by Karen Moore
Chapter Thirty
The following morning, Hanna felt almost euphoric, relieved that the decision had been taken out of her hands and she didn’t have to disappoint Ceri after all. The good news about Luciano couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.
She got up early and had a coffee with Rhys before he left for work, filled with renewed energy that she put partly down to the news and partly to their frenetic lovemaking the night before. She hummed softly to herself as she prepared breakfast. By the time it was ready, there was still no sign of Eva. Strange, as she was usually up and raring to go in the morning.
Hanna popped her head round the little girl’s bedroom door. The bed was empty, the covers thrown back as if in haste, but no Eva. She called her daughter’s name loudly several times. No response. No sign of her in the bathroom or the lounge. Hanna’s stomach knotted in fear. Where the hell was she?
A vague recollection of the kitchen door being slightly ajar made her dash outside into the garden. There, from behind the hedge that ran the full length of the garden came a reedy sing-song voice. Peeping around the hedge, she saw Eva, still in her pyjamas, busy watering her pansies and evidently giving them a good talking-to.
Hanna relaxed and smiled. But she remembered her initial reaction. How long would it take to convince her that Luciano was no longer a threat, and her anxieties disappeared once and for all?
***
The next few days were a flurry of activity. It was almost as if they were preparing for some expedition into the unknown, rather than a long weekend in Sicily for a friend’s wedding. Hanna had briefly considered taking Eva with them, but decided against it. She realised with alarm that the last time she’d been apart from Eva for so long was during the kidnapping. A disturbing thought. She threw herself into making sure that this time, her daughter would have a pleasant experience, calling Nerys to finalise arrangements, talking at length and giving her detailed instructions.
“Hanna, for God’s sake, I have looked after children before,” said Nerys, clearly exasperated. “Matt and Olivia, my nephew and niece, were up here from London for a few days last week. They were a real handful. I’m sure we’ll be able to cope okay with Eva.”
“Sorry if I’m being over-protective,” said Hanna. “It’s just that—”
“I know. The circumstances. I understand.”
“I’ll send over a list of emergency contacts – doctor, vet etc. You will call me if there are any problems, won’t you, however small?”
“Stop worrying, Hanna! We’ll be fine,” said Nerys. “You’re only going for a couple of days and I won’t let her out of my sight. There’s plenty here to keep her occupied, what with looking after the animals, and helping in the pottery. She can spend some time painting with Lars and doing some baking with me. The time will fly by! Go and enjoy yourselves and have fun!”
“OK, OK. I wanted to make sure that both of you have got all you need. I’ve not left her overnight since—”
“I know, I know,” replied Nerys quickly. “Lars and I are looking forward to having her here. She’s such a lovely little girl, always so lively and inquisitive!”
“She’s that, alright,” said Hanna. “Just hope she’s not too boisterous.”
“No such thing! We’ll have fun, you’ll see.”
“Fine. We’ll bring her up early Thursday afternoon, then, if that’s okay?”
“We’ll be ready. I’m planning on making chocolate brownies that day so Eva can help me with those.”
“Good luck with that!” said Hanna with a smile, picturing the mess Eva would make, her mouth caked with uncooked mixture as she sampled it before baking.
As she rang off, Eva tottered precariously into the bedroom in an old pair of Hanna’s high heels, grinning.
Hanna frowned. “Where did you find those? I’ve not seen them for ages.”
“They were at the back of my toy cupboard,” said Eva.
“Aren’t you supposed to be getting your things together to go to Auntie Nerys’?” Hanna asked, wondering how the shoes had ended up there.
“I was. That’s how I found them. Everything I want to take is on the bed. Come and see.” Eva pulled Hanna towards the door.
“You’d better take those off first,” said Hanna, pointing to the shoes. “Otherwise, you’ll fall and hurt yourself.”
“OK, OK,” said Eva, reluctantly kicking them off, leaving them in the middle of the floor.
Hanna sighed and picked them up. Not much call for high heels in Wales. She ran her fingers over the soft leather. Beautiful. She remembered buying them one spring during a trip to Rome with Luciano, in a shop on Via Cola di Rienzo. She pushed the thought from her mind, stuffed the shoes into a carrier bag and pushed it to the back of her wardrobe.
She followed Eva to find her bedroom in chaos. The bed was covered in clothes and toys, with Cosmo curled up asleep in the middle of it all. Bryn stood at the foot of the bed, wagging his tail furiously. Nerys had offered to look after him too, as well as Cosmo. Two more animals wouldn’t make much difference to her growing menagerie, she’d said.
“You won’t need all this stuff,” said Hanna. “It’s only for a few days. Let’s sort out the most important things and you can put the rest away.”
Eva clambered onto the bed, her face set in a scowl. She sat cross-legged next to Cosmo, picked up her empty alpaca rucksack and waved it in the air. “This is for the important stuff,” she declared.
“Which is…?” Hanna asked.
Her daughter grabbed her battered old teddy, Orsina, that had been her favourite toy for years, and put her in the bag. The bear was now missing an ear and a bit grubby, but Eva insisted on sleeping next to her every night. Hanna could see that clothes were going to be secondary in Eva’s eyes.
“Let’s pack your clothes first, then we’ll see how much space is left. I don’t think you’ll need too many toys. There’ll be so much to do at Auntie Nerys’, looking after the animals, making pots and painting.”
Eva’s face brightened. She’d developed a keen interest in painting at school during the last term, although at the moment all she seemed to draw was birds. Maybe Lars could help widen her repertoire during her stay.
Together they picked a selection of clothes suitable for the capricious Welsh climate, squeezing some into the rucksack and the rest into a small holdall. Eva added a few toys, including her paints and a couple of brushes.
“Ready!!” she announced finally, laying the stuffed rucksack on the bed. Cosmo opened his eyes, slowly got up and stretched, before curling up once more, this time on top of the bag.
One down, Hanna thought. All that remained now was sorting out the animals and her own things. Her phone rang and she raced over to her bedside table to retrieve it.
“You sound out of breath!” It was Ceri.
“Out of condition!” panted Hanna in reply. “Not enough walks in the hills with the family!”
Ceri laughed, a light tinkling, happy sound.
“How’s everything going? Excited? Nervous?” Hanna asked.
“All the arrangements have been checked and double-checked a thousand times. We can’t do anymore. And, yes, I’m feeling a bit jittery, but that’s only to be expected, isn’t it? It’s a life-changing step to make, after all. Weren’t you nervous?”
“Absolutely. But I had my prospective mother-in-law taking care of the preparations. She fussed over me like a mother hen ‘cos I was pregnant, remember?”
“Well at least I don’t have that to worry about,” said Ceri. “I’m so pleased that you’re both coming. It’ll really make my day!”
Hanna felt a warm glow inside. “You know I wouldn’t have missed it, unless there was good reason.”
“I know,” said Ceri, “Anyway, how’s the business at the cottage going?”
“Same as before. No new girls or other visitors. How’s the police investigation going?”
“According to Vincenzo, they’re nearly ready to make the arre
sts. This time they’ve got enough evidence on the ringleaders, thanks in large part to Sergio. He’s mega-excited about getting the story published as an exclusive. Reckons it will be the scoop of his career!”
“And what about Luciano and the rest of his family? Are they likely to be arrested again?”
“Looks like it. But proving they’re major players in the network will be the problem. But from what Vincenzo has said, the police have more than enough this time to round up all the main culprits.”
“Let’s hope this time they manage to put a stop to the whole sordid business,” said Hanna. “By the way, has anything else come up about me on the wiretap?”
“No, nothing. You’re not still worried about coming back here, are you?”
“After everything that’s happened, I’m bound to be a bit. Even if Luciano is true to his word and won’t be coming after me.”
“Don’t forget the undercover officers will still be at the wedding. Vincenzo is keeping them in place just as a precaution.”
“That’s something, I guess,” said Hanna, still slightly worried whether she was doing the right thing.
“I can’t wait to see you both! It’ll almost be like old times…”
Chapter Thirty-One
Hanna gazed out of the window, deep in thought. Cruising at this height above the clouds, there was little to see. Outside, all was serene, the sky the palest of blue. Inside, Hanna felt anything but serene. Her stomach was churning despite the smoothness of the flight, a swell of mixed emotions washing over her.
Understandable, she thought. After all, she was returning to Sicily for the first time since the kidnapping two years ago. She felt light-headed, almost nauseous, and took a gulp of tonic water from the glass on the fold-down tray in front of her.
“Are you okay?” asked Rhys, taking her hand in his and giving it a squeeze. “You’ve gone really pale.”
“I’m feeling a bit queasy, that’s all,” Hanna replied. “Nothing to do with the flight. It’s just…” She paused, finding it difficult to put her thoughts into words. “You know. Confused. Thrilled about the wedding, but trepidation at going back. Not knowing for sure if it’s really safe or not.”
“Well, it’s only for a few days, then we’ll be back home.” Rhys patted her hand as if to reassure her. “And there’ll be security at the wedding, so everything should go smoothly.”
“I hope so,” said Hanna, not wanting to explain her feelings any further.
It had been traumatic enough leaving Eva behind with Nerys and Lars. Traumatic for her, not for Eva who seemed to be taking it all in her stride, treating it like a great adventure. She reclined her seat and settled back. Closing her eyes, she dozed off almost immediately, only opening them again when the plane started its descent towards Palermo’s Falcone Borsellino Airport. Her head felt muzzy, and it took her a minute or two to realise where she was.
“Welcome back to the land of the living!” said Rhys, smiling at her.
She forced a weak smile in response. “Sorry, I’ve not been much company, have I?”
“As long as you’re okay for the wedding tomorrow, that’s all that matters.”
Hanna nodded and fastened her seatbelt. “At least we haven’t got far to go when we arrive. We were lucky to get a flight to Palermo. Saves us the trek from Catania.”
“Don’t most flights from the UK go to Palermo?” asked Rhys, with a puzzled face.
“Charter flights usually go to Catania. It’s nearer the popular beach resorts on the east coast. There are fewer flights into Palermo, and it tends to be a more expensive option,” Hanna explained.
“D’you know I’ve only ever been to Sicily once? That was years ago, when Ceri was still a tour guide. I came over at the end of the season and stayed for a week. It’s a wonder our paths didn’t cross then.”
Hanna frowned. “I vaguely remember Ceri saying something about you coming to visit. Can’t remember where I was at the time, or even what year it was…”
“Me neither,” said Rhys, laughing. “But I can recall being smitten by the beauty and colour of the place – the contrast between the coast and countryside, the hills and mountains, the history and architecture. Not forgetting the wonderful food!”
“I guess Sicily worked its magic on all three of us. I still have happy memories, of the days before I found out I was living a lie,” said Hanna sadly. “I only hope Ceri has more luck.”
“Sergio seems like a pretty sound sort of guy. He and Ceri make a good couple.”
That’s what people said about me and Luciano, thought Hanna. And look how that turned out. She smiled and nodded, saying nothing. The cabin filled with increased engine noise, making further conversation difficult.
Once the plane emerged from the clouds, the sea and the silhouette of the mountains gradually came into view, followed by the distant sprawl of the island’s capital city nestled between the two. A lump rose in Hanna’s throat. She swallowed hard and took a few deep breaths. She had to get a grip of her emotions, otherwise she wouldn’t make it through the weekend. The plane jolted as it hit the runway and taxied to a halt.
Their seats being near the front of the plane meant they were among the first passengers to leave. The searing heat hit them as soon as they stepped outside. The digital display outside the airport building indicated 32 degrees Celsius, but it felt hotter, almost stifling, despite the lightest of breezes. Like stepping into a sauna. Hanna held up a hand to shield her eyes from the blinding sun and took in gulps of humid air as she descended the aircraft steps.
Within minutes, they were back in the shade within the confines of the air-conditioned airport building. Hanna shivered violently at the sudden extreme change of temperature. Rhys was saying something, but his words were drowned out by an announcement over the loudspeaker system.
They followed the signs towards Passport Control. Hanna rummaged in her handbag for their documents. With few people in front of them, they passed through quickly and moved on to the baggage retrieval area. Rhys would have been quite content to cram his wedding suit into a carry-on bag, but Hanna was adamant about taking a suitcase. No way was she wearing a crumpled outfit to her best friend’s wedding.
Ceri and Sergio would be in the Arrivals hall waiting for them. Ceri had insisted on picking them up despite Hanna’s protestations. Hanna sent her a quick text to let her know they’d landed. The bags could take a while to come through. She glimpsed the baggage handlers through the window, conversing loudly with a lot of arm-waving, processing the cases with customary lethargy.
“Won’t be long now!” said Rhys, with his usual optimism.
“You reckon?” said Hanna, feeling less confident. She yawned. It had been a fraught couple of days, preparing both themselves and Eva for the break. And it had been a long day; up early for the drive to Manchester airport, then the wait there, followed by the three-hour flight.
Another twenty minutes passed until they spotted their case and dragged it off the carousel. As soon as they passed into the Arrivals hall, a whoop of joy arose from the waiting crowd and Ceri ran towards them, her arms waving wildly, followed by a smiling Sergio.
The two young women fell into each other’s arms and hugged for what seemed like ages. Anyone watching would have taken them for long-lost friends. In fact, it was only a few months since they’d seen each other last, when Ceri had come over to Wales for a week at Easter.
Hanna felt so close to Ceri; she wished they could live nearer to each other. But in a way it didn’t matter. It was one of those friendships that you could quickly pick up where you’d left off, regardless of the time spent apart.
“I’m so pleased you’re here!” said Ceri, slightly breathless, the delight evident in her voice. “The wedding wouldn’t have been the same without you!”
“Just hope we’re doing the right thing…” replied Hanna tentatively.
“Of course you are! Everything will be fine, you’ll see!”
“C’mon on, guys, l
et’s get out of here!” said Sergio, shouting to make himself heard above the noise of the crowd.
As they followed in his wake, Hanna felt as though they were being watched. She glanced around, but it was difficult to pinpoint the source with so many people around. Probably nothing, merely her imagination again, she thought, as she hurried to catch up with the others.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Sergio led the way through the throng of people in Arrivals and steered them towards the exit. As soon as they stepped outside the building, they were confronted once again by the searing heat. Hanna could feel beads of sweat forming on her forehead and wiped them away with the back of her hand.
“Wait here while I go and collect the car. Won’t be long,” said Sergio, as he turned away and quickly disappeared from view.
Hanna still felt uneasy, as if they were the focus of someone’s attention. Although they were fewer people out here, she still couldn’t identify the culprit. None of the others seemed to have noticed anything amiss. She chose to keep quiet. They’d soon be well away from the airport and any prying eyes.
Rhys looked uncomfortable, his face flushed and clammy. “Is it me or is it really humid?” He shouted to be heard among all the comings and goings.
Ceri laughed sympathetically. “Welcome to Sicily in August, bro! Not like Wales, eh? Don’t worry, you’ll soon get used to it.”
Hanna opened her mouth to speak but the noise level around them drowned out her words. She grinned and mouthed that they’d talk later and got a thumbs-up from Ceri. The atmosphere felt so alien after the tranquillity of Wales.
Ceri looked so radiant and relaxed, her deep tan evident in a pair of skimpy shorts and a low-cut T-shirt. Hanna could feel her clothes sticking to her. But it wasn’t long before Sergio pulled up and they all piled into the car, grateful for its cool interior. Hanna climbed in the back alongside Ceri, leaving Rhys to sit in the passenger seat next to Sergio.
Sergio threaded his way through the heavy traffic towards the autostrada for Palermo. The airport, Hanna remembered, lay about 20 kilometres north-west of the city. Gradually she began to feel better in the air-conditioned confines of the car. She sat back and started to relax, listening to Ceri’s excited chatter about the wedding. She seems so happy, thought Hanna, watching her closest friend talk animatedly, waving her arms in the air to emphasise certain points. She felt a twinge of excitement herself, forgetting for a moment her anxiety about the whole trip.