Amore (71 page)

“
Signor
Battaglia, have a seat please.”

He sat in the only unoccupied chair before him. “I have nothing to say without an attorney.”

“Your attorney has been notified. He will be meeting with you soon.” The inspector smiled. “You’ve been a very bad boy in Italy, and Sicily, ah and in Paris too. I have here everything from assault to arson. You’ve been accused in six murders, all the cases were dropped.”

“Innocent,” Lorenzo grinned.

The inspector didn’t smile. “You’ve been arrested a total of 32 times.”

Lorenzo shrugged. “Misunderstood. Mistaken identity. It happens.”

“You think this is funny?” The inspector asked.

Lorenzo arched a brow and held the officer’s stare.

“I wasn’t going to bother with you. I’m more interested in that goon you call a
capu
that killed a man in the boxing ring, or the young
consigliere
who has never been in a jail cell and has a clean record. Those two I can twist and get what I need.”

“Then why the fuck am I here?” Lorenzo smirked.

“I received a call. A woman. She’s been quite helpful. First she told me where to pick you and your clan boss up. And now she’s given me more information. She said her name is Isabella. She told me I should look at you closely. She said, and I quote, ‘Where there is sin there is audio’. Do you know what that means?”

Slowly Lorenzo’s smile dimmed. It was a knife to the gut. Isabella’s quote came from the deepest darkest fear he suppressed. The inspector studied his reaction. He didn’t speak because he couldn’t process a thought. David Capriccio told him Isabella was real. Marietta thought she was real. And he dismissed it. And then Santo says her name and he knows the truth. The bitch is out there. Who the fuck is she?

“
Signor
Battaglia, care to answer the question?” The inspector repeated.

“Are we done?” he asked.

The inspector smiled. “Where there is sin there is audio. I think that’s a mystery worth solving. I’m going to get a warrant to search Melanzana. It will be the first time in several decades that the
polizia
were allowed to freely roam that place. I’ve already contacted the courts in Sorrento. We’re done.”

Lorenzo stood and clenched his fists. The guard led him out. Whoever the bitch was, she now had his attention.

**

Later –

Giovanni reclined in his chair. The sun had set. He hadn’t bothered to turn on any of the lights in his office.

There was a knock at the door.

“Avanti,”
he said.

The door opened. Mateo Benicia walked inside. Giovanni pushed up from his chair. He went to his desk to turn on some light. “What news do you have?”

“The priest has returned to Bergamo. We think.”

“You think?” Giovanni asked.

“We’re looking. I’ve sent some men. A few of yours will join them. They are searching. It’s Bonaduce territory. We have to be discreet.”

“And?” Giovanni asked.

“Santo frequented a apartment in
Piazzia Bagnoli
. The owner said a woman was seen with him. Dark hair, she looked either Spanish or Sicilian. He believed her to be his wife. Santo called her Isabella.” Mateo said.

“And she’s gone?” he asked.

“No trace of her. We went door to door but no one saw anything.”

“The fishermen? Did anyone see this boat Santo was thrown from?” Giovanni asked.

Mateo shook his head no. “And the patrols from the
polizia
around the bay have turned up nothing. They are in the water so we had to come out.”

“You’re useless. Get the fuck out. Don’t return unless you have some news. Something useful.”

The man left. It had been a full twenty-four hours. What was he to do next? He went to his bar. He gripped the edge of the bar and dropped his head. He wouldn’t survive the wait.

**

“Where are you?” Marietta asked. She looked to the bed. Catalina was in Mirabella’s bed with the kids. She insisted they all sleep with her. Everyone knew Giovanni would not enter this room until Mirabella was found. Catalina had Gianni in her arms. Eve and Gino were tucked under the covers. In times of extreme stress Catalina regressed. Without the family around her she became as needy and juvenile as the children. All she did was cry and beg for answers.

“Hello?” Marietta said.

“I’m in Sorrento,” Armando said.

“Then why aren’t you here? You said you would help. Lorenzo is in jail. They’re all in jail. Gio is out in that damn office of his trying to figure out who some crazy woman named Isabella is. And it’s Kei! He’s Mira’s ex-boyfriend. He’s the one that kidnapped her.”

“Slow down. Wait, Marietta, what did you say about Isabella?”

“Huh? I don’t know. Gio was asking who she was. Do you know her? I think she has something to do with Mirabella’s kidnapping.”

Armando fell silent. Marietta’s heart sank. There was one time when the name Isabella surfaced. It was the tapes. But that proved to be a lie from the Capriccios. Still Marietta shared what she could with Giovanni. She wouldn’t hold back anything that could help save her sister, except the fact of what was on those tapes. To disclose that to Giovanni would sign her husband’s death warrant. It made her sick with fear and regret. Could it be more than coincidence? Could there be someone in the Capriccio family responsible? Marietta considered telling Gio that, but it would put Lorenzo in the line of fire. She couldn’t take that risk after lying to her husband. He’d never trust her again.

“You know her. Don’t you? Did you have anything to do with this? Answer me!” she yelled.

Catalina sat up in bed. Marietta put her hand to her head. “Answer me!”

“I’ll call Gio. I had nothing to do with this, but I think I can help.”

The line disconnected. Marietta threw the phone.

“What is it?” Catalina asked. “
Mio Dio!
Is it Mirabella?”

“Catalina, stop. Okay? I can’t do this with you acting like she’s already dead. She isn’t dead!”

“I know!” Catalina covered her mouth. Gianni began to cry. She rocked him. Gino and Eve didn’t wake. Catalina scooted off the bed, keeping Gianni in her arms. “I know she isn’t. I’m just so scared. You said Kei Hyogo has her. He’s dangerous. He tried to kill Giovanni.”

“Okay! Shhh… calm down. I’m sorry.” She hugged her. Gianni pushed his aunts apart with his hands. Catalina laughed through her tears. Marietta smiled. “I’m getting Giovanni some help.”

“How?” Catalina asked.

“Armando. I’ve asked him to come.”

“That won’t work. Gio will never ask him for help. Never,” she said.

“Giovanni will do whatever he can to save Mira. And Armando may know something. We are out of options. No more crying, no more falling apart. Mira needs us to be strong. Let’s try harder. I feel it now. She’s in trouble and if we don’t get to her soon it might be too late.”

“Okay. Okay,” Catalina agreed.

“Give me the baby. You’ve got two. I need someone to sleep with auntie tonight. Come here, sugar,” Marietta took Gianni and kissed his lips. He wrapped his arms around her neck. She winked at Catalina. “We’ll get the kids up and go see the horses tomorrow. Okay? Do something fun. Let the men bring our girl back.”

“I love you, Marietta.”

“I love you too, Catalina.”

**

The phone rang. Giovanni sat up on the sofa where he slept with the unopened bottle of Scotch on his chest. He looked around the dark office. He set the bottle down and pushed himself up from the sofa. In the dark he found his desk and then the phone

“This is Gio,” he answered.

“Don’t hang up,” came a response. “It’s me. Armando.”

Giovanni groaned. He was about to hang up when Armando spoke.

“Isabella.”

“What did you say?” Giovanni asked.

“I know Isabella. We need to talk.”

“Did Marietta call you? Drop a name and now you think you can use it to manipulate me?”

“Isabella Mancini Ricci is her full name. She’s the bastard daughter of Flavio Ricci. Ask your uncle Rocco who she is. And then call me when you are ready to talk.” The phone line went dead. Giovanni slumped down in his chair. Flavio’s daughter?
What kind of bullshit was this?

The Princess and the Dragon

Mirabella was helped from the jeep. She had no shoes. Kei didn’t seem to care. They walked over stone steps toward the front of a medieval looking castle that had to be several hundred years old. In fact, in the dark she saw the crumbling remains of what looked like some ancient city. Kei held her hand. A man walked behind her. Several men walked ahead. They spoke in Chinese mostly. But there was one who all deferred to, and that man kept his eyes on her at all times. She glanced back. His gaze met hers with such evil cruelty she turned her head.

The castle, villa, or whatever it was, had little light. In fact the men used flashlights to guide the way. She stopped twice when her foot scraped a stone or something sharp. Kei would not give her a reprieve. He pulled on her hand and forced her to walk. She stumbled but kept up.

They sailed for an eternity. She mostly avoided Kei by staying in the cabin they shared. When he joined her in bed he didn’t touch her, and she was grateful. She pretended to be sleep until exhaustion overcame her. And now she was here.

Kei stopped. He let go of her hand and took a lantern from one of his men. Another opened the large locked door for them, and he went inside. Mirabella followed. The draft that greeted them chilled her. The limestone walls were windowless. She saw steps that led up to another level.

“Welcome to your new home, princess. For now, at least until Eve joins us,” Kei said.

“There is no way in hell you will get your hands on my daughter,” Mirabella said under her breath. Kei heard her.

“I got my hands on you.” Kei teased. “You have free reign of this place. There is a kitchen on this level. Rooms above. You’ll share one with me on the third level.”

“I’d rather not,” Mirabella said.

Kei chuckled. “This place used to be a monastery. Then a home for orphaned boys and girls run by the Catholic Church. A friend owns it now. She keeps it cozy.”

“I’m done with these games. I am not going to stay here as your prisoner!”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“I always have a choice! Always! Stay away from me!” Mirabella picked up the lantern he left on the table and glared at the men watching her. “All of you! Stay the hell away from me!” She went to the stairs. He said there were rooms above. She’d find one and lock him out of it. As she climbed the stairs she glanced back at Kei. Again he seemed unfazed. He was talking to the man who kept shadowing him. The man with the shaved head looked up as he listened to Kei and watched her. Mirabella hurried. She was on the second level and the empty hall was darker than the lower. The stone floor was cool under her feet. She tried several doors to find that they had no locks on them. Desperate she kept searching. And then she found a corner stairwell. She climbed the stairs and reached another door. This one was open. The room had a modern feel to it with a large sleigh bed, a balcony with furnishings, and a television set and chairs. It had to be the room he chose for them.

Mirabella tried the doorknob and found it had no lock. She went inside the room and closed the door anyway. She searched the room for a phone. She found none. She neared tears. Mirabella sat on the edge of the bed and put her face in her hands. She wanted to scream. When she lifted her head she saw the television through her tears. She walked over to the television and looked for a remote. She needed something to turn it on. The hour was late. Still she hoped she could find some news on what happened to her. Did Giovanni call the police?

The remote was in a chair facing the sofa. She picked it up and turned on the television. The first two channels were off the air. Nothing but color bars were seen. On the next channel she saw Ciro’s picture. Mirabella turned up the volume. The news report replayed footage of the boxing match. To Mira’s horror Chao Lee went for Ciro. He grabbed him by the head and snapped his neck. She dropped the remote and her hands went to her mouth. The crowd froze, and then all hell broke loose. Carlo and the trainers were in the ring throwing punches. Chao Lee’s trainers were in the ring. The news reporter stated that both Ciro and Chao Lee were dead, and close to six hundred people were arrested. And then Giovanni’s picture came on screen. He was detained. So were the clan bosses, all thrown in jail and questioned.