The Vatican Rip l-5

by Jonathan Gash

  The football magazine was engrossing, especially as it told me the date of the Vatican rip. No drawing back now.

  'I'm going to need a van, Anna. Something the size and shape of a closed ambulance.'

  It had to hold two tables.

  'Ambulances have windows.'

  'Make them opaque, then. And a good engine. If it breaks down I've had it.'

  'Right.' She was quite assured. 'Can it be a copy?'

  'Yes.' I looked speculatively at her. 'Who can copy an ambulance for heaven's sake?'

  'Carlo.' I pulled a face. She said cryptically, 'You've been in Rome less than a week and Carlo's in hospital, a Vatican Museum guard is probably dead by now, and you've lost a friend.'

  She waited but I said nothing. 'Who was he, Lovejoy?'

  'A bloke I met, er, accidentally. He has—had—a wife and two kiddies.'

  'Are you in love with her?'

  It was an unlikely question. I was coming to the notion that Old Anna was infinitely preferable. 'Never even met her.'

  'How was he lost?'

  'Killed. In the Colosseum.“

  Her eyes wrinkled as she thought. 'Funny I didn't hear. It wasn't even in the papers.'

  We stared at each other for quite some time. 'How odd,' I said at last. And it was.

  * * *

  The workshop was in some sort of order now. You can't start anything worthwhile till you get a place straight. The shelving was mended and in position. I'd gone at the toolracks baldheaded. The electric hand drill was on the blink, so I'd knocked up an old-fashioned foot-treadle spindle out of a bicycle wheel from somebody's dustbin. The one-third horsepower single-phase motor on the wood-turning lathe was crudded up to extinction. I had it off and sawed into the bench to get a foot-powered band through.

  Adriana graciously allowed Piero, my silent watcher, to collect a derelict Singer sewing-machine from a junk dealer.

  I slogged a whole day, tidying and sorting. Somebody ambitious had once bought in a few lengths of various woods including walnut, small pieces only, but at least a start.

  Nowadays, when an old walnut tree is worth twice the value of the house in whose garden it grows, any piece is worth a fortune. Adriana and Piero came to look at the workshop when I'd rigged up the last toolrack.

  Adriana exclaimed. 'You've created so much space, Lovejoy!'

  'It was there all the time, signora.'

  'Isn't this marvellous, Piero?'

  'Not as marvellous as all that,' I corrected. 'Think of upstairs. Your showroom should be extended. Why not a winch?'

  Adriana glanced quickly at Piero. 'Upstairs?' I looked at them, suddenly more alert. You can't help wondering, can you?

  'The lifting problem,' Piero snapped, which is all very well if you're willing to be snapped at. I wasn't.

  'There is no lifting problem, Piero. I could build a winch for practically nothing.'

  A winch was part of the rip, so to me there was no question. Piero glared, nearly as determined as me. 'You keep out of this, Lovejoy.'

  'I'll have to think about it, Lovejoy.' Adriana's tone was finality itself.

  I watched them return to the showroom. What the hell was upstairs?

  Anyhow, I began sketching rough plans for the rent table. I'd got Anna to collect the photographs so I should have more precise dimensions to go on. The amount of wood in a rent table is relatively huge. I'd already expected that, but the final estimate made me gasp.

  Especially when I multiplied it by two.

  Locking up that day, Piero caught me staring up at the rear of the building. The wall looked solid, and the drop was vertical.

  'It looks on, Piero,' I offered, to break the awful silence. 'See—take a drop from above the top window—'

  'Lovejoy,' he interrupted, quiet and dangerous, 'when we need extra storage space Signora Albanese will rent it. Okay?“

  I shrugged. 'Just remember I tried to save us money, that's all.' Let him guess.

  Fabio was inside the showroom entrance, smiling and listening. He said nothing, which was another odd thing because he was practically obsessional about money. Its roof was within reach of the lower upstairs window which was near the drainpipe…

  I got my usual paper from Adriana, with a restaurant's name and address for that evening, and tried it on as usual, asking her for the money so I could eat where I liked.

  As usual she said no, but avoided looking at me. Usually she managed at least a withering glare at that point. Still, I didn't mind watching her nosh for an hour or so, if that was the rule.

  I departed, whistling.

  Until then I thought I'd seen all possible kinds of cramped antique shops. But I'd never seen one with space left begging.

  * * *

  The problem was getting time to study the Vatican, among other things, because it was only open for a limited period each day. What with that and the Easter rush looming, Anna and I were on a tight schedule.

  One thing I had to admit: as a caser Anna was brilliant. She recognized most of the guards, where they lived, their shifts, relatives. She was good at distances, too. Never guessed worse than five per cent error in every measurement—length of corridors, heights of walls, thickness of brickwork. Marvellous. More than once I foolishly found myself telling her she was great, but nipped it in the bud. A rip's no time for friendship.

  Just because we were living together was no reason to become close.

  I started to get up as soon as she did, and even began tidying the room up while she put on her make-up to become Old Anna. The old thing really was endearing once she reappeared, but the actual process of watching that beautiful young bird transmute inch by inch made me feel physically ill. I asked her once what had given her the idea, and got a surprise. She laughed, really laughed, for the first time.

  'An old woman isn't an obvious predator,' she said, smiling her head off. 'A young one is.'

  'You don't like me doing this, Lovejoy,' Old Anna croaked that day, on her way out.

  'Once the rip's done I'll be able to stop. We'll have our villa.'

  'Villa?' Presumably she meant Carlo.

  'It's what I'm saving for.'

  So she still thought we were going to make a fortune from the rip. Her place was utterly frugal, and she ate only sparingly. No clothes to speak of. Never seemed to go out. She lived on a shoestring. Well, nothing wrong with optimism.

  I called her back. 'Here. Anna. One thing.' I'd practised the casual air. 'Am I still being followed?'

  'No,' she said levelly, in her young voice. 'Not since that man got injured. The night you went for a walk by the river.'

  'Thank heavens for that,' I said with innocent relief. 'Have a good day.'

  'Ciao, Enrico.'

  * * *

  By the end of that week I was ticking off my progress. Enough wood to make two rent tables—much of it matured, bought from various idiots who had ruined antiques by making them into something of greater apparent value. Workshop fully functional.

  Vatican nearly sussed out enough.

  'And I'll need two tables.' I'd told Anna. 'The sort you see in cafeterias, the typical modern tavola calda table. Tubular steel and all that.'

  She promised to take me round a couple of supply firms at the weekend to see which I liked. She counted on her fingers. 'You need a white plastic collar, two silk ropes, a disposable razor, a pencil torch. A new tie. An ambulance. Squares of cloth. That it?'

  'Oh. And a pharmacopoeia.'

  'A what?'

  'A book of common drugs. But a proper one—not a granny's home guide.'

  She looked doubtful. 'That might take a day or so, Lovejoy.'

  'I want an out-of-date one, 1930s or 1940s.'

  'Are you kidding me?'

  'I never have yet, love. If you can't get one, I'll join the library.'

  That stung. It was a slur on her expertise as a thief. Her lips thinned. 'I've never missed yet, Lovejoy.'

  I waited till she reached the door, then said, 'And a ha
nd grenade.'

  'Okay.' She didn't even pause. The door closed with a slam. Like I said, a real pro.

  CHAPTER 17

  I waited until Anna's breathing had evened out. She had quickly become used to my reading till all hours, though at first she played hell about the light. Now she just let me read.

  The trouble was we were becoming acutely conscious of each other. At least, I was of her, and a few times I saw her regarding me with an odd look. We'd become very reserved in a curious sort of way. I was worn out being polite. Still, we both understood the reason we were together: the rip, the whole rip and nothing but the rip. That's what I told myself.

  I let myself out in my bare feet. She had given me a key the second day. The only risk was the couple of groups who lived upstairs, one small family right at the top and an elderly couple who worked as caretakers to the furniture place next door. It felt clear.

  In the alley I donned my socks and shoes and set off down the glittering, dark alleys.

  A few minutes later I was on the workshop roof. It was easy enough. People forgot about roofs and floors when protecting places. Torch in my left pocket so I could cling with my right hand, and I began to climb, only partly paralysed with fear.

  Some kind of gauze, a little separated, covered the window. When I think of it now it was lucky they were so preoccupied in that great oval bed. Bonny and plushily expensive, but modern crap, of course. Like the expensive Axminster carpet and the velvet drapery. And the splendid wall mirrors. And the oak panelling. It was a tasteful and elegantly appointed bedroom, and it was being put to proper use. Gold light shone from a Garian porcelain bedside lamp. Piero lay beside Adriana, hands behind his head as he talked at the ceiling. She lay on her side facing me, eyes closed. They seemed to be having words. Clinging there, my impressions were indelible: a glass with a small demilune of drink, a woman's satin robe over a chairback. The mirrors. The tight set of Adriana's mouth. Her lovely skin shining golden.

  I realized with a sudden shock her eyes had opened and fixed on the window. She did not move. I froze, breaking into a sweat. My face was only a foot from the glass. I drew it slowly back and sank gently down below the level of the sill, hoping she hadn't seen me.

  A few shaky minutes later I was tiptoeing into my pad. Anna gave me the fright of my life.

  'Welcome home, Lovejoy,' her voice said, not a bit sleepy. 'You found her little love nest?' I could swear she was smiling. The little bitch had known about it all the time.

  She could have saved me all that bother.

  'Well, yes.'

  As I lay down, knackered after my pointless exertions she put her geriatric voice on, for devilment. 'Signor Peci's been the pretty signora's stud for some time now. She likes them strong and handsome, Enrico. In case you're interested.'

  'Don't call me Enrico.'

  She cackled and I heard her turn over. I lay there sickened. Why I should feel like that I don't know, but at least now Piero's resistance to my winch was finally explained. No wonder he'd gone pale around the gills. I'd suggested turning his private knocking-shop into a store room for reproduction 'antiques'. There'd be no question of the decision Adriana would make—after giving my scheme a token consideration, for the sake of appearances.

  'Poor Lovejoy.' I heard her mattress creak as she huddled down to sleep. 'You've a worse surprise to come.'

  'What do you mean?' I tried again, getting mad. 'Anna. What surprise?'

  She wouldn't say any more. I lay there wondering why it was suddenly so important to me and finally decided it was because Adriana's Emporium was the one place with everything I needed for the rip. Satisfied with my logic, I eventually rolled over to sleep.

  'Cretino,' Anna murmured.

  CHAPTER 18

  The Holy Father blessed sixty thousand of us on that Palm Sunday. He spoke vehemently of the cross of faith and our responsibility. Not all life could be at our own behest or lived at the whim of desire, it seemed.

  How right he was.

  I applauded with the rest when he waved a cream-coloured frond in farewell. It was great to be part of a happy crowd. Anna thought so too, for she was busily working the dip in the thick tourist clusters round the fountains.

  During the early part of the day, when the Holy Father was celebrating Mass on St Peter's steps, I reached my final decision. The well-guarded Arch of Bells was out. Its pace of life was too casual, far too intimate. Also the giant Portone di Bronzo was out.

  I'd glimpsed inside when somebody was admitted for an audience. The habit those vigilant Swiss Guards had of standing on the steps ready to move either way was most disconcerting.

  St Anne's gate was not too bad, for all it had distressed me when I first clapped eyes on it. I decided that was our exit line. Anna had been incredulous.

  'You decide the way out first, Lovejoy? When you haven't even got in?'

  'In is no problem.'

  She was furious. 'Might your one and only partner know why?'

  I grinned at her. 'They'll invite me in, love.' I got my own back by refusing to say any more.

  During the mass exodus from the Square later I missed Anna, though I observed some disturbance over near the Vatican City post office. A policeman stopped me near the Cancello di Sant' Anna, giving me a momentary infarct.

  'That your auntie over there in the police car?'

  'Eh?'

  'That old lady. She's been pickpocketing.'

  Everybody was looking. 'Er, yes. Good heavens!' I pushed through the crowd towards the car. A tired policeman in the front seat was smoking a cigarette. Anna was hunched shamefacedly in the back, putting on an act of dizziness.

  'This old bag—' the cop began.

  'Auntie!' I cried in relief. 'Where've you been?'

  '—causes us more trouble than the rest of Rome.'

  'I've been looking everywhere for you!'

  'Now, signor.' The copper with me tapped my shoulder. 'Now. We tire of her.

  Understand? You take her in hand, or else…'

  'I will! I promise!'

  'If you looked after her properly she wouldn't need to steal.'

  'You are right, signor,' I said, all humble. With my hand on my breast and my heart seething with murderous intentions towards Anna I smiled apologetically.

  'We warn you,' the boss cop said, wearily exhaling smoke into my face like he was doing me favours. 'You are responsible in future. Okay?'

  They took my name and address and let us off with a warning. I even had to sign for the silly old bitch. I grabbed Anna and backed off into the crowd, bowing and scraping to the cops as I went. All the way I said nothing, dragging Anna home in a blaze of white-hot fury, and once there it happened without any conscious decision. I didn't even give her time to have a shower. I gave her a damned good shaking, and called her all the names under the sun for risking the rip and getting us booked like that.

  She took it in silence, struggling a bit at first and sobbing a little.

  'I'm sorry, Lovejoy,' she snuffled after I'd nearly calmed down.

  'So you ought to be,' I snapped. 'You're now a registered felon on the cops' frigging books.'

  'I'll make it up—'

  'There's no time.' As I said it my heart was in my boots. I felt ill at the thought.

  'I'll ditch old Anna, build another character—'

  'The fucking rip's next week, you silly cow!'

  'Next week?' Stricken, she raised a tear-streaked face. 'We must put it off—'

  'Rips can't be postponed. They're cancelled, or done. Silly bitch.'

  'But, Lovejoy—'

  Then I nicked her handbag—why change a profitable habit?—and slammed out into the alley. The trouble with allies is they try to help, and nothing is more trouble than that.

  Within an hour I'd got plastered on white plonk, and that evening was thankful it was Sunday. I could barely totter to the restaurant whose name Adriana had written down.

  * * *

  I worked so hard planing and chis
elling that I could see wood wherever I looked.

  I'd better explain. A rent table is not your usual rectangle or flapped circle, nothing like that. Think of a mushroom, a top on a pedestal. It was used for what its name says, collecting rent from the peasantry. The serfs' coins went on to a decorated centre, which sinks like Sweeney Todd's chair and drops the gelt into the pedestal below. Some are oval. Arcellano's was angled, with drawers all round. It stands to reason that every drawer can't be rectangular, or they would have no space to enter. Slices of cake are wedge-shaped for the same reason. So some of the drawers have to be phoney for the exterior to look right.

  I was using wood cannibalized from cheap furniture about thirty years old, plus a few panels quite a bit older. Incidentally, when you are forging furniture don't turn your nose up at chipboard. It's a hell of a weight but it's cheap, it veneers like a dream, and it won't warp in central heating. Very few whole-thickness woods have all those merits.

  As my plan called for two rent tables I was wood from floor to ceiling. A lucky find was a supply of beeswax and turpentine at the furniture makers next door to Anna's place, and a reasonable range of wood varnishes from the main Corso. The adhesives you can get nowadays are great, but a few have one terrible drawback—a characteristic stink—

  so those have to be avoided. I'd also need a controlled temperature of 68° Fahrenheit or so to do all this glueing and varnishing, and as I'm very keen on knowing what the relative humidity is playing at around furniture, another battle with Adriana was obviously called for. The trouble was Piero would say the opposite to whatever I proposed. Him having the monarch's ear, so to speak.

  During an afternoon break Anna conducted me to a couple of furniture warehouses.

  The tables I finally decided I liked were crummy and modern enough to break your heart.

  Anna noticed quick as a flash and burbled, 'Why, Enrico! They're exactly like the ones in—'

  I trod neatly on her foot and ordered three, for delivery next afternoon. 'They're just the thing I need in the workshop, Auntie,' I explained loudly.

  On the way home Anna demanded, 'Has the beautiful signora said you could buy them on her account?'