Chianti Classico (15 page)

The chief detective and Sister Angela made a quick tour of the house.

“Do you see anything of interest here, Sister?”

“The bed’s still made. It looks like he’s been sleeping on top of the spread. Her drawers are partially empty, like she planned to come back.”

“Or left in a hurry.”

“Her toothbrush isn’t in the bathroom. Everything looks as if she’ll be gone for a short time. There are more suitcases in the hall closet. Are they empty?”

“Check these,” he said to one of his men.

Sister Angela gazed at Pagano.

“What?” he asked.

“If your men do find a body, it might not be Pia’s.”

“Let’s go to the winery and see what Elmo’s discovered.”

She followed him into the next building.

Detective Sergeant Sacco approached them. We’ve found nothing new here. It looks like it’s a business. That’s all.

Someone in a white lab coat, now smudged with dirt, approached from behind them. He carried a plastic bag.

“We found something.”

“What is it?” asked the nun, pulling the bag toward her and tipping it for more light.

“It’s a frock,” said the man in white. “A black frock.”

“Where did you find it?”

“We were digging out that vine you asked us to remove, and the shovel got caught on it. We left the vine where it was.”

Pagano smiled. “I didn’t want another body anyway. Good job.”

“Sir, over here!” Another voice echoed through the cavernous chamber.

Sister Angela and Pagano rushed to his side.

“I removed the lid from this clay pot,” said the young assistant inspector. He tilted the amphora so they could all take a peek. “It looks like this isn’t just wine. I see a something bobbing, don’t you?”

The nun let out a sigh, grabbing the beads tied at her waist. “It isn’t Pia, is it?” she asked.

“Empty it,” ordered Pagano.

Elmo and the assistant inspector overturned the
amphora and carefully let the wine spill out over the tiles. “We’re going to have to find a better way to empty the others,” Elmo said as he laid the earthen vessel on its side.

The man from the lab who had followed them with his bag removed his muddy gloves and replaced them with clean ones. He crouched down, reached into the amphora, and carefully tugged. “Lift the bottom slightly so I can get a better grip.”

Under her breath, Sister Angela continued her litany of prayers. The chief detective pulled out a handkerchief and placed it over his nose.

“Here she comes,” said the lab tech.

The form slipped out of the top and onto the white tiles, gooey with congealing red wine.

“Who is it?” asked Pagano.

The nun looked down at the body. The knees were tucked up, and the arms crossed the upper torso. “It’s in the fetal position. Pull it apart, if you can. It’s a man. There are his shoes. Tug on those. Elmo, pull him from the other end—under his arms here. Can you straighten him out?”

Elmo reluctantly placed his hands under the man’s armpits and held on while the lab tech yanked the feet.

“Look, Ricco,” she said. “He’s taller and thinner than he looked at first. I know you can’t do it here, but if you removed the frock from the plastic bag and placed it over his front like he was trying it on, you’d see what the children saw.”

“You think our frock is a habit?” he asked, still looking a unsure.

“And I think our body’s a part-time old nun who likes little girls. Now we have to make sure this is the only body. If Pia isn’t here, we’ll need to figure out how our dead man relates to our vintner and why he took Pia.”

First it was the picking season. Viviana busied herself trying to keep up with the tour buses that lined the long drive. The tourists crowded into the small tasting room, asking her to pour them more as soon as they finished savoring a particular wine. The crushing season was even more hectic as she rushed to clean the tasting goblets between customers. She couldn’t leave a bottle on the tall counter Giulio built for her because it would disappear among the throngs. Empties speckled the drive, revealed only after the lines of buses had left.

She didn’t see much of Giulio. He was busy making sure the grape juice fermented and turned into the kind of Chianti he wanted. She often arrived before six, hoping to catch a glimpse of him before preparing for the masses of visitors that would soon overpower her. But the only thing she saw were the trucks, delivering supplies the vintners would need to produce the wine.

Just as quickly, it was over. The season was coming to an end, and the number of buses and cars slowed. She finally had a breather to find him.

“He’s gone,” said Ermanno, stooping over his stacks of receipts.

“What do you mean? Where’d he go?”

Ermanno bent down and pulled an empty bottle from a cupboard under his counter. “We don’t let customers drink the whole bottle—at least not for free. I don’t want to find any more of these on the property. You’ll reimburse me for this one.”

“Where’s Giulio?”

“He’s on the road. He’s making appearances to introduce the restaurants and stores to our wonderful wines. You don’t get a great reputation by hiding out.” He never looked up from his papers.

“When’s he expected back?”

“In a couple of weeks.”

“It’s slowing down now. Is there any work I can do to keep me busy through the winter? Remember I can file or track things for you.”

Ermanno looked up. “Our mother needs a companion. If you’re not busy, you can check on her. Serena has a job in town, and Mamma shouldn’t be left alone.”

Back in the tasting room, she sat at the counter and sulked. Why didn’t Ermanno want her near the business? She’d have to wait for Giulio to return and ask him to find something more for her to do.

Giulio returned home for Christmas but didn’t stay long. Relief from Viviana’s long hours of caring for relatives, however, was changing. Her aunts decided to send Nonna, whom Viviana had continued to tend to after work, to a nursing home closer to Roma while her aunts continued to live in the house.

One morning in January as Viviana was leaving for work, Clarissa asked, “Why are you wearing pants?”

“Because it’s too cold to wear a dress. My boss is out of town. I can wear whatever I want when he isn’t there. These aren’t just pants. I pulled up leggings on the outside to keep me warm too.”

“Do they have you working with the grapes? What kind of job do you have?”

“No, it hasn’t changed. We have fewer customers this time of year.” Just as she said it, she had an idea. Maybe Ermanno would let her box up cartons of wine for the online customers. At least the physical labor would keep her warm.

Spring arrived early with the bud break.

On her way to work, Viviana found Giulio in the fields examining the vines. “You’re back.”

Giulio smiled, but not for long. “What are you wearing? I can’t believe Ermanno let you come to work like that.”

“Didn’t he tell you? I’m caring for your mother. There weren’t enough visitors for winetasting. He decided to take over that job.”

“No he didn’t tell me. We should be getting more visitors in a few weeks. I’ll make sure you go back to that job. You have to start dressing to do yours. I won’t have you looking like a boy.” He touched her arm, and she shivered.

“Where were you all this time?”

He smiled. “My big brother doesn’t like to schmooze. He sends me out to do TV appearances and cooking programs.”

“You must get a lot of attention from the ladies.”

“You shouldn’t be jealous. It doesn’t suit you. You do perfectly well when you’re in a dress and heels. I was surprised you lasted the whole season without being hoisted onto one of the buses and taken to New York.”

“I have to get to the house,” she said. “Ermanno gets angry when I’m late.”

“I’ll talk to him. He mentioned that he wanted to put tables and chairs outside the tasting room this year. We can accommodate more tourists that way.”

“I’ll be a waitress too? Next you’ll expect me to serve them food.”

“At least I’ll be able to watch you work when you come out of the tasting room.”

Viviana didn’t speak with him again until the tiny star-like blossoms began to drop from the vines. She’d begun to wear dresses again, just in case he was around. A few buses grew to several, and she was beginning to get busy.

One warm evening Giulio entered her tasting room and asked to savor some of the wine. When she put a bottle on the counter, he grabbed it. “C’mon, I have dinner waiting.”

She smiled. “Thank you for hiring someone to take care of your mother. It’s good to be back.”

“I have a picnic basket for us in a quiet corner with a view.”

“I must put up this picture first,” she said. She removed her heels, climbed onto one of the stools, and stepped from there onto the counter. “This isn’t very steady,” she said. “Don’t let me fall.” She bent down to pick up the picture and hammer at her feet.

He held her ankles. “You’ve got good balance.”

When she was finished, she squatted and sat on top of the counter, her bare feet dangling over the side facing Giulio. He reached down and rubbed her feet. His hands traveled up to her thighs, and she felt her cheeks flush. “Help me down so I can get my shoes.”

He led her past the farmhouse and shed to a clear spot on the ridge overlooking the river. The shed blocked any view of them from the farmhouse windows. Beside it, a picnic table sported a checkered tablecloth and basket. He placed the bottle of wine on the table. On the river side, the village shimmered with lights.

“Your table,” he said. “Sit down and let me take your shoes before you break a heel. He got down on a knee and slid off her shoes, lingering to kiss each bare foot.

“Are you sure you want to eat?” she asked, sitting at the table.

“Of course,” he said, climbing over the bench to sit beside her. He removed a dish of oil from the basket. Then he grabbed a loaf of bread and tore off a piece, dipping it into oil before taking a bite. The oil rolled down his chin, and he wiped it with his forearm. “I have vegetables in here. They taste great when you dip them in the oil too.” He offered some to Viviana.

She dipped her bread into the oil and took a bite, the oil dripping down the front of her blouse. Giulio laughed and opened the top button of her blouse, leaned forward, and licked the tops of her breasts.

Viviana visibly shuddered.

Giulio watched her but said nothing. He grabbed a cherry tomato and bit into it, the juices collecting in the corners of his mouth. Then he leaned forward and kissed her on the mouth. She responded by inching toward him, continuing the kiss as he pulled his leg over the bench to straddle it. They parted, and he tore a pepper into two pieces. He reached into the basket and pulled out a sauce. He dipped each piece and handed her one of them. With the sauce that remained on his hands, he reached over and wiped them above her bra. Then he leaned forward and licked the spots, caressing her breasts with his free hand. He moaned.

Wishing he’d do more, Viviana didn’t pull away, but she was beginning to doubt she’d be able to stop him. He climbed off the bench, quickly put away the food, and removed the basket from the tabletop. Then he scaled the table, and lying down on his side, gestured for Viviana to join him. She rose and held his hand as she carefully stepped onto the bench and stood above him. He slid to one side and patted the table beside him. He pointed at the sky.

“The stars,” he said. “They’re beautiful tonight.”

Viviana lay on her back and looked up. The twinkling sky reminded her of the ceiling of her childhood bedroom. Papà had stuck glow-in-the-dark stars to it. Then he left Mara and her. Where was he now? Did he ever think about her?

Viviana had unconsciously lifted her knees and felt Giulio’s hand slide along her thighs, slowly inching up her skirt. She closed her eyes and felt his hand lift the leg of her panties. Her knee dropped to the side so he could explore the fleece that protected her secrets. She felt the rush of dampness and tried to pull her knee back up, but he reached over her and yanked her panties over her knees to her ankles. Should she tell him to stop now?

If he wasn’t liking what he felt, he didn’t let on. He explored her further until her back arched. He smiled and pushed her legs down, the panties hanging off of one foot, and pulled her on top of him. She moved with him, as he drew up her chin to kiss her lips.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered in between kisses. “I don’t deserve you.” His breathing became rough.

Straddling him, she sat up. He urged her back as he unzipped his jeans and pushed them down. She knew what he was doing, but tried not to look when he placed her hand on him. The heat of it surprised her as she caressed it. Then he pulled her down and rolled them both over, nearly pushing her off the edge. But he didn’t drop her. He drew her back under him and tugged her knees up again.

Realizing that it was too late to tell him she didn’t want it, she lay there as he made his way into her. He slowed, asking her if she was all right, and when she saw his beautiful, concerned eyes, she lifted her feet and let him make her move to his rhythm. She grabbed his shoulders and felt her resistance escape through her fingers. And just as her body tensed, the stars seemed explode. Giulio thrust once more, and she consumed him until they were one. She clung to the sensation for long seconds before she realized how heavy he was.

She nudged him, and he slid off of her. “You’re wonderful, Viviana.”

She smiled. “You’re pretty good too. Is there anything else in the basket?”