Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries Box Set Nanci Rathbun (i love reading books txt) 📖

“That’s nice of you to say, but you’re the one who put your butt on the line. I learned something about myself, Angie. I learned that reading mysteries and trying to figure out who committed the crime is a lot different from being involved in a real-life mystery. After I watched that video of you and Bobbie scrambling to get into those pipes, I knew that being a detective is not something I could ever do. I’ll stick with being a librarian and trying to knock these kids into shape.” She smiled. “But anytime you need a researcher, I’m your woman.”

“That’s a deal,” I told her. We shook on it.

Colonel Lewis and Professor Kolar arrived, silent as they entered the room. “We ran into each other on the stairs,” Rua said. She took a seat across the table from Lily and cattycorner to me. Lewis pushed the chair next to hers to the wall and sat beside her, with plenty of space between them. Very insightful of him to not crowd her, I thought.

Time to woman up. “Rua,” I said, “there have been a lot of developments in the case. I need to bring you up to speed, because it’s going to hit the news this afternoon and I don’t want you to be surprised.”

“Thank you,” was all she said.

I told myself I could act like this was doomsday, or I could present it as a hopeful ending to a terrible situation. I fingered the turquoise choker at my neck, a gift from a dear friend with New Age leanings. The little handout that came with it attributed healing and protective force to the stone. The Native Americans believed that if the turquoise was ever cracked, “the stone took it,” meaning the stone took the blow for the wearer. Please, I prayed, take this blow for Rua.

I began to speak. She sat, unmoving and stoic, until I told of Petrovitch forcing Serbians with Muslim ties into securing loot for him. Then she covered her face with her hands and murmured, “How long? How long?” When I spoke about his arranging for the murders, she lowered her hands and her eyes flashed. “Evil, evil man,” she said. “May he suffer the eternal torment of the damned.”

Colonel Lewis edged a mite closer to her. “Professor, because of you, Lily and Angie, Petrovitch is behind bars and we’ve identified some of the persons he dragged into this scheme. We also have frozen the bank accounts that started the investigation and we’re looking for others.”

“That is all to the good,” Rua said, her voice hard, “but it does not repay the debt he owes.”

Lewis nodded. “Nothing can bring the dead back to life, but we can close down his operation and send him to trial.”

“And how many years will that take?” she protested.

“I think the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia—”he gave each word great weight—“will act decisively and with all due speed.”

“The ICTY? He will be tried at The Hague?” Lewis nodded. “Then there is hope for justice.”

“I believe that, with all my heart,” Lewis said. He rose and took a card from the inside pocket of his uniform jacket. “Please call me with any questions you might have. Or if you want to talk.”

She stood and took the card, her hand extended. “Thank you, Colonel Lewis. You are a good man.”

Lewis moved a half step closer to Rua and placed her hand between his, saying, “Fi Amanillah.” To my surprise, as she repeated the words, Rua lightly kissed him on each cheek. He smiled very slightly and left the room.

Neither Lily nor I spoke. Rua reseated herself, her expression serious.

“Rua,” I said, “help me understand. Why is it that this intense hatred of Serbs for Bosniaks erupted after Yugoslavia was divided?”

“Ahh,” she sighed, “there is much history behind it. In 1389, the Ottomans conquered the Serbs. The roots are that deep. In 1918, after centuries of Ottoman rule, the Serbians took control of Yugoslavia. Back and forth it went, like the Arabs and Jews. We grew up learning to distrust and disparage each other. Under Communist rule, there was enforced peace. But when the Soviet Union broke apart, the factions rose against each other once more. No restraints then, just open power struggles. War gave both sides the excuse to hurt, rape, starve, kill. Muslims were not entirely innocent, but we did not have the same means as the Serbs, so our misdeeds were less. It is sad, no?”

“Very sad,” I said. “Thank you for speaking so honestly.” I paused. “Will you be all right?”

“Yes. I have learned to survive.”

***

After Rua left, Lily said, “That went better than I thought it would.”

I nodded. “It must be healing to know that at least one bad guy will get his comeuppance.”

As I rose to put on my coat, Lily said, “Enjoy your Thanksgiving, Angie.”

When I thought about the family interactions and the not-so-subtle assessments Wukowski and I would undergo, not to mention concern for his mother, I felt caterpillars crawling on my skin—not dangerous, but slightly creepy. “Thanks, Lily. What are your plans?”

“Mmm, well, it’ll be a quiet day for me. I’m originally from North Dakota, but my family’s scattered all over the States. The guy I was seeing finished his Ph.D. work and took a job in Seattle last summer. I’ll probably just get a supermarket turkey meal and curl up with a book. It’ll be a nice change from herding students.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Listen, I’d love to have you share the meal with us, if you can stand my Sicilian family and the attendant noise and nosiness.” I grimaced. “I’ve been dating the homicide detective who coincidentally got assigned to this case. His name is Ted Wukowski. He and his mother are going to be there and will meet my family for the first time. I’ve spoken with his mom on the phone, but this is