ATONEMENT (12 page)

The
story had to die and so did the
investigative
journalist
!

Earlier
,
Nico
went
through the
reporter’s
unkempt
apartment
, removed his hard drive and
research
–but to ensure there were no loose ends
, fire
became the
handy tool
of eradication
. At this moment
a raging
blaze
occurred in the journalist’s flat.
The cause of the damage,
a
careless neighbor
who’d
left a cigarette unattended
in the cluttered studio below
. In
his haste to
get to
work
the smoker
forgot to
properly
out
the cigarette
and the ashtray toppled to the carpeted floor, burning and consuming everything above it
.
The
inferno
would
leave
no traces of
the story
. T
he only article appearing in
tomorrow’s
news
would be notice of the
fire and the
reporter’s untimely death.

Waking the crimes
of the dead w
as a risky business, didn’t the journalist realize that? The dead often leave
guardians,
living,
watchful and diligent who’d ensure certain
secrets
remained
buried.

Nico
opened the man’s coat, simulated CPR for ten minutes
then
stopped when
an
ambulance crew arrived
.
Once the
de
ceased
was
loaded in
to
the
vehicle,
Nico wiped his brow and exclaimed in his
best cockney accent, “Bl
oody
hell of a
way to
start to me day.”

The frazzled clerk thanked him for his intervention and as a
reward;
his order was on the house.
He grinned, “Jolly nice
, thanks.
G
’day
.”

She smiled at the
strange
bearded man in the dark shades
as he gathered up the bag and returned to the cold of London.

An hour later Nico
sat
on the high-tech speed train racing
toward Sicily. Once there a car waited and in the backseat, Alberti and his ever present cigar.

“Any trouble?”

“None.”

“
Nico, you never disappoint me
.”

Nico
considered
keeping
the
beard, that
is
until Alberti commented, “I pray you shave before
Matteo’s
wedding.”

“Maybe
, I kind of like it
.”

“Do not irk me Nico, this is an important day.
Amelda
expect
s
us
to
look our best. She
’s
excited;
do not spoil it with your
rebellion.”

Nico’s eyes flashed, “
Amelda
’s
seen men with beards before, besides her eyes will be
on
Matteo
.”

“This is a formal affair and your
untamed
appearance will
only serve as a
distraction.”

Nico found this ridiculous and changed the subject, “How many guests
are expected
?”

“Two hundred
,
” Alberti replied
,
“
d
istinguished
guests
and
allies
of
our present and deceased family
.
” He paused, “Th
ere
’s
an addition to the bridal party coming
tomorrow.
I need you to be her security and chauffeur until her husband arrives. The other women will have their own private security. We cannot risk their safety during this joyous occasion. I need someone
dutiful for the task and
you are the best fit.”

“Babysitting?” Nico chuckled at the joke. “You want me to tail behind a bunch of Mafia Princesses and their overbearing mothers
.
Have
you
gotten
senile in your golden years
,
fr
a
tello
?”

Alberti’s eyes
did not reflect an iota of humor
, “Meet with Sophie tomorrow, she will give you the women’s itinerary. Do not take th
e
assignment lightly. You
’re
entrusted with Don Alfonzo’s wife while she
’s
here
.”

The
grin died, punched straight f
rom
Nico’s
mouth. H
e
reclined finding
nothing
amusing
about
this sudden surprise. He looked at Alberti. What dangerous farce was
he
playing, Nico questioned and most
importantly
what did the old man suspect
?
Pairing him with Selange
was dangerous.
Surely, it can only
lead to
disaster or
temptation!

                          
CHAPTER FOUR
             

The private jet landed in Milan. The darkness cloaked the beautiful city, yet the twinkling colors from buildings welcomed
its
latest
visitor
with
sparkly
confetti of lights.

Selange’s luggage was lo
aded into an awaiting limousine. She could not see through the tinted windows the plush interior but knew the wealthy did not skimp on the smallest amenities.
The limo
was certain to have a well-stocked min
i
-bar, sweets and other non-alcoholic drinks. She wished Alfonzo and the children
were her
compan
ions
on the desolate flight instead of
the
somber bodyguard.
Thank goodness he was returning
to
Bayamón
, she’d
prefer being
alone then
to
have
an
illusion of company. Alfonzo told her
t
he
new guard
would
double as her
chauffeur, it was all arranged.
S
he hoped
he was
more affable
than her former escort
.

She crossed her legs, looked around the spacious interior of the limo and smiled. Yes, just as she figured
t
he rich traveled like Kings and Queens. She was somewhat nervous
about
being thrust among women she
hardly
knew
. Her Italian sucked and like Alfonzo
,
she was
an American and
an outsider
. But Alfonzo was their family, he traveled frequently here, got to know them and they loved him. She, on the other-hand met his fam
ily only twice
and hadn’t formed any allies
.

The driver took off and the plane sat, refueling as it prepared to return to America. Selange
laid
her head against the soft leather seat and closed her eyes
, d
rained from the extensive trip.

She dozed and awoke when she felt the cars wheels bouncing over rougher terrain. She peered out the window and saw they were on a blackened street and the lights of Milan
were
far in the distance.

“Driver, where are we?”

The petition rolled down a crack and the harsh voice of a woman spoke, “Welcome to Italia, Selange Diaz.”

Selange’s heart pound
.
“Why did we stop?”

“Be quiet, I ask the questions, you answer!”

S
elange
reached for the door handle, “What kind of joke is this?”
The doors were locked and would not open from the inside, “Let me out of this car!”

Selange could not see the woman’s face through the dark
Plexiglas
, but
there was someone else beside her,
another woman because she heard
female
laugh
ter
.