An Enigmatic Disappearance (15 page)

‘How did you first meet him? How close a friend is he?'

He needed considerable patience to coax her to tell him the facts, yet he judged it was not merely embarrassment that made her reluctant to speak. She had been shopping one afternoon, perhaps three months before, when Ruffolo had started talking to her. Normally, of course, she snubbed any approach from a stranger, but something … She tried to explain, then said simply: ‘It was electric,' leaving Alvarez to make of that what he could.

They met in the afternoons, whenever he could get away; he'd phone to tell her he was driving over. And she would wait for him …

How could she, he wondered, become so deeply enamoured of a man who was interested only in the gratification of his own appetites? Not that she was the only woman to be such a fool. Ada had found him in the streets of Naples and lavished her wealth on him; Sabrina might well have had an affair with him; there would have been others. He possessed the power of a Don Juan, able to seduce in the space of an aria.

He realized his expression had betrayed his thoughts when she said with angry defensiveness: ‘The world's not like it used to be. I suppose you think I don't know about the old woman?'

‘I have no idea.'

‘He told me all about her, soon after we first met. He explained how he'd been living in such terrible poverty that it hurt just to hear about it. When she saved him from that, his gratitude was so terrific, so overwhelming, he determined to do everything he could to repay his debt. That's why he stays with her. It's very noble of him.'

Alvarez could not prevent himself saying: ‘You don't think his friendship with you rather contradicts any sense of gratitude towards Señorita Heron?'

‘If she doesn't know, how's it harm her? Why are you asking all these nasty questions?'

‘Because I am investigating the death of an Englishwoman, Sabrina Ogden.'

She stared at him, her expression shocked. ‘God Almighty! You can't think he knows anything about that.'

‘It's possible he may be able to assist me.'

‘That's absurd!' Then, immediately contradicting this flat denial, she said: ‘How could he?'

‘Señora Ogden may have told him something that is important, even if he doesn't realize that it is. I have been told that he was very friendly with her.'

‘That's a lie.'

‘How can you be so certain?'

‘Because he explained how she just wouldn't leave him alone, but kept on and on…'

‘Yes, señorita?'

‘Can't you guess?'

‘I'm afraid not.'

‘Trying to seduce him … I suppose you think that's funny?'

‘Why should I?'

‘Because women aren't supposed to behave like that. But she fell for him and that's the way she acted.'

‘And he denied her?'

‘Sneer away if you want, but the truth is that even though she was attractive, he wouldn't have anything to do with her because she was married.'

Only someone deliberately blind to character, Alvarez thought sadly, could credit Ruffolo with such a sense of honour. ‘Why did he tell you about her?'

‘Because of the scene.'

‘What scene?'

‘Does it matter?'

‘It might.'

She spoke sullenly. ‘I was in the office one morning when he came in…'

‘When was this?'

‘Who cares?'

‘It is important.'

‘Then I'm damned if I'm going to tell you.'

‘Are you afraid that he may know something about Señora Ogden's death?'

‘Of course I'm not.'

‘Then if it does prove to be important, that can only be to show me how correct you are.'

She finished her sherry.

‘Señorita, it will be much easier and more private to tell me here, when only I hear what you say.'

After a moment, she said: ‘It was soon after we'd met.'

‘What happened when he entered your office?'

‘He said Ada was at the hairdresser's and would be there for at least an hour and we could go and have a drink. I told him, I couldn't leave the office because of Félix. He started fooling around, trying to make me change my mind. Sabrina saw us and came rushing in. She was like a madwoman. Screamed at him and called me every filthy name she could think of … She was so jealous she didn't know what she was doing or saying.'

‘How did it end?'

‘He managed to calm her down by making her believe that he often joked with me because I was engaged and wouldn't go out and have a drink with him. He left with her. That's all.'

Ruffolo should have remembered that a woman crossed in love was to be feared more than a fighting bull. He stood. ‘Let me get you another drink.'

CHAPTER 18

When Carlos opened the front door of Ca Na Ada, Alvarez said: ‘Is Señor Ruffolo back from France?'

‘He arrived just before lunch.'

‘Then I'll have a word with him.' He stepped into the house without waiting to be invited.

Carlos looked annoyed by this breach of decorum, but finally contented himself with muttering: ‘He's by the pool.' He left Alvarez to close the door.

Ruffolo, his bronzed body in the briefest of swimming trunks, lay sunbathing on the diving board. Ada, in a costume that highlighted the irregularities of her figure, was on a pool chaise longue in the shade of the complex. As Alvarez approached, she said loudly: ‘It must be drinking time.'

He came to a halt. ‘On this island, señorita, time is for whatever you wish. I am here to speak to Señor Ruffolo.'

‘Why?'

‘To see if he can help me in my inquiries into the death of Señora Ogden.'

‘Death?'

‘The body found in the mountains has been identified as hers.'

She exclaimed with surprise. Then she said with sudden anger: ‘Of course he can't bloody well help you.'

‘Nevertheless, I have to make certain that he cannot, which is why I must ask him some questions.'

She turned towards Ruffolo and her tone altered. ‘Rino, love, he says he must talk to you.'

‘Ignore him,' Ruffolo replied with languid contempt. ‘Tell him that if he goes on bothering us, we'll complain.'

‘Señor, it is your right to complain if you wish,' Alvarez said equably. ‘Just as it is my right to ask you questions. And either I ask them here, or you will return with me to Llueso so that I can ask them at the guardia post.'

There was a brief silence, broken by some good-natured shouting from the beach. Then Ruffolo came to his feet, moving with athletic ease despite the narrowness of the board. He stepped on to the poolside, walked round and past Alvarez, sat on the chair next to the chaise longue. ‘Get it over with quickly, then.'

‘I would prefer to speak to you on your own.'

‘And if I wouldn't?'

‘I should begin to think that you are not very intelligent.'

Ada's expression was now so sharp that it held more than a suggestion of viciousness. Ruffolo stood. ‘We'll go into the house.'

‘But…' she began.

‘Don't worry, my precious. It's worth the trouble to relieve you of his presence.'

He strode briskly towards the house. Alvarez followed at a more leisurely pace and by the time he stepped into the cool of the sitting-room, Ruffolo was sprawled out on one of the settees. As he shut the outer door, Carlos entered through the inner doorway.

‘A gin and tonic and this time make certain there's a slice of lemon in it,' Ruffolo ordered.

Carlos looked at Alvarez.

‘He doesn't want anything.'

Carlos left.

Alvarez ignored the arrogant rudeness and spoke pleasantly once he was seated. ‘Señor, do you remember my asking you if you were friendly with Señora Ogden?'

‘No.'

‘Then you will also not remember your answer?'

‘That's smart thinking.'

‘You said you had only met her casually at parties.'

‘So?'

‘Would you now like to reconsider your answer?'

‘Why should I?'

‘You might consider it more advantageous to yourself to be honest.'

‘I met her, I was polite, and that's the full story. Even if she'd been my type, which she wasn't, I wouldn't have moved.'

‘Because of your sense of tremendous gratitude towards the señorita and the desire to express that by denial?'

‘Is that supposed to make sense?'

‘Surely those are, more or less, your own words?'

Carlos entered and crossed to where Ruffolo sat, put a tall glass down on the occasional table. ‘There are two slices of lemon in your drink, señor.'

The words had been spoken deferentially, but Alvarez wondered if Ruffolo possessed even that small degree of self-humility that would have led him to suspect the contempt lurking behind them? He waited until Carlos had left to say: ‘Do you remember the circumstances in which you expressed so noble a sentiment?'

‘Hardly, since I never spoke such tripe.'

‘Then Señorita Carol is a liar?'

Ruffolo could not conceal his sense of shock. ‘Who?' he asked weakly.

‘Señorita Carol Murdoch.'

‘Who's she?'

‘She would be very upset to hear you ask such a question. She described the friendship between you and her as very strong.'

Ruffolo drank deeply, looked briefly at Alvarez, stood, walked over to the nearest window and stared out at the pool. ‘The fact is … I do know Carol.'

‘How well?'

He returned to his chair. There was an ingratiating smile on his face. ‘You're a man of the world, aren't you?'

‘Am I?'

‘You can understand that one sometimes needs a little diversion when it can't do any harm.'

‘In other words, all the time it remains secret?'

‘I knew you'd understand. So there's no need for her to hear about it.' He nodded in the direction of the pool.

‘That depends on the truth.'

‘I've just noticed you haven't a drink. How typically stupid of Carlos. What would you like?'

The blatant opportunism of this sudden hospitality could hardly be missed, but Alvarez had always believed it to be a mistake to hold too firmly to principle. ‘A coñac, with just a little ice, please.'

Ruffolo went over to the fireplace and rang the bell, then strolled across to the windows and stared once more in the direction of the pool.

‘You have always met the señorita in the afternoons because that is the only time you both are free?'

‘I have to be back here when she wakes up. She's terribly possessive.'

‘Where do you entertain Señorita Murdoch?'

‘That can't matter.'

Carlos entered.

‘Why didn't you ask the inspector what he wanted?' Ruffolo asked curtly. ‘A large coñac with ice.'

Carlos left.

‘The answer does matter, and if you tell me now what it is, perhaps I shall not have to return. Señorita Heron might become even more curious if I did.'

‘In … in the flat.'

‘You have a flat for such occasions?'

‘A chap I know rents it and as he's always short of cash … He's glad of the extra pesetas.'

‘The name of your friend?'

‘Hans Wilms.'

‘The address of the flat?'

‘He won't declare the money so I can't tell you…'

‘I do not work for the tax people.'

Ruffolo hesitated, then said: ‘Fifteen, Carrer Gabriel Font.'

Carlos returned, put a glass down by the side of Alvarez, left.

Alvarez drank, then said: ‘Now you have agreed it is more sensible to tell the truth, I will ask you again how well you knew Señora Ogden?'

‘You can't think I had anything to do with her death.'

‘Until I hear the truth, I have no way of judging.'

‘I haven't seen her in weeks and weeks. I swear that's the truth. You've got to believe me.'

‘Suppose you answer the question I asked?'

‘I … Well, I did know her quite well.'

‘You had an affair with her?'

‘It wasn't me who started it. I don't go for married women. But she wouldn't leave me alone.' He saw Alvarez's expression. ‘All the women go for me.'

‘You must lead a very complicated life. When did the affair start?'

‘Maybe a year ago; something like that.'

‘And it was still extant when you began an affair with Señorita Murdoch?'

‘I didn't say that.'

‘Señora Ogden would not have created such a scene in the señorita's office if your relationship with her had come to an end.'

Ruffolo was silent.

‘And it continued up to the señora's death?'

‘It stopped after the trouble in Carol's place.'

‘Are you asking me to believe that Señora Ogden accepted with good grace that she had been supplanted?'

‘She was scared at having behaved so stupidly after he…'

‘Well?'

‘Her husband had been asking questions which made her think that perhaps he had heard rumours.'

‘Of her affair with you?'

‘Yes. So she decided we must bring things to an end.'

‘You accepted that?'

‘To tell the truth, I had become a little bored. When one has known a woman for a time, there is no mystery left. Don't you agree?'

‘Lacking your wide experience, I'd hesitate to do so … When was the last time you saw the señora, and this was not at a party?'

‘Perhaps a couple of weeks after the scene in the office.' Ruffolo stood and once more looked through the French windows. ‘I knew she couldn't stay away for long. There's no need to tell her anything or she'll just become upset. She's such a simple woman.'

Alvarez would have described her as a complicated woman.

Ada entered the sitting-room. ‘Gawd, it's a sight cooler in here!' She stared at Alvarez. ‘Surprise, surprise, the man's boozing!'