Il Pane Della Vita (34 page)

Sometime during the night, Sister
Angela roused. The window was open and strong breezes caused the curtains to billow and crack. She rose and closed the window. It had cooled considerably, and she no longer needed it open. She tumbled back into bed, adjusting the sheets until she was comfortable. She no sooner put her head down on the pillow than she heard a click at the front door in the other room. She did not get up again. She had nothing for a burglar to steal. Yes, maybe the laptop, but she could live without that.

Soft light flashed
across the wall near the bathroom. Someone had lifted the laptop lid and turned on the power. A few minutes passed before the light disappeared. There was a pause.
He’s looking for the red-striped bag
, she thought.
I hope I left it out there instead of in here.
Then she heard another click and slight push on the door. Evidently the thief could not resist that second push to make sure the door was secure.

She waited another few minutes to make sure he was gone before padding out into the other room. The laptop looked like it had not been touched. Would there be any fingerprints? Probably not. The thief would know to wear gloves. She looked around for her bag. It was missing. The nun smiled to herself. She
toddled back to the bed and fell asleep once more. When she awoke, it was morning. After showering and dressing, she would call Monte. She was pretty sure she had a suspect.

Sister Angela trudged into the abbot’s office. Neither the abbot nor Brother Pascal were there. She picked up the receiver and dialed Monte’s cell. “Good morning, Monte.”

“Welcome back, Sister. I suppose you heard what Brother Salvatore and I found with the cameras.”

“Yes, what a find. I certainly thought our doormen would have looked at that first. But I also have news.”

“You found information too? I can’t wait to sit down with you.”

“Y
ou and Detective Loria are welcome. I’ll be in the breakfast room. But that’s not all. I believe I have found our culprit.”

“How?”

“I confess I cheated. I set him up. Please get here soon before we scare him off.”

“
We’re on our way, Sister.”

Outside
, Sister Angela ran into the housekeeper, pushing her cart. “Good morning Renata, are you busy today?”

“Yes, I have to do the first floor. Most are quite neat so
I have time to finish it.”

The nun squeezed by the cart on her way to the
Sala
. Once past it, she continued a few steps and stopped. “Renata, I assume some of our brothers here wear contacts. While the bathroom is at each end of the hallways, they each have a sink in their cells, correct?

“Yes, Sister.

“And when one wears contacts, one usually has drops and a case close by—say on the sink—because if something happens, it’s difficult to grope around for the supplies. I wonder if you could write down the names of the monks whose sinks or shelves have something for contacts.”

“Yes. You don’t want me to go through their drawers, do you? I can feel under their mattresses when
I make the bed.”

The nun smiled. “I don’t think they would put their drops and case between their mattresses, but if you happe
n to find a red-striped bag in one of the rooms…”

“Take it?”

“No, don’t take anything. Just record whose cell it’s in.”

When she got to the
sala
, she immediately went to table to see if there was any bread or croissants left. Then she poured her coffee. Turning around, she scanned the tables for Brother Salvatore. When she didn’t see him, she sat down to enjoy her meal and wait for the detectives.

Twenty minutes later
, she was still drinking coffee. Brother Salvatore hadn’t appeared yet.
That’s not like him. He’s usually here right off, pushing me to continue the investigation.
Few monks were still in the
sala
, and Sister Angela decided it might be better to wait for the detectives in the front courtyard.

When she got to the
courtyard, she noticed that Brother Pascal was in the office and opened the door. “Good morning. It’s beautiful out here in the sun. Have you seen Brother Salvatore?”

“No Sister. I just came from the breakfast. You might try Brother Alonzo. He usually keeps
tabs on his future trainees.”

“Thank you, I will.”

The nun walked back out and again entered the dining room. Brother Enrico was changing some of the empty tables. “Brother Enrico, have you seen Brother Salvatore?”

“Yes. He was here
very early for a quick breakfast, and then he left.”

“What did he have to do?”

“I don’t know. Ask Brother Alonzo in the kitchen.”

“I’m glad
he’s still here.” She walked through the doors to the kitchen. “Brother Alonzo, where did Brother Salvatore have to go so early?”

“He didn’t tel
l me. He just said he had to follow up on something for the investigation. I concluded he was doing something for you.”

“Thank you,” she said, puzzled.
When she trekked back to a seat in the courtyard, Sister Angela ran into Brother Valente.

“What’s the problem, Sister? You look concerned.”

“I’m looking for Brother Salvatore. Have you seen him?”

“Yes. He and Brother Bruno were in my studio early this morning, playing with my new software. I told them to get out. Salvatore bragged that he was going up to the waterfall to look for evidence.”

“Did Brother Bruno say he was going with him?”

“Yes, the two of them race
d off. I suppose they were looking for another toy to play with,” Brother Valente said.

The nun raced out of the studio before the potter could say anything more.