The murder mystery podcast, the story unfolds, each week, will
you guess the Killer? Hi.
This is MF Kelleher in this season 2 of the murder mystery
podcast. Olivia Street goes to work for a
millionaire in Venice and help with International art, dealing
with. She gets caught up in a Family
Feud and murder. Thanks for listening.
I'll see you soon. On the murder mystery podcast.
It's the Venetian affair. Episode 1.
The rain starts to spatter onto the windscreen of Olivia's car
somewhere between great Milton and the rising, slopes of the
Chiltern Hills, as she makes her way back to her London, flat
from a day with her parents in Oxford, The oncoming lights from
the traffic trudging out of London.
Catch against the water droplets on the glass and blur her view
of the route ahead. The sign on the side of the
motorway tells her, there's a service area in one mile.
The rain is heavier. Now she pulls off the road and
into the Stark bleakness that characterizes all Motorway.
Cafes Olivia Parks up and runs across the tarmac to the main
doors, then into the bowels of a long and low.
But brightly-lit building that contains the restaurant and
shops, she buys a sandwich and coffee and takes a seat next to
the window that overlooks the roadway.
Cars and lorries flashed by behind the glass as her brain
goes over, the things she has heard today.
The phone buzzes on the table in front of her so much, that it
physically hovers above the gray and pink formica surface.
She picks it up and looks at the name of the caller.
Then answers. Hi Jess.
She says pulling her hand through her blond hair and away
from her face. How are you live?
Yeah, good sorry to call out of the blue, but I was wondering if
you're free to do some legal work.
My father is buying some art says Jess.
He doesn't really know anything about our, to be honest.
But these so-called art experts are always on about some
painting or other to him. Just doesn't stop for breath.
This chapter is buying the art with his ghastly but dad likes
him. We're all going to the Venice
house because the chapters there says Jess and Dad's sponsoring,
the British Artist who is going to be exhibited this year.
Malin read, you know him, no mom loves to be an ally.
Sorry the what does Olivia, you know, every two years art
exhibition in Venice, says, Jess.
There's an artist from every country in the world like the
art Olympics. Okay.
Do you know what your dad needs doing all the art legal stuff,
contracts. Negotiations payments, that sort
of thing. It's Dreadful.
But as usual, our chat was killed in a skiing accident.
And your few weeks ago, all very odd as he was such an expert
skier. But apparently he got on the
'black run and they found him at a huge head wound in the middle
of the afternoon. In deep snow, there's the woman
I sent it out that you'd be great at all that and he said
call you, what do you think? Olivia knows that Jesse's father
Paddy Cornish made his money from food, canning then, sold
his company to an American conglomerate on his 40th
birthday. He now spends his fortune on a
whole range of rich. Man's Hobbies from Yachts, two
houses and now evidently art Sure.
This is Olivia, I can do that sort of thing.
When, would you need the work done straightaway?
Just? Yes, he is in Venice already and
I'm traveling in the morning with Joel and EM, okay, I can
fly down tomorrow. Does Olivia any paperwork for me
to read? Dad, will have lots of stuff.
You don't worry. Sorry, got to go.
But he told me to say that you can just name your day rate.
Is that okay? Olivia.
Can't think why anyone would ever find that not?
Okay. The radio in the taxi blares
loud as Olivia travels from Marco Polo Airport and onto the
Via Della libertà the road that crosses the clear blue water of
the Lagoon from the mainland at Saint Juliana into the city of
Venice. Dozens of people are shouting
and walking in every direction and the r, a Santa Chiara
drop-off area, with a world of Roads ends and the Venetian
Universe of water begins. She Wills her suitcase down to
the plaster, Roma water bus, stop on, the canal, and waits
for a vaporetto. The boat that arrives is weighed
down with people hanging off every conceivable part of The
Craft. It dips low in the water on one
side and rolls with the waves of passing boats.
But it is the one she needs. Route One. 10 minutes later she
jumped ashore at santangelo the sun-soaked paving.
Beneath her feet radiates warmth as she crosses the small square
and pulls a vast iron ring that operates, the doorbell at
Palazzo Mandola. The gloss black door itself.
Eight foot high is surrounded by a larger Portico making the
entrance to the place cathedral-like.
After a minute she hits a latch clunk and a young.
Italian woman answers. The door, wearing a black skirt
and white blouse. Hi, I'm Olivia Street.
Ciao, signorina I'm Paddy. Cornish.
Has new lawyer. The woman says nothing more, but
beckons Olivia to come in. They walk the length of a long
Corridor that runs into the building rugs and wall hangings.
Have been artistically placed every few feet and beautiful
Glass and Metal lights Account, Details of the 20-foot.
High ceiling their footsteps, echo on the stone, the woman at
turns suddenly right through a doorway and Olivia follows into
a bright room that has five windows on one side that look
out directly to the water. At the far end.
A man sits behind a large black desk.
He wears his graying hair short, he has an aquiline nose and
large, dark Rim glasses, that give him an artistic Ambience.
Sincerely says the woman, the man looks up then stands he is
tall over 6 foot this woman is your new lawyer.
She says, welcome. He holds out his hand and Olivia
walks to him. Hello, mr.
Cornish, I'm Olivia street. She notices the girl has already
disappeared into the stone corridors of the Palazzo.
I knew Tony Street once. Excellent Finance, man, you
related I didn't think sir she smiles.
I met your daughter at Cambridge.
Jessica was telling me. She said you are a very good
lawyer to what have you worked? He speaks briskly with the
Assurance of a man who's earned money and Status.
It is not egotistical. Commercial mostly in the u.s.
to, she says know anything about hot.
No Jill, replies abruptly, he loves.
Thank you for your honesty. The what you need is legal work
on Stan, I don't need to know about art to do that, quite so
he says watching her. You're ballsy, Olivia, the like
it. He Narrows his eyes for a second
that his brain moves on and you tell you about the work, let's
have tea on the roof. He leads her back out into the
guts of the building asked beautifully decorated rooms,
laid out for sitting or dining. He puts his head around one
doorway, which appears to be the kitchen and orders.
T then leads, Olivia up, a set of narrow steps that end in a
door set across the rising stairs.
He opens it and the sun floods into the stairwell.
They walk out onto an open area that sits at the rooftop, level
of the surrounding buildings. Everywhere, gaggles of palazzos,
and houses, spread out across the city in front of them, he
notices that she stops for a second to take in the view and
talks about the first time, he came to Venice and fell in love
with the city. The plant.
So Mandela had been nearly derelict and he has spent
Millions bringing it back up to the level.
It had been for the centuries. Before it fell into disrepair,
they talk about Venice for 15 minutes.
Then the made you answer the door arrives with tea and prompt
him to change the subject. Gracias Maria.
He says and the woman holds his gaze for a second.
How much of the year do you get to spend here?
There's Olivia most of the summer, the kids don't come down
as often as I'd like, but they have their own lives.
Have you met Nancy? Not yet.
That's your wife. Is it?
Yes, she's about somewhere. I'll introduce you later.
He wipes his forehead with his hand, she loves art, which is
how we ended up meeting Malin. I read up on him, Malin read
our. A does Olivia recognized by his
peers at the British Council at long last.
He's been painting for 30 years, you know, this Paddy only now,
has he got the nod to exhibit at Venice, she smiles and he
returns it. I'll make some notes just as and
gets out her phone. He is honest in his demeanor,
she notices. This is not a man who is hiding
something either that or he's an expert Hider?
Don't know if you've been to the biennale before she shakes her
head. You can go and see them all
setting up tomorrow. There's a permanent site down in
the water. He says Malin has chosen some
works and he has a freelance designer creating the
exhibition. Christina Tate, Olivia is typing
and you're sponsoring the exhibition.
She says, looking up from her screen Yes, I'm helping out
Kristina's in charge, to be honest, I can shape it in little
ways it's about public benefit more than something.
For me there. Jess said that you're buying
some art pieces, are those some of melons paintings?
She says, no, that's separate says Patti.
There's an art dealer. Who I work with enchantee to
Rita. He finds business that might
interest in money's on his travels.
He found one that I do want to buy, so we sorting it out me,
I'll need, I'll need you to do the legal route.
Ideal. What's the picture?
It's a Lester Can field called the fifth plus child and who's
selling, she says private collector bench and he has been
talking directly to them all these things.
Normally auction just has often yes, but private deals are done
all the time. It doesn't get the publicity
that Sotheby's auction gets, of course, Why would a collector?
Not go to auction. You can see he is getting
uncomfortable with her questions and wonders, to what extent
buying art is just playing to his ego as a rich man.
Life is all about contacts, mistreat.
Deflection noted. She moves on.
Could you tell me about what work you need me to do for the
exhibition? There are a number of legal
issues that Christina needs sorting out.
This Patty not glamorous, I'm afraid.
Christina is the contact? Not Malin.
She says Malin avoids, the business side of it all, really
just Paddy his work for Christina before and lets her
get on with it. You'll meet him tomorrow when he
arrives, he staying until the opening in a couple of weeks.
They continue to talk about details after half an hour Paddy
needs to get back to whatever he was doing before she arrived.
He finds Maria. Who shows Olivia to her room
which is on the first floor. The bedroom has two dark wood,
double French doors, which are open and give access to a small
balcony, over the water, and inside cool, low furniture, with
the yellow and red fabrics and elegant details.
She unpacks and takes her tablet onto the balcony.
There are two folding but expensive chairs and she sits on
one and switches on the machine. She researches Paddy Cornish.
His childhood had been poor, his father was a factory worker, and
his mother had looked after six children.
Eddie had been bright at school and two or three.
Good teachers had spotted his talent as a teenager, he was the
first person in his family to have any sort of Education after
the age of 16. He had started the British tin
company in his 20s with two friends. 15 years later, when
Conoco Inc, came knocking the buyout offer, the three friends
accepted immediately and it made them all millionaires.
There was some public disagreement in the news as
David Goodman. One of the friends had been less
involved in the company in the final years and it ended up with
only ten percent of the capital. While Paddy and Liam Maxwell at
45%, each Goodman had taken them to court, but lost and he had
publicly threatened, the two of them as he stood on the steps of
the courthouse. After the verdict Goodman's, two
sons and also very publicly sworn to see Justice done, no
matter the cost, and the family made, two other unsuccessful,
legal attempts to change the share percentages in the Years,
following the Assail. Olivia stops and looks up at the
water of the canal. Grande lost in her thoughts
about how people can bear a grudge for so long.
From behind her. She hears the bedroom door open
and footsteps on the floor. She turns quickly.
Jessica is standing there. I if I say simultaneously and
hug, did you see Dad this Jess? Yes, he's given me an outline.
I've got a few questions, but they'll wait thought we could
eat out tonight. Does Jess, there's so many
places to go. See you downstairs at 7:00.
Jesse's a few minutes late and Olivia stands outside the
Palazzo watching a vaporetto arriving and unloading its
passengers. The santangelo stop.
A slow Ruiz those long, the water and touches her face Jess
arrives and they walk through the Alleyways of Venice Crossing
larger thoroughfares, then diving back into narrow Stone
roots, that suddenly turn sharp corners and run alongside some
of the back Waters. They emerge into the sunlight at
the Western end of Piazza. San Marco.
Olivia, can't take it all in Jesse's walking fast through
groups of tourists and dodging waiters who spread out across
the Pavements to coax customers to sit and eat.
The women turned South towards the Lagoon, then over the Ponte
Delp Alia, and into the hotel danieli.
I take the lift and the maître d'hôtel greets, Jess by her
first name, as they are shown to a table on the very edge of the
seating that overlooks. The water just points out the
Lido in the distance and the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore
perched on its own Island. Just beyond the constant stream
of water taxis, which plough the sea between the city and the
outlying islands. Jess insist that they do.
The tourists thing and have Bellini cocktails.
Then they eat Jess, or does it all without asking and they have
tuna tartare and camera to linguine followed by seared
octopus and beef phillyd. After a couple of hours of
eating drinking and catching up, Olivia wants to know more about
the work. That is needed from her.
How long has your father been interested in buying art?
Then 10 years I guess. Maybe 12, tell me about this
car. Dealer guy, your dad managed
him, then chanti Torito, I just don't trust him replies.
Jess narrowing her eyes as she talks.
He made a pass at me, and that's an Italian, man.
Think they do it all the time? Is that why you don't trust him?
There's Olivia, now there's something about him.
He goes outside to make his telephone calls.
And I've tried to talk to him about his background in the art
world. And he's always evasive
continues. Jess, the trouble of the world
of Fine Art buying is that it's populated with the nose of rich
kids, who ended up doing it because they did art history at
Uni and think that experts. There are loads of hangers-on
who profaned the buyers and take a percentage but I'm not sure
what for and vincentio is. A hanger-on does Olivia, I don't
know enough about it, really, but I'm not sure he does.
That's worth 10% of 20 million. Don't get me wrong.
Painting is beautiful. But Dad is a bit random with the
purchases for his collection. Does he just buy whatever?
He likes, it's very much, an investment in his eyes.
Mum is the real art lover and he does it to please her really
What about your siblings this Olivia.
Joe is a perfectionist as the weight of the world on his
shoulders. He says he wants to boss us all
around. As he's the eldest boy, he
hasn't got the personality for it, but one very useful thing
about Joe is that he owns a private boat hire company here
in Venice. So if you need to get anywhere,
use his company. She fishes a business card out
of her bag here. Just mention his name in you'll
get gold plated service. and if you had takes the card and puts
it in her wallet, What's Phillip like party boy, little morals.
Just Jess will shag anything he pisses off, Joel, because he
doesn't care. Doesn't care who he hurts and
doesn't care what people think of him.
Is Emily like the others does. Olivia m is a ball of energy bit
like me, but she's more intelligent or canning to
suggest she can assess the situation very quickly and
change like a chameleon, some people don't trust him because
of that another's. Love her for her Vitality.
Then she adds oh, and she's adopted, dad was firing blanks.
And I'm wanted to have for em doesn't mind, actually it she
quite likes it. it makes a different and mysterious since
you'll find her birth mother one day, but I doubt it Why do you
doubt it? She's too scared of being lost.
She belongs here in the family. She wouldn't want to undermine
that just calls for the bill and pays it all.
They walk home, the Long Way, tracking West along the
Waterfront, then up around the bank of the canal, Grande until
they reach santangelo. The Palazzo Mandola is dark
inside. As Jess bushes, heavy front door
open, She leans to turn on the lights and throws the switch,
but nothing happens by the electrics.
She says, lights are buggered. I know the way just follow me.
The women walk along the unlit passageway, that Olivia used.
When she first entered the house and Maria and taken her to
Patty's office, Jesse's knowledge of the dimensions of
the building, allow them to move quickly to the main stairs and
climbed the first floor. You okay?
From here live. Yours is just down there at the
end. It's Jess as she disappears into
a bedroom near the landing. Olivia has no time to reply.
She takes out her phone and shines the torch at down the
passageway, then walks slowly along.
Trying to recall how far it is to her room.
Not a sound emanates from the building around her.
No sound of water nor slow rhythm of boat engines on the
canal, penetrate through the solid ancient walls of the
Palazzo. The Torchlight suddenly dims,
she checks the phone and she's on 5% battery, she continues her
journey each step now in Twilight so she can barely see
her feet on the floor in front of her.
A sudden movement comes straight for her out of the night, the
figure all in black at speed along the corridor heading
straight for her. You can tell enough to know it's
a man, he's tall and large his momentum hits her all at once
she falls back. But manages to collapse to one
side to save crashing, onto the stone floor.
Her arm Falls against the wall as he pushes past and he
disappears into the blackness. Olivia is still in shock when
she hears Jesse's voice bellowing from somewhere in the
house the guy to stop, she hears a scuffle and Jess, swearing
Olivia gets up and retrace her steps back to The Landing
Jesse's on the floor, near the top of the stairs, what happened
does Olivia, he didn't want a fight, just ran, except I got in
his way, hit my head and I fell there, it's Jess, Olivia,
inspects, the wound itself. Not serious and they both sit on
the top step recover from the fracker.
We're glad you reckon does Olivia, probably, where did he
come from? He came down the corridor near
my room. Nothing much to steal their
that's Jess. All the good stuff is downstairs
in the lounge. And in Dad's study, to be
honest, they realize they feel dog-tired as they relax again.
So say, goodnight. As soon as she enters her
bedroom, Olivia can see someone has been there.
The Wardrobe doors open and her tablet and laptop a strewn on
the bed with the contents of her daytime and bag, but nothing
else is touched. She checks the gadgets, both
have been turned on but the burglar didn't get through the
passwords more. Oddly though, machines hadn't
been stolen, she can't stop thinking that it's odd.
That the Intruder came into this particular room as it's at the
very end of a long Corridor and away from the other bedrooms.
It's almost as though he knew what he was looking for.
It can't be a coincidence and legal mind doesn't believe in
coincidences, but it does make her think that there may be more
to this job than Paddy as told her