Thursday 7th SeptemberWhen I arrive, I can see Zia is pale with worry. I try to defuse her anxious state by distraction. I ramble on about the Giusy-Alberto affair, how it is all sorted by Giusy taking the situation into her own hands. Zia doesn’t comment. Other times, she’d have been all too ready to sit down and gossip about it. It is clear she has to get something out of her system.
“What is it, Zia? What’s wrong?”
“I tell you something top secret. Bella and Rosa.”
“What about them? Have they been causing you grief again? You needn’t worry about them. Zia, you’re elderly and need a nice peaceful life. Why don’t we go out for a walk? You hardly ever go out. Some fresh air will do you good.”
“I no go out. I safe in my house.”
Then she says something that makes my bones go cold.
“Bel
