You’re a good guy. You deserve to go places. I had a nice evening too. Ill see you tomorrow.’
    Fabrizio nodded, then got into his car and headed towards the farmhouse. Fortunately, he’d left the front porch light on.
    A T THAT same moment Lieutenant Reggiani was entering the forensics lab at Colle Val d’Elsa. Dr La Bella, a stocky man of about sixty, came to meet him, still wearing a bloody apron.
    ‘I got here as soon as I could,’ said Reggiani. ‘Well, then?’
    ‘Come,’ replied the doctor, and motioned for the officer to follow him first