Edge of Tomorrow (72 page)

She and Hatch took turns telling her the
basics of Hatch’s CIA days, and a little about Lincoln’s Liberators
without discussing specific missions.

Karen finally said, “Well, shit! Aren’t you
two a pair! I’m afraid to ask why you’re in Rome!”

“Funny you should ask,” laughed Syd and she
proceeded to tell her about the Carfagno letter and the
international mess it was causing. Syd left out the carnage Bocca’s
people had suffered during their attack on the castle.

Karen said, “So prim Professor Steppe
has had a more exciting life than I could have ever fantasized! And
has found true love with her knight in shining armor! Well, that’s
just
great
, Syd!”

Hatch ordered some more wine, then said,
“Karen, since you are a specialist in international treaties and
the World Court, I wonder if I could buy a few hours of your
time—for real. I have a lot of questions that I would like to run
by you.”

“Ask away, Hatch. I’ll answer them for free.
Or at least a dollar’s worth,” laughed Karen with a flip of her
head as the breeze blew her hair across her face.

“No, I’m serious. I would like to retain your
services on an as needed basis. I’ll give you a large retainer as
soon as we get to the castle.”

“Oh, sure! You probably have a jillion
lawyers just panting to do your bidding!”

“And not one of the assholes could find a
treaty if I gave them a map. They’re tax lawyers, and civil
litigators.”

“OK. More privileged stuff, eh? I have your
dollar retainer, so shoot.”

Hatch went into more detail about the treaty
between Italy and the Principality of Monterra, and after about
five minutes, his pager vibrated. He looked at it and saw that it
was Carmelo. He pulled out his Blue Phone and called Carmelo.

• • •

Syd said to Karen, “Nobody can leave him
alone. He’s a very popular man. You’re looking good, sis! I can’t
tell you how much I’ve missed you since I went to Israel! We’re
going to have to stay in closer touch.”

They talked sisterly talk while Hatch spoke
to Carmelo. When he put his phone away, he looked at Syd.

She saw the look and said, “What? I don’t
like that look!”

“That was Carmelo. A news report just broke
on TV. The car Lucchese was riding in just blew up! He and three of
his henchmen are in little pieces!” Hatch reported.

“Shit!” said Syd.

“Who’s Lucchese?” queried Karen.

Hatch continued, “It looks like Tessitore
listened to me after all!”

Karen asked, “Who’s Tessitore?”

Hatch looked at Syd, then at Karen. He
shrugged.

“We better go back to privileged
conversation, Karen, just in case. You should know what’s going on
in a little more detail.”

He explained who Lucchese and Tessitore
were.

• • •

Karen digested the story, then exclaimed,
“Shit! You mean you set it up for the Mafia to kill this guy?”

Hatch stroked his beard and thought for
a moment, then answered, “Karen, I know this is foreign to you, but
an assassin is able to do his work only if he believes some people
deserve to be killed. Lucchese needed to be killed for several
reasons, the least of which was three attacks against Syd, which
pissed me off personally. Who should kill him? Me? Syd? Or one of
his own kind? The
Catena
and
the Mafia are sworn enemies, killing each other all of the time. I
just prodded Tessitore a little.”

Karen, wide-eyed, said, “He tried to kill
Syd? Why?”

“We can go into details later. I think we
should get back to the castle now, get you settled in, and call a
little pow-wow. I’m sure you’ll enjoy a tour of my castle, Karen.
It’s the real thing,” said Hatch. “I would like to show you that
treaty, too. Pick your brain—meter running, of course. When do you
have to be back in San Francisco?”

“I wasn’t due back for several more days, but
I won this case sooner than I expected. Carla is scheduled to
handle things till I get back. I sent her a fax and told her I was
coming here. I need to call her and give her a telephone number. I
need a vacation anyway, and what better way to spend it than with
my sister and her hunk?” laughed Karen as she flipped her hair
again. “I need to hear more about how my prissy, reserved sister
broke out of her academic shell!”

Karen peered at Syd and could not believe
what she saw. Syd was wearing a light green, tight tank
top—braless—and black shorts. Her raven hair was cut short now and
was very stylish. She looked radiant and sexy.

Who are you, lady? What have you done with
my sister? Where is stuffy, straight-laced Professor Steppe?

• • •

The three of them walked into the small
dining room at the castle at 3:13 P.M. Hatch summoned Gina and
arranged for Paolo to take Karen’s luggage to her chambers on the
second floor—next to Bruno’s quarters.

Karen exclaimed, “Chambers? My God! I only
need a bed and a bathroom!”

“There are only ‘chambers’ here, Karen,”
chuckled Syd. “Let me take you up so you can change out of that
dreadful lawyer uniform. Then, there are people I want you to meet.
You know old ‘prissy’ here was never quick to make friends, but
I’ve made some good ones since I met Hatch—here and in Florida.
Come on, we’ll talk on the way upstairs.”

• • •

When they entered Karen’s quarters, Teresa
was there. She had put fresh sheets on the bed, dusted, and stocked
the small refrigerator and wet bar. There was a vase filled with
fresh flowers on the coffee table in the sitting room. Syd
introduced her to Karen.

“I am very pleased to meet you,
Signorina
Steppe. Oops! Now there
are two
Signorina
Steppes!”
giggled Teresa.

“We have first names, Teresa. Use them,”
laughed Syd.

“OK, Syd. Make yourself at home, Karen. If
you need anything, dial 22 on the phone and I’ll fetch it for you.
I’m the official serving wench and gopher until school starts next
month,” said Teresa, slipping into her perfect American accent.
Karen was taken aback.

“My! I thought you were an authentic Italian
chamber maid!” said Karen.

“I am, in the summer. My grandmother, Gina,
runs this place, so she lets me make book money here as long as I
behave myself,” laughed Teresa.

“I just met your grandmother. She’s very
charming,” replied Karen.

Syd said, “Teresa is a senior at the
University in Rome. Her major is English and her minor is Drama. I
think she wants to be the next Sophia Loren.”

“She’ll have to get an Italian accent then,”
laughed Karen. “This place is incredible! I didn’t bring any
shorts. I think I can still wear yours. Can I borrow a pair? And a
tee shirt or a tank top.”

“Sure, I’ll be right back,” Syd answered as
she left and went to her quarters.

Karen wandered around checking out her
medieval chambers. Teresa followed her, pointing out things of
interest.

“Teresa, do you know Syd well?” asked
Karen.

“As well as I need to. She saved my life. I
would do anything for her!”

“She did? Tell me about it,” said Karen,
trying to ferret out more information.

Teresa told her story of the attempted
kidnapping, and the subsequent shootout in the castle. Syd had not
told Karen any of this.

“Shit!” exclaimed Karen. “Are you sure you
mean Syd? My sister?”

“Yes, she is a very brave and dangerous
woman!”

“Who is this Sara Smith who saved you the
other time? She sounds tough as nails.”

“She is an ex-Marine. She runs Lincoln’s
Liberators.”

Karen shook her head in awe and
confusion.

“I thought I was the tough sister—being a
kick-ass lawyer and all. Little did I know!” murmured Karen.

• • •

Syd returned with a pair of blue denim
shorts, a white tank top, and some tan sandals.

“Try these. You look like we still wear the
same size,” said Syd.

Karen started unpacking her suitcase, hanging
things in the armoire and putting other clothes in the ancient,
hand-carved dresser. She put her toiletries in the bathroom. She
took off her blouse and skirt and hung them up, then stripped off
her pantyhose. The sisters chatted while this was going on, and Syd
fixed them both a glass of Snapple tea over ice.

Karen said finally, “Teresa told me some
things you left out about this Lucchese guy. If her story is
anywhere near true, he was one vicious son-of-a-bitch who really
needed killing, like Hatch said.”

“Yes, he was,” replied Syd, not knowing
exactly what Teresa had said.

Karen pulled on the shorts, stripped off her
bra, and put on the tank top, then sat down and sipped her
drink.

“Do you really love this man, Syd?” queried
Karen.

Syd sat down next to Karen and looked at her.
“I love him with my entire being, Karen! I’ve never been in love
before! True love is simply overwhelming! I can’t explain it, and
don’t intend to try. Just accept it. I’m gloriously, insanely
happy!”

Karen hugged Syd and said, “I will, Syd. I
do! Let’s go down and meet your friends.”

“It’s an hour till cocktail hour, when they
all congregate. Grab your drink and I’ll give you a short tour of
the castle first. It’s a great place!”

Il Castello di Bragno, Italy

Wednesday, August 22, 2001

5:30 P.M.

By 5:30 P.M., Karen had met Sara, Carmelo,
Angelina, Bruno, and Colonel Coffer. She was particularly attracted
to Bruno—not unusual, since he was the only available man there.
Bruno found Karen to be extremely charming, not to mention quite
beautiful and sexy. They sat next to each other and talked mostly
to each other, though they did chat with the others occasionally.
Hatch, Syd, and Sara sat across the table from them.

Hatch turned to Syd and said, “I’ve been
thinking. With Lucchese out of the picture, maybe we should go to
Monterra and meet with the Prince—see what his thinking on the
subject is. I was just going to go over and nose around, but now I
think a more direct approach could prove fruitful. And I want Karen
to review that treaty and give us an opinion: is there anyway to
defeat it without an armed conflict? You know, defeat it in
court.”

“She’s the one who will know,” agreed Syd.
“Let’s give her copies of everything we have and let her look them
over and apply her legal mind to the problem. Then we’ll have a
better idea of what our options are.”

“I agree. First, let me call my office in
Virginia. I want Lincoln Industries to arrange a visit with the
Prince of Monterra. Van Lincoln is going to Monterra to visit the
casinos and do some gambling,” said Hatch.

He got up, took out his Blue Phone, and
headed for the door. Syd got up and followed him. Out in the
garden, they lit cigarettes and Hatch called his office outside
Langley. While Hatch was talking, Karen appeared and took a pack of
cigarettes out of her handbag. She joined Syd and lit up.

“When did you start smoking, sis?” asked
Karen. “After all that shit you always give me about it.”

“I’m not really a smoker. I just have one now
and then.”

“Be careful. You’ll get hooked like I
am.”

Syd told her they were going to give her some
documents to look over.

“Fine. Glad to help. Tell me about Bruno. Is
he available?” queried Karen.

“Very! He’s sure been giving you the once
over. Why?”

“Nothing. He’s cute,” laughed Karen. “I
didn’t want to give him any signals if he was taken. What about
Sara? The two of them seem close.”

“She’s his boss. There’s a no-frat rule that
keeps them from forming a sexual relationship.”

“His boss, eh? She really is a big
wheel.”

Hatch hung up his phone and joined the
women.

“Well, what do you think so far, Karen?”
asked Hatch as he took a drag of his cigarette.

“Fabulous castle! I like your friends, so
far. I would need more time to give a more definitive answer,”
laughed Karen.

“Spoken like a true lawyer,” chuckled Hatch.
“Syd and I are going to pay a visit to the fabulous casinos of
Monterra. I’m going to make one of my rare public appearances. Sara
and Bruno will also go along to watch our backs. If you can fit it
into your schedule, we would love to have you come, too. What do
you say?”

Karen’s blue eyes widened and she took a long
drag on her cigarette, then blew smoke toward the sky.

“Watch your back?” she said. “You expect more
trouble?”

“Not anything specific. Even though
Lucchese is dead, we’re not sure of the status of the
Catena di Morte
. I don’t want to
assume anything. After you get to know me better, you’ll find out
that I always err on the side of caution.” He laughed and added,
“Besides, why should I deny Sara and Bruno the fun of being
received by the monarchy of Monterra? It really should be
fun!”

Karen laughed, “OK. It does sound like it
will be a glorious time! Shit! I didn’t bring any clothes fitting
for an appearance at a place like that!”

“That is easily remedied. Syd and Sara will
need some clothes, too. We’ll go to Rome tomorrow and I’ll buy you
girls whatever you need. Sara and Syd left most of their clothes in
Florida. This was supposed to be a three or four-day trip,”
chortled Hatch.

Hatch added, “Everything is on me: clothes,
lodging, food, drinks, transportation. I’ll even give everyone a
gambling stake so fun can be had by all!”

Karen smiled and remarked, “I think I’m
dreaming! I could never have afforded a vacation like this! And I
get to spend time with my long lost sis!”

“This will be great, Karen! We haven’t had
any time together since …” said Syd, then she stopped. She could
not say “since our parents’ funeral.”