by Karen Moore
“Yes, it’s terrible,” agreed Hanna. “Something needs to be done to stop it.”
Luciano came in from the kitchen with a tray and handed round the drinks. “What’s so terrible that needs to be stopped?”
“All the people-smuggling activities in the Med,” Ceri replied. “It’s Sergio’s latest assignment – he’s working with the authorities to uncover who’s behind it.”
“Really? He’ll have a job on his hands then. Those involved will be intent on protecting their interests at all costs. He needs to watch out. It could be dangerous.”
Ceri’s face went pale. Hanna sprang to her defence, irritated by her husband’s choice of words. “Luce, you’re scaring Ceri. I’m sure Sergio can look after himself. It’s not the first time he’s been involved in investigating organised crime.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m just concerned for him and his family, and Ceri too, of course.”
“It’s okay, I understand,” said Ceri, the colour starting to return to her cheeks. “His line of work has always bothered me, but that’s what he loves and I’m not going to stop him. You can’t choose who you fall for.”
Hanna shot Luciano a glance as if to warn him against pursuing the conversation. The news turned to the latest celeb scandal and they started to discuss that instead. But Luciano’s earlier reaction continued to gnaw away at her long after her friend had left.
Chapter Twenty-Three
North Wales, Thursday 23rd November, 2017
A sudden crash at the lounge window made Hanna jump. But it was only the wind whipping up the bare branches of the trees and lashing them against the panes. Looking through the window, she could barely make out the blurry shapes of the bushes in the murky light. The sky was dark and brooding. It had never really got light all day, and seemed more like dusk rather than early afternoon. Hanna shivered and turned away, glad to be inside.
The constant barrage of wind and rain during the recent storms had turned the gentle Welsh hills into an almost hostile environment. Hanna was grateful for the welcome and much-needed sanctuary provided by the sturdy stone cottage, but its isolation was having an effect on her. Being confined indoors for so long was giving her cabin fever. But Hanna still managed to find solace within its walls, far away from the threats of the outside world, safe within its womb.
She glanced over at Eva on the rug in front of the roaring wood-burner. At least Cosmo was keeping her amused, the two of them best of friends despite the constant kiddie-babble that the poor old moggy had to put up with. Cosmo had settled in front of the fire ready for his afternoon nap, which Eva’s bilingual monologue threatened to disrupt, when the phone rang. Picking it up, Hanna was relieved to hear Rhys’s soft Welsh lilt.
“Hi, it’s only me, cariad. Just thought I’d let you know that the road up to your place is blocked down in the valley. A tree’s come down in the storm and there’s all manner of debris from the river that’s burst its banks, as well as some local flooding. They’re trying to clear it now, but I was worried about the two of you.”
“We’re fine, but we’ve not been out for days. I heard on the radio that the weather was causing problems, but I didn’t know about the road up here being blocked. I’ve tried calling Nerys but the line’s dead.”
“Some of the phone lines are down. Just as well we manage to get a mobile signal most of the time. I was thinking of calling in later if you could use some company. The track over the hills should be passable in the Land Rover. Are you okay for food or do you want me to bring some over?”
Hanna’s heart leapt at the prospect. “That’d be great! We’d both love to see you. I’m starting to go a bit stir-crazy from the remoteness up here. And we’re running pretty low on food and logs for the fire. We could do with some bread, milk, and fresh veg, at the very least – some meat, too, or sausages if you can get them.”
“OK, no problem. The Snowdonia Mountain Rescue’s new home delivery service is on its way! I was rather hoping you might treat me to some of your wonderful cooking. Better than all the ready meals on my tod that I’ve had to put up with for the past week. I’ve been flat out at work and much too tired to be bothered cooking.”
Hanna laughed. “I’m sure I can rustle something up. Better bring some wine as well.”
“Will do. Should be with you about six-ish, all being well. Any problems, I’ll let you know.”
“Fine, see you then.” Hanna put the phone down, feeling elated at the thought of company.
Eva looked up expectantly. “Was that Babbo? Is he coming home?” Her words brought Hanna back to reality with a start.
“No, sweetheart, it was Rhys, not Daddy. He’s coming over later for dinner.”
“Is he bringing Bryn?”
“Of course! He goes everywhere with Bryn.”
A broad grin spread across Eva’s face. “Oh, goody! Not seen Bryn for a-a-a-ages,” she said, making Hanna smile.
“Well, you can help me to get ready and tidy up before they come.” Hanna glanced around at the various toys scattered across the lounge floor.
“Va bene, Mammina! I’ll help you!” Eva started to collect her things, piling them high in her arms. Cosmo lazily opened one eye before shutting it again quickly, no doubt glad to be left alone for once.
It took a while to put everything away as Eva dropped more than she collected, but finally it was done.
While Eva settled down on the sofa to watch her favourite cartoon on CBeebies, Hanna went to take a quick shower. The warmth of the water revived her spirits, but she couldn’t afford to linger and leave Eva on her own. She dressed quickly in a pair of warm leggings and a deep pink and purple fleece tunic, adding a couple of layers of mascara, a touch of blusher, and lipstick, followed by a spritz of perfume to finish off. Not bad for someone holed up in the Welsh hills, she thought, checking her appearance in the mirror.
Back in the lounge, Eva was bouncing up and down on the sofa in time to the cartoon’s signature tune, trying to imitate the words. The effect was so comical that it brought another smile to Hanna’s face. At that moment, her mobile pinged an alert. She read the new message:
I just wanted to let you know that Luciano’s and Sergio’s fathers have both been released due to insufficient evidence. Hope you’re both OK. Speak soon, Ceri xx
Hanna sighed, unsure whether this was good or bad news. At least she and Eva were far away from that world and were safe, she thought for the umpteenth time.
Hanna tiptoed out of Eva’s room, softly pulling the door to behind her. She flopped onto the sofa next to Rhys.
“I thought she’d never nod off – too much excitement in one day! After days of being cooped up with just me, having both you and Bryn here must have felt like a real treat. Well, I’m bushed even if she wasn’t.”
Rhys grinned. “It must be our Welsh charm, cariad, works every time! But I don’t want to keep you from your beauty sleep. Besides, I’m up early in the morning. Maybe we can polish off the wine, then I’ll make tracks.” Without waiting for a reply, he padded out to the kitchen in his stockinged feet and came back with the bottle of South African Shiraz he’d brought earlier.
“It’s pretty good, I must say. Not a bad choice of wine for a Welshman!” Hanna teased as he refilled her glass.
“You’d be surprised, some of us are almost cultured!” he said in an exaggerated Welsh accent. “There might be more sheep than people in Wales, but we make up in quality what we lack in quantity. Actually, we’re quite proud of our history and heritage. You’ll have to let me show you what we can offer. The National Eisteddfod is up in North Wales this summer and it’s a great way to find out more about Welsh music and literature, as well as our mythical past. Would you fancy going? I’m sure you’d enjoy it, and there’s always loads of fun stuff for kids, so it’d be good for Eva. What d’you think?”
“Sounds great, as long as we’re still here by then,” Hanna remarked ruefully, twisting her wine glass in her hands.
&n
bsp; “Oh, I thought you were planning to be here for a while,” said Rhys, a note of disappointment creeping into his voice.
“Well, it depends on how things work out.”
“You know, you’ve never told me the whole story behind you being here. Ceri didn’t tell me much more either. She just said you were in a precarious situation and were worried about Eva and needed to get away urgently to somewhere safe.”
“It’s complicated. I don’t want to burden you with my problems…”
“I guess I’m sort of involved already. It’s your call, though. I don’t mean to pry,” Rhys said in an apologetic tone.
Hanna took a gulp of her wine, feeling its warming effect start to spread through her body. She relaxed, conscious of Rhys’s presence close by, feeling a fleeting sense of security and wellbeing. Could she confide in him? What harm would there be? Maybe he should know – it was only fair, as he’d given her so much help when she needed it most. But how much should she reveal?
She tried to concentrate and think clearly, but this was hampered by her head, muzzy from the wine. He has a right to know what brought us here, she thought. Maybe not the whole story, but the key parts at least.
“Ok, you win. This is what happened…”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sicily, Friday 31st October, 2014
“Are you sure you’ll be okay looking after Eva?” Hanna asked for the umpteenth time, her face drawn into a frown. “And you know where everything is?” She’d been reluctant to enlist Arazia’s help but it was really her only option. Ceri would have stepped in had she not already made plans to go away with Sergio that weekend
Her mother-in-law smiled, as if indulging a petulant child. “I’ve had two of my own, remember? I’m not exactly a novice.”
“I know but it’s the first time I’ve really left her for any length of time.”
“Stop fretting, cara. We’ll be just fine, won’t we, piccolina?” Arazia glanced fondly at the granddaughter she was cradling in her arms. Eva gurgled in response and kicked her chubby legs in the air.
Hanna kissed the few dark hairs on the top of her daughter’s head.
“Well, as long as you’re sure. You will call if there’s any problem, won’t you?” she asked one last time, picking up her weekend bag and handbag, both made of soft fuschia-coloured leather.
Luciano came in the room and took them off her, impatient to get off. “We really need to get a move on, amore, otherwise we’ll hit the traffic.”
Arazia laughed softly, shooing them away with one hand as she accompanied them out to the car. “Go and have fun! And let’s hope you don’t come back empty-handed!”
Luciano grinned. “I have every confidence that we won’t! In fact, I’d put money on it if I were a betting man.” He kissed his mother on both cheeks and steered Hanna to the car before she could raise any more concerns. “Don’t worry, Mamma will be in her element looking after Eva, you’ll see,” he whispered in her ear.
Maybe, thought Hanna, but I don’t want to make a habit of it. She probably means well enough but would jump at the chance of being around more often. Hanna smiled as she got into the car and waved to Arazia as Luciano started up the engine and drove slowly down the drive. Once the house had disappeared from view, she started to relax a little and contemplate the weekend ahead.
They were going to the island’s annual wine awards ceremony at Catania’s most opulent hotel. It promised to be a prestigious affair, with judges coming from across the globe along with the world’s media. The family’s wines were growing in reputation and starting to get a name for themselves outside Italy. So much so that they’d entered five of their best wines for this year’s awards. Three had made the shortlist, much to the family’s delight. As Michele was away on business the night of the award ceremony, it fell to Luciano to attend.
He had insisted that she buy a special outfit for the occasion. She had chosen a striking Alberta Ferretti full-length cocktail dress in black, an asymmetrical one-shouldered design with a slash across the figure-hugging bodice that revealed her cleavage and a triangular see-through panel at the waist. Luciano loved it so much that not even the price tag had put him off. Hanna was secretly looking forward to the event despite having to leave Eva behind. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had an opportunity to get dressed up
“Penny for them?” Luciano’s words interrupted her thoughts.
“What? Oh, sorry, I was miles away. Where is it we’re staying?” she asked.
“Capocastagne, just outside Catania. It’s the perfect weekend hideaway – a little villa in the most exquisite location, perched on a headland overlooking the sea, with Mount Etna in the background. So-o-o romantic, you’ll love it.” He smiled and stroked her thigh affectionately.
His touch and the thought of a weekend alone together, apart from the awards ceremony, sent a tingle up her spine. She smiled. “Sounds amazing, can’t wait!”
“Once we get to the autostrada, it’ll take us a couple of hours, so sit back and enjoy the ride. I’ve booked a table for dinner at a nearby restaurant that serves some of the best seafood on the east coast. All that, and in the company of one of the island’s most successful and handsome entrepreneurs! What more could a girl ask for?”
Hanna laughed at his tongue-in-cheek arrogance. He had a point, though; she couldn’t quite believe her luck and the new life she’d almost fallen into as if by chance. With the sultry strains of a Sicilian blues singer playing softly in the background, Hanna watched the passing landscape change from lush cultivated valleys dotted with cattle and horses to one of rocky outcrops devoid of trees and populated only by the occasional flock of sheep. Luciano drove with one hand resting lightly on the steering wheel, the other gently caressing her hand.
When Hanna opened her eyes, it was dusk. She caught glimpses of citrus groves through the acacia and eucalyptus trees lining the road that was becoming ever narrower and rougher as Luciano drove on.
“Well timed, sleepyhead! We’re nearly there, just a few minutes away now.”
“Sorry, I must have dropped off.”
The thick vegetation around them gave no suggestion of the coastline beyond. They could have been anywhere. But the road suddenly came to an end and they drew to a halt in front of intricate wrought iron gates flanked by high security fencing. Luciano rummaged through the glove box and pulled out a set of keys. He jumped out of the car to tackle the heavy padlock securing the gates.
They drove on, and when the villa came into view, Hanna had a sharp intake of breath. It was much larger than she’d been expecting. Built of local stone, it spread over a small headland, its lofty position commanding impressive views over the coast in both directions.
“Wow, this is fabulous! Who did you say it belongs to?”
“Domenico, an old friend of mine. He’s quite prominent in the film industry and uses it for entertaining. It’s quite something, isn’t it? Come on, I’ll show you round,” he said, getting out of the car.
Hanna followed Luciano as he flicked a switch, bathing the outside in a soft glow of light. Among lush gardens filled with exotic plants and palm trees sat a kidney-shaped swimming pool, its waters shimmering. Overlooking the sea was an expansive dining area, served by a bar and a spacious food preparation area cleverly concealed from diners behind bamboo screening.
The interior was equally stunning. The lounge was split-level, no doubt designed for separate business discussions to take place simultaneously, with cream leather sofas and an array of striking abstract prints on the walls. Modern and minimalist. Each of the four generous bedrooms had been decorated in a different colour palette. The one Hanna chose was grey, white, and pistachio, with an oversized bed and yet more striking abstracts on the walls.
“Well, it’s not exactly the cosy little romantic hideaway I’d imagined! It’s well impressive!”
Luciano’s face fell. “What, you don’t like it?”
“Don’t be silly, it’s wonderful! Bu
t, more importantly, what time’s dinner booked for? I’m ravenous!”
Luciano laughed. “That’s more like it! There’s just time for a quick shower and a change of clothes. We need to leave in about 45 minutes.”
Hanna pecked him on the cheek. “Fine, I’ll call Arazia first to check everything’s okay with Eva.”
Strolling along the beach hand in hand with Luciano on their way back to the car, Hanna almost glowed with happiness. It could have had something to do with the amount of wine she’d drunk over dinner – a sumptuous affair of local antipasti, pasta alle vongole (pasta with clams), and a huge platter of freshly-caught fish and seafood. The two of them had chattered incessantly throughout, glad of the opportunity to catch up. Quality time together had been in short supply since Eva came along.
Now they walked in companionable silence, relaxed and sated by the food and wine, the sea lapping the shore. There was a gentle breeze and just enough moonlight to cut through the darkness. Hanna could make out something lying on the beach a few metres away by the water’s edge.
“That’s weird. Do you remember passing that on the way to the restaurant?” she asked, pointing at the shape.
“No, but I probably wouldn’t have noticed it. I’m not as observant as you,” Luciano replied. “It’s probably an animal that fell into the sea, or even a dolphin or porpoise that’s washed ashore. It happens from time to time.”
It struck Hanna as strange they’d not spotted it before, given its size. Wondering what it could be, she approached for a closer look. A strangled cry escaped from her throat as she realised to her horror what it was.
Not animal but human: the body of a dead child.
Chapter Twenty-Five
North Wales, Thursday 23rd – Friday 24th November, 2017
Hanna was coming to the final part of her tale. Rhys had listened without interruption. The only other sounds were the occasional crackling and spitting of the wood on the fire and the odd snore from Bryn stretched out on the rug. She’d managed to keep her voice steady and unemotional up to now, as if recounting a situation that had happened to someone else. It felt almost like a confession, although she was not the perpetrator but the victim. But now she was approaching the end, her emotions resurfaced and her voice started to quiver.