* * *
Monday brought a flurry of problems to the kidnapers. "Aldo, they've questioned Giuseppe Rettori and established a connection with you," Ugo said, his face twisted in fear. "They're looking all over for you…for us."
"What about the ransom note? Was it delivered?" Aldo said, his voice sharp.
"No."
"Why the hell not? Damn it, nobody can do as they're told." Aldo paced across the tiny shed's room and glared at Gianci, trussed in the upper bunk. "What are they waiting for, anyway?"
"Our connection is scared, Aldo. He won't deliver it. He thinks it's too risky. He's not afraid of the police, but Don Alfonso Olfrandi's men…"
"What about them?"
"They beat him half to death. He's still recovering. They said it was a warning. Scared our driver off, too. He took off for Limone until things settle down." Ugo paused, shook his head. "I don't think we're safe here, Aldo. We gotta move."
"But where?" Aldo asked. "I planned on using this shed as our headquarters. Everything's here."
"If we don't move on, I'm outta here, and I'm not kidding," Ugo said. "The Olfrandis are very rich, but they're powerful and mean, too. Either we move on, or we send the kid back and pretend none of this ever happened." He glared at Gianci. "Maybe we should send him back in pieces."
Aldo stared at Gianci, then sighed. "Okay, we move on. We go west, toward the French border. Ugo, Berto…get the boy ready. Give him a knapsack. Make him carry his own weight." He drew a deep breath. "We travel at an altitude of about 5,000 feet. There, bushes and trees can cover our movements."
* * *
"Kevin, you're looking wonderful," Vanessa White said. She glided toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Hello, my dear love. How are you? It's been far too long," she said, depositing a kiss in the air beside his cheek. "Your rather short response to my phone call at your villa confused me a bit, you know."
Kevin unwound her arms and stepped back from her. Slender and elegant, she stood nearly as tall as he. Her hair shimmered with golden highlights, swept back with a jeweled comb on one side to cascade across her other cheek. She wore an ivory suit of a fine wool and silk blend with a bright multicolored silk blouse. As always, her shoes and purse, of supple, butter-soft leather, matched exactly. Vanessa touched his face with a long, ruby hued fingernail. "But Kevin, my love, whatever is the problem? Look, here's a little gift for you." She presented him with a small wrapped package.