Shrouded In Silence

23





The firemen worked back and forth in the wreckage trying to make sure the ruins of the old house didn't erupt into flames. While there had been some charred wood, only smoke still curled up out of the wreckage. A crowd of people from the neighboring office buildings and houses had gathered and stood next to the church staring at the pile of smoldering rubble.

Tony Mattei pushed his way through the crowd to the front. For a moment the diamond merchant watched the workers throwing broken lumber into piles. The police were guarding the perimeters and holding the crowd back. The situation looked grave.

"Officer! Mattei called out and beckoned with his hand.

A policeman looked at him and strolled over. "Ciao."

"I am a close friend of the Townsends who have an office in that building. Can you tell me what happened?"

"You knew the residents?" The policeman said.

"Quite well. I am their personal friend."

"Come with me." The policeman led him out of the crowd over to a small command station that had been set up near the back of the church. "I want you to speak with my supervisor and give him any information you have."

"Certainly," Tony Mattei said.

"This man knows the Townsends," the officer said to a skinny inspector in a worn sport coat making notes on a small pad. "He might be able to report something. Please meet Alfredo Pino."

"How many people were in there?" the detective immediately barked.

"I don't know," Mattei said. "Usually three people worked in those offices."

"Three? Hmm. We've found three so far."

"Probably got 'em all," Tony said. "Did anybody survive?"

"Don't know yet," Pino said. "Took two away in ambulances, but I didn't see them. Can't tell if everyone survived."

Mattei held his arms in the air in a helpless gesture of consternation. "What happened?"

"We believe a plastic explosive device was placed under the house," the inspector said. "At least that's my hunch at the moment. We'll know more later."

Tony Mattei nodded. "Doesn't look like anybody could have survived."

"Best we can tell a table fell over on one person and shielded him from the direct blast. Another guy apparently was standing over the spot in the kitchen where the bomb was planted. I'm sure he's gone."

"Terrible, terrible," Tony muttered.

Another man came out of the crowd and walked straight toward the detective without speaking to the policeman. When the cop reached for him, the man glared furiously and the policeman let go. The intruder kept walking.

"I am Dr. Albert Stein," he said forcefully. "I'm an associate of the Townsends. We work on the same projects and do research together. I am sure they will be concerned that their investigations not be destroyed in the blast. Since I am an anthropologist, I would be delighted to help recover any material scattered in the ruins."

Tony studied the professor with the arrogant look on his face. His appearance looked foreboding.

"At the moment, we're attempting to make sure a fire doesn't break out," the detective said. "We'll need to make certain there are no other explosives planted in or around the building. Once we're certain, we'll be ready for a salvage operation. Perhaps, you can help with that. Of course, it will be tomorrow before we know for certain."

Stein nodded perfunctorily. "I see. Yes. It's best to return tomorrow?"

"That would be my suggestion," Pino said.

"I'll be back," Stein said and turned away.

Tony Mattei watched the man walk back toward the crowd. Stein remained unintimidated by the police.