77 A coffee machine (2/2)
”See you soon.” Laila broke the connection.
The Italian spread his arms. ”What now?”
”Take him to the Volvo.”
”Tonino gives you his best regards, it's in the backseat. ” Curious, Laila peered at the huge box and opened the enclosed envelope. ”For the devilish angel, La dolce vita, Tonino”. Laila tore the sky blue wrapping paper.
A coffee machine and two kilos of the finest Italian coffee beans. Laila grinned. La dolce vita - certainly fit well with Canada. Laila drove in silence on the lonely country road. It was 6:00 pm. In about three hours they would reach the hut. She felt Danielle's father stare at her from the side.
From behind she heard a dull thud. Summersby had woken up about 20 minutes ago. Laila felt tired and irritable. Only the thought of her farm in Canada kept her somewhat in the mood. Laila glanced at Danielle's father with a look. ”Will you behave if I release your gag?”
Without looking, Laila felt his eager nod. So she drove the Volvo to the side of the road and removed the tape from his mouth. ”Thanks, please, I'm terribly thirsty.” ”Sorry, I'm not prepared for a picnic.”
He nodded toward the Volvo's big glove box. ”In there, I saw the Italians stock the vehicles.” Laila dubiously opened the glove box. She grinned. In fact, the all-round carefree package. In the glove compartment were two small bottles of Pelligrino, Italian mineral water.
Laila opened the lid of a bottle and held it to Danielle's father's lips. He swallowed greedily, while the water ran out of his mouth to his right and left and wet the collar of his expensive polo shirt. ”Thank you. Please untie me.” Laila looked at him impassively. ”No.”
”What the hell are you imagining? I've been taking care of your finances for years ... mpfh” Laila pressed the tape tight over his lips.
She looked at him seriously. ”Listen, you did a first-class job for me, and I brought your daughter's killer for that, see, I myself lost a loved one long ago, and if I were in your place, I'd kill the pig, and It's only for your own good if the shackles stay where they are, claim your revenge, but not now, can I remove the tape? ” He closed his eyes in resignation.
Laila interpreted it as a sign of his approval. She jerked down the tape. The skin around his mouth was very red. Tears ran down his face. ”Danielle is dead?” Laila sighed. ”None of his victims lives anymore.” The man started to cry. ”I thought, I hoped ....” He fell silent, sobbing. Laila herself took a sip of water and stowed the bottle in the glove compartment. ”Can we continue?” He nodded.
Back on the road, they drove silently for a while. Slowly Danielle's father calmed down. After all, the man had had several years to prepare for the inevitable. Laila switched to fifth gear. ”What's your name again?”
”Joseph Rüttli And you, you are Belinda Hammersfield?”
”First of all.”
”Did Danielle, did the children have to suffer?” Laila chose her words wisely.
”They've been snatched from the protection of their families, they certainly were scared, but no child was tortured or abused during their lifetime.” The photos of the boys and girls who were forced by Summersby to smile at the camera hovered in her mind's eye. ”What did he do with you?”
”He did not sexually abuse her, if you want to know that.” Joseph Rüttli's voice lolled loudly through the passenger compartment.