Read Online Rendezvous in Rome by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online Page B

saw that the police were still there. She recognized Officer Franchi, who was talking to an elegant woman in a red silk suit. Nancy guessed that she must be Signora De Luca.
    Going over to the couch where the woman was sitting, Sandro introduced Nancy and Bess. Officer Franchi’s mouth twisted with resentment, but Signora De Luca insisted they stay. Thwarted, the police officer escorted them around the crime scene.
    Speaking in Italian, he showed Nancy the safe behind one of the armchairs in the parlor, telling her an Etruscan pin had been stolen from it that afternoon. He went on to explain that Signora De Luca opened her safe earlier to get a pair of earrings to wear. Sandro and her son Carlo were at the house until five. When they came back three hours later, Signora De Luca was just returning. She went straight to her safe to return her earrings and discovered that the pin was gone.
    The confusion on Bess’s face made it clear that she wasn’t picking up much of the story, but Nancy didn’t have time to explain right then. She leaned forward to study the safe. There were no scratches or fingerprints. The alarm system hadn’t been set off or tampered with. Nothing seemed to have been disturbed.
    â€œWe have a number of reports of missing jewelry,” Officer Franchi said, still speaking in Italian. He fixed Nancy with a piercing look. “I don’t suppose you know anything about that.”
    â€œI’ve heard about them,” Nancy told him. “But I haven’t found out anything concrete. Fabio Andreotti offered to buy all the stolen jewelry, though. What do you know about him?”
    â€œHe has an excellent reputation,” Officer Franchi told her. “We’ve never had any problems with him.”
    Nancy nodded. “So you think it’s just a coincidence that his name keeps popping up?”
    â€œArtifacts and jewelry are his business. But if you find anything more, let me know.” Officer Franchi’s dark eyes swept over Nancy. “I called the River Heights police department. You’re very respected in your country. I’m sure you’ll let me know if you uncover any leads.”
    It was after ten o’clock by the time the police left, but Signora De Luca asked Nancy and Bess to stay behind. Over iced tea and biscotti the De Lucas and Sandro repeated their accounts of the evening for the girls.
    â€œWho knew you were going out?” Nancy asked Signora De Luca when they were done.
    â€œThe people at the reception,” the woman replied, speaking in heavily accented English. “But all of my friends know Carlo is here. No one could know the house was empty.”
    â€œHow about the doorman? Do you trust him?” Bess asked. She looked grateful to be hearing English again.
    Signora De Luca nodded forcefully. “He has worked here for years. The police spoke to him.”
    Turning to Sandro and Carlo, Nancy said, “You were here for two hours after Signora De Luca left.Could anyone have gotten in without your noticing?”
    â€œNo one was here when we were,” said Carlo.
    â€œWell, did anyone know you wouldn’t be here?” Nancy asked.
    Sandro took a bite of a biscotto and explained, “We were going to watch television with Massimo, but we got hungry and decided to go out instead. No one could have predicted that.”
    So once again Massimo was connected in some way. “Where is Massimo now?” Nancy asked.
    â€œHe didn’t come with us,” Carlo said. “When I told him we wanted to go out, he changed his mind.”
    There was nothing suspicious about that, Nancy thought, unless you added it to all the other little clues pointing to Massimo. She and Bess hadn’t found any jewelry in his apartment, but Nancy supposed he could be keeping it somewhere else.
    Nancy’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Sandro. Was all of his concern about the jewelry just an act? she wondered. After