by Karen Moore
Sergio showed his father out, and they stayed chatting in the hall for several minutes in low tones. Hanna quickly related the gist of the conversation to Rhys, careful to skip over the possibility that the shooters could still be a threat. If he knew that, he would never agree to leave. She was beginning to wonder if she’d made the right decision. But why should she be a target? Vincenzo seemed to think there was no imminent danger. But why then had he insisted they use a codeword? Nothing seemed to make sense.
“I wonder what will happen with the main investigation now?” Rhys mused.
“Who knows?” Hanna replied. “I got the impression that Vincenzo is keen to prove the link to the shooting, especially if the Cortazzos are directly involved.”
“Are you sure you’re happy to stay on, on your own?” He searched her face for a response.
Hanna gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “Of course. It’ll be fine. Just a few days to get Ceri and Sergio through the worst. Then back to normality.”
Rhys didn’t look wholly convinced. “When did Dr Di Mauro say they’d be moving Ceri out of ICU?”
“Tomorrow afternoon, if I remember correctly. Are you thinking of popping up there before you leave?”
Rhys nodded. “The flight’s late afternoon, so I could go over in the morning to say goodbye, if they’ll let me.”
Hanna took a quick look at her phone: ten past ten. “We can check in the morning. It’s a bit late to call now.”
They heard the door shut with a soft thud, then Sergio reappeared in the doorway.
“Dad’s suggested I go into the office tomorrow to check if everything’s still in place with the story and it’s ready to go,” he said, his reluctance evident. “But all I can think of right now is Ceri. Nothing else seems to matter. And I need to be there when Dr Di Mauro tells Ceri about the baby.”
“Don’t worry, Sergio,” said Hanna, laying a soothing hand on his arm. “You do as you see fit. Maybe you could do some work from here, without going into the office? As for Ceri, we’ll agree a suitable time with Dr Di Mauro tomorrow.”
***
A call to ICU the following morning confirmed that Ceri would be moved out that afternoon and that they could visit that morning. By the time Hanna and Rhys were ready to leave the apartment, Sergio still hadn’t put in an appearance. Hanna knocked on his bedroom door. No response. She continued to knock, opening the door slowly. Sergio seemed to be sleeping soundly, cocooned in a lightweight duvet. Perhaps he’d taken a sleeping pill that had knocked him out. As Hanna crept nearer the bed, she could hear him snoring softly. Satisfied that he was okay, she retreated and joined Rhys in the hallway.
“He’s still asleep. He must be exhausted; he’s barely slept since it happened,” she whispered. “Best leave him be. We can always visit Ceri again later if they’re both up to it.”
Rhys nodded and they left the apartment, descending the stairs to ground level. The morning sun dazzled their eyes as they stepped out into the street, one side half-bathed in light, the other in shadow. By the time they reached the hospital entrance a few blocks away, they’d both worked up a sweat and a thirst. Hanna rummaged in her bag for the bottle of water she’d brought with her and handed it to Rhys.
“Phew! I’ll be glad to get back to normal temperatures,” he said, taking a massive glug and wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.
Hanna smiled. “You’d get used to the heat if you were here for any length of time. I certainly did.”
They continued on through the busy corridors, passing porters wheeling patients in hospital beds, doctors in scrubs and nurses in uniform scurrying to their next shift. As they approached the entrance to ICU, a side door opened, and Dr Di Mauro appeared. He beckoned them into the consulting room, and closed the door, taking a seat behind a small desk and pointing to the spare chairs, invited them to do the same.
“Is Signor Graziano not with you?” he asked, his brows knitted.
“No, why? Has something happened? Is Ceri OK?” asked Hanna anxiously.
“There was a slight issue earlier this morning,” the doctor continued. “Ceri was recovering sufficiently to realise that she was haemorrhaging blood from below. She insisted on knowing why. I’m afraid that we’ve had to tell her about the baby. You can imagine how she’s taken it. She’s shocked, confused, angry even. I was hoping her husband would have been here. She’s going to need support to get through this. Although she’s being transferred off ICU, she’s still fragile, and this news could derail her whole healing process if handled badly.”
Shocked, Hanna translated the conversation for Rhys in a faltering voice. They exchanged glances, both at a loss as to how to respond.
“I… I… I don’t think her husband is dealing with the whole incident very well either,” stammered Hanna. “I’m staying on for a few more days to support them both.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea. Ceri will certainly need all your support.” The doctor rose to his feet, his mission clearly accomplished. “She’ll probably still be pretty upset. Please do what you can to calm her.”
“Of course,” said Hanna, passing through the door the doctor held open for them.
“I will remain in charge of her care. Her transfer to Ward 18 will go ahead this afternoon as planned. All future visits will take place there.”
Hanna mumbled her thanks and walked in a daze towards the ICU reception desk, Rhys beside her. They gave their names to the receptionist, and a nurse led them to Ceri’s bedside. She was sitting up in bed, connected to fewer monitors than before, looking sad and tearful. Hanna went over and gave her a clumsy hug, trying not to dislodge any of the medical equipment. Then Rhys did the same, Ceri clinging to each of them in turn, the occasional sob escaping from her throat.
“You knew, didn’t you?” said Ceri, making it sound more like a statement than a question, her voice wavering.
Rhys bowed his head. “The doctor was waiting to tell you once you’d come out of the critical phase. Once you were strong enough…”
“We didn’t want you finding out like this,” said Hanna softly.
“Never a good time, I guess.” Ceri looked around the cubicle. “Isn’t Sergio with you?”
“He was fast asleep when we left,” Hanna explained. “I think he’d taken something to make him sleep. He hasn’t been coping terribly well with everything that’s happened.”
“That’s understandable,” Ceri said, laying her head back on the pillow, looking drained. “It’s all been such a shock, for everyone.”
“We should have been going home today, but I’ve decided to stay on a bit longer to help out any way I can while you get better,” said Hanna.
“But I’m going back this afternoon,” said Rhys. “Eva’s about to start school and I’m needed at work. It’s peak season; I can’t let them down. I just came to say goodbye. If there’s anything Hanna can’t deal with and you need me here, let me know and I’ll jump on the next plane back.”
Ceri took an intake of breath as if summoning all her strength, then said weakly: “I’m sure… it will… all work out. Let’s… let’s hope so.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
As Hanna approached the ward two days later, she passed a young guy dressed in jeans and a tight-fitting white t-shirt sitting in the corridor, scanning through his phone. He looked up as she passed, smiled, and said “Buongiorno.” He must be the plain-clothes police officer, she thought, as she returned the greeting.
Ceri’s bed was empty, and a nurse directed her to the day area. Hanna found Ceri sitting in a wheelchair, dressed in a light floral cover-up over her nightie, chatting in Italian to another patient, a stout middle-aged woman with a florid face. The room was stifling; the late morning sun shone in full force through the window and the air-conditioning rattled as it struggled to cope.
Seeing Hanna approach, Ceri smiled and beckoned her over. “Thought you’d forgotten me!”
“As if!” Hanna planted a kiss on the top
of her head and drew up a chair next to her. “How are you doing?” Despite looking pale and drawn, Ceri seemed to be in good spirits.
“Ready to get out of here!” growled Ceri good-naturedly. “I need some decent food and a comfy bed.”
Hanna smiled. “All being well, you’ll be discharged tomorrow so we’ll be able to get you home.”
Ceri looked around expectantly. “Where’s Sergio?”
“He’s back at the apartment with a migraine. Sends his apologies. You’ve got me as substitute.”
The other patient got up and excused herself, shuffling back towards the ward in a pair of worn slippers, leaving the two of them alone.
Ceri looked pensive. “I’m a bit concerned about him actually. He’s not been himself since the… the… shooting. Hopefully, he’ll come round a bit once I’m home. Has he been going into work at all?”
Hanna shifted uncomfortably. “Not really. A couple of times, maybe, but only for an hour or so. He seems to have taken the whole thing hard. I think he’s still struggling to come to terms with what’s happened.”
Ceri’s face darkened. “Aren’t we all?” Her tone was bitter. “But life goes on, doesn’t it?”
“I guess so.” Hanna stared at her friend’s hardened expression. Ceri was obviously trying to put on a brave face, but it was far from convincing. God knows how deeply scarred the incident had left her, not only physically but mentally too. No doubt it would take her some time to get over it.
Ceri changed the subject. “And how are you doing? How are Rhys and Eva getting on without you?”
“Oh, they’re fine. Eva’s been ‘helping’ Rhys at work, imagine that! She goes back to school next week.”
Despite daily video calls, Hanna was worried about being away from Eva for too long. She wanted to support Ceri, but she longed to be home. Rhys seemed to be doing a great job. Being away from him made her realise how much she trusted him and that she really should think about their future as a family rather than being stuck in the past.
“Any plans for going home?”
“Thought I’d stay another couple of days, until you’re on your feet again.”
Ceri nodded. “I’m really grateful for you staying on, especially with Sergio, the way he is. I was worried he might…” She left the sentence dangling in mid-air.
“I’ve been talking to him about the future, trying to reassure him and get him in a more positive state of mind, said Hanna. “Not sure how successful it’s been, but I’m sure he’ll cheer up no end once you’re back home.”
“And have there been any problems? Any hint that we might still be a target?”
Hanna shook her head. “No, nothing. There’s still a police guard on you here at the hospital – I passed him on my way in. And another on the apartment in the city. Vincenzo has arranged for that to continue for a while once we get back to Cefalù. I get the feeling that the danger may have passed, but you never know.”
“And are the police getting anywhere with their investigation and in discovering who’s behind it?”
“They’re still waiting for the results from Forensics on the cufflink found at the scene. The tyre tracks they’ve traced to a special edition Alfa Romeo SUV. Vincenzo says there are very few about, but the Cortazzo family seem to have one. Regardless of who did the actual shooting, the Cortazzos are definitely involved.”
Ceri frowned. “Haven’t the police brought anyone in for questioning?”
“They want to be sure of their ground before they do so. They’ve not managed to track Luciano down yet. He’s not at the family estate or at his apartment in Cefalù. The police want to bring the whole family in, but it all needs to tie in with the main investigation. The police reckon they’ll only get one chance to arrest the ringleaders and they don’t want to blow it.”
Ceri sat back in her chair and uttered a deep sigh. She suddenly looked shattered, as if the conversation, or the subject matter, had drained her of energy. Hanna got up.
“C’mon, enough chatter. I don’t want to tire you out. Let me wheel you back to bed. Only another night of awful food and then you’ll be home.”
Ceri gave a wan smile. “At last! I’ve been dreaming of a big steaming plate of spaghetti alle vongole.”
“I’m sure I could rustle up some spaghetti with clams on your first night home.”
A warmer smile now. “At least that’ll be something to look forward to.”
***
At lunchtime the following day Hanna’s mobile pinged, alerting her to a new text message. It was from Ceri to say that Dr Di Mauro had given her a final check and had cleared her for discharge. She’d be ready to collect any time after 2pm.
By the time Hanna and Sergio arrived at the hospital to pick her up, it was almost three o’clock. They found her sitting in the day room area, looking bored, with her bag packed beside her.
“Sorry,” said Hanna. “We came as soon as we could. Have you been waiting long?”
“They turfed me off the ward at dead-on two o’clock, armed with a lifetime’s supply of painkillers.” She grinned and rattled a giant paper bag to demonstrate. “Needed the bed for some other poor old soul.”
“My fault,” Sergio mumbled. “I was working on something. Zhuri, the witness from the refugee centre, is having second thoughts about testifying.”
“D’you think someone’s got to her?” Ceri asked, as Sergio began to wheel her out of the room.
“It’s possible. I’ve arranged to meet her tomorrow to try and talk her round.”
At least Sergio was taking an interest in work again, thought Hanna. He seemed much brighter now that Ceri was on the mend and finally coming home.
“We can’t take the wheelchair with us,” said Ceri, as they headed for the exit. “Doctor’s orders, part of my rehab, I have to start moving around. He’s told me to take it easy at first and build it up gradually.” She grimaced as the wheelchair bounced over an uneven stretch of floor. “Take it easy! Delicate cargo on board!”
Sergio smiled and slowed down. It was the first time Hanna remembered seeing him smile since the day of the wedding. Hopefully the two newly-weds would start to recuperate together now that life was getting back to normal, Hanna thought, as they helped Ceri into the waiting car.
***
Hanna carried the tray laden with three dishes heaped high with spaghetti alle vongole out onto the balcony where Ceri and Sergio were enjoying the glorious sunset. Ceri clapped her hands together like a little girl when Hanna set a dish of pasta in front of her.
“Ooh, you’re such a sweetie, Hanna! Just what the doctor ordered!”
“Tuck in, enjoy!” said Hanna, relieved that Ceri was hungry, a sure sign that she was starting to recover from her ordeal.
“Buon appetito!” Sergio’s fork was already loaded and poised mid-air.
Hanna topped up their glasses with chilled Grillo wine and watched as her two friends attacked the food with gusto. The temperature had dipped after the heat of the day, and a slight breeze ruffled their hair.
“It’s so good to be home again,” said Ceri wistfully between mouthfuls.
Hanna smiled, thinking of her best friend’s narrow escape. It was worrying that the police hadn’t been able to nail down the gunmen. She could see both Ceri and Sergio starting to relax, and decided she’d have an early night to give them some space.
They had barely finished the last few mouthfuls when Sergio’s mobile range. He picked the phone up from the table, glanced at the screen and answered: “Ciao, Papὰ, come va?” Vincenzo’s words were inaudible, but from the tone of his voice it was obvious he was agitated. Sergio told his father about the problem with the witness. They chatted for a few more minutes before Sergio hung up.
“Dad’s going to join me tomorrow when I meet Zhuri. He’s getting really frustrated that Luciano’s nowhere to be found. He wants to make a move with the main investigation before the chief suspects begin to disappear too. But he’s convinced the Cortazzo family are th
e main players and he’s anxious to pin Luciano down.”
Hanna started to clear the plates, thoughts buzzing in her head. Maybe she could help track him down. But how?
Chapter Forty-Eight
By morning, Hanna had an outline plan in her mind, as well as dark rings under her eyes from a fitful night’s sleep. She felt a frisson of excitement at the prospect of helping the investigation. Not being able to do so before had always niggled away at her. But then she’d been left with little choice; she’d had to protect Eva at all costs.
But now, finally, this was the perfect opportunity to get her revenge and punish Luciano, not only for his duplicity but also for his role in the trafficking network, and possibly in the shooting. The plan wasn’t without its risks, but if it went well, she would be free of him once and for all, free to live her life as she pleased, free to face the future.
She needed to talk it through with Sergio and his father and see if they thought the idea might work, and if so, work out a detailed plan. And when better to do it than at that morning’s meeting?
***
After a quick shower, Hanna got dressed and wandered into the kitchen to find Sergio making coffee. No sign of Ceri.
“She’s still asleep,” said Sergio, as if reading her mind. “Probably making up for the nights she spent in hospital. Thought I’d leave her be.”
“Good idea,” said Hanna, helping herself to coffee. “There’s something I need to run by you. Thought I could discuss it with your dad this morning, after your meeting with Zhuri, if you have no objections.”
Sergio’s eyebrows raised. “Sounds intriguing. What’s on your mind?”
Hanna ran through her idea briefly.
“So, what do you think?” Hanna asked, scanning his face for a reaction.
Sergio regarded her sternly. “It’s a madcap idea. I think you’re crazy even to think of it.”
“But isn’t it worth a try? Nothing else seems to be working, and I know your dad’s in a hurry to bring the investigation to a head.”
Sergio’s face softened slightly, and he shrugged. “Who knows? It might just work. Let’s see what my dad has to say.”