Part 25 (1/2)

”I've come to take you to your brother...”

Harry stared. ”I don't understand...”

”It's all right....” She could feel his caution, see his uncertainty. ”I'm not with the police...”

”I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about.”

”If you are not sure... follow me out. I will be waiting on the steps leading up to the village. Your brother is ill.... Please... Mr. Addison.”

76.

HARRY TOOK HER DOWN A BACK STAIRWAY. At the ground floor, he opened the door to a rear hallway.

USCITA. Exit, the sign read. An arrow pointed off. Harry hesitated-he wanted to go out a rear or side door, anything but through the front and out onto the street where Roscani was. But there was only one sign, and he followed it, moving them off in the direction the arrow pointed. A minute later they pushed through a door and into the hotel lobby with the front door directly in front of them.

”d.a.m.n it,” Harry breathed. People were at the front desk, checking in or out. Past them, a rotund man was in animated conversation with the concierge. Harry looked back. If there was another exit he had no idea how to find it. Just then the elevator doors opened, and two couples and a porter pus.h.i.+ng a luggage cart came toward them. If they were going out, this was the time.

Taking Elena's arm, Harry timed his move to keep in step with the porter. As they reached the door he motioned for the man to go ahead. The porter nodded and pushed the luggage cart through. Harry and Elena came out just behind. The sunlight hit, and Harry turned them abruptly left along the sidewalk, walking with other pedestrians.

”Buon giorno.” A man tipped his hat. A young couple smiled at them. They kept on.

”Go up the steps to the left,” Elena said calmly.

Then Harry saw Roscani coming up the walk from the water, the same way Harry had come last night. He was walking quickly, the other two plainclothes policemen at his heels. Harry moved closer to Elena, keeping her between himself and the police.

They were almost to the corner now, and Harry could see the steps Elena was talking about. Suddenly Roscani looked up. Directly at him. In the same instant, Elena began talking in Italian. He had no idea what she was saying. But she gestured ahead, using her hands, talking as if what they were doing and where they were going was hugely important. At the steps, she turned him abruptly left and up, still talking, sounding now as if she were scolding him, then, as quickly, smiling at an elderly man coming down the steps toward them.

Then they were in a mix of people on the stairs. Winding their way through them, pa.s.sing shops and restaurants. It was only when they had reached the top that Harry looked back. Nothing. No police. No Roscani. Just shoppers. Civilians.

”Those men coming up from the landing were police,” Elena said.

”I know.” Harry looked at her as they moved on, wondering who she was, and why she was doing this.

77.

9:10 A.M A.M.

GRINDING GEARS, HARRY TURNED A CORNER, then, gritting his teeth, s.h.i.+fted again and accelerated down a narrow street. The farm truck was old and cranky, its clutch and manual s.h.i.+ft worn and difficult. Crunching the gear box once more, he turned past a park, and then they were out of the city.

”Tell me about my brother.” He took his eyes from the road and looked at Elena, calculating, to see if she really knew.

”His legs are broken, and he has been burned over parts of his head and upper body. He suffered a very serious concussion. But he is better now, and is beginning to take solid food and can talk a little. His memory comes and goes, which is normal. He's weak but is healing. I think he will be all right.”

Danny was alive! alive! Harry felt the breath go out of him. A rush of emotion followed, as the reality of it hit home. Suddenly he looked at the road in front of them. Cars were slowing, coming to a stop. Harry felt the breath go out of him. A rush of emotion followed, as the reality of it hit home. Suddenly he looked at the road in front of them. Cars were slowing, coming to a stop.

”Carabinieri, ”Elena said.

Harry's hand went to the s.h.i.+ft lever. Immediately there was a loud wrench of grinding gears as he downs.h.i.+fted, coming to a halt inches behind a white Lancia stopped in a clog of vehicles pulled up at the police checkpoint.

Two uniformed carabinieri carabinieri armed with Uzis checked each car as it came abreast and stopped. Two others stood to the side watching. armed with Uzis checked each car as it came abreast and stopped. Two others stood to the side watching.

Now the car ahead of them was waved through, and Harry ground the truck into gear. It bucked raggedly forward, bouncing to a stop only after one of the carabinieri carabinieri had jumped out of the way, yelling for Harry to halt. had jumped out of the way, yelling for Harry to halt.

”Jesus Christ.”

The carabinieri carabinieri came up, one on either side. came up, one on either side.

Harry glanced at Elena. ”Talk to them. Say anything.”

”Buon giorno. ”The carabinieri carabinieri glared at Harry. glared at Harry.

”Buon giorno.” Harry smiled and Elena began. Speaking rapid-fire Italian. Gesturing between herself and Harry and the truck, talking to both policemen at once. In a matter of seconds it was over. The carabinieri carabinieri stood smartly back, saluted, and waved them through. And with a grinding of gears and a sharp backfire, Harry steered past them, leaving all four police turning away in a cloud of blue smoke. stood smartly back, saluted, and waved them through. And with a grinding of gears and a sharp backfire, Harry steered past them, leaving all four police turning away in a cloud of blue smoke.

Harry watched the mirror, then looked to Elena.

”What did you tell them?”

”That the truck was borrowed and that we were on our way to a funeral and were late.... I hope it's not so...”

”So do I.”

Harry looked back to the highway as it began to rise toward the distant cliffs, then instinctively glanced in the mirror. There was nothing but the checkpoint and vehicles being waved through one by one.

Slowly Harry took his eyes from the mirror and looked to Elena. She was staring at the road ahead, quiet, even introspective. Suddenly she turned and looked at him, as if she knew what he was thinking and was about to ask.

”Your brother's care was a.s.signed to me by my convent.”

”You mean you knew who he was?...”

”No.”

”Did the people at your convent?”

”I-don't know...”

”You don't?”

”No.”