He opened the French-window being careful not to make any noise and they went down the drainpipes. Letizia was holding the hand of the captain who helped her to climb over the balcony. He was quite surprised at her agility.
They hid behind the little wall dividing the vegetable garden from the street, placed behind the soldiers’ backs.
«We have to get to the country road. We have to cross the village and then we’ll run through the fields – whispered the captain – I hid a car in the bushes near the old stone drinking trough. It is a black Fiat Balilla that will help us not to be too noticed. Nobody knows it’s mine. With some luck we’ll arrive in Tivoli where I know someone that can hide you for a few days. He is called Mario Tettamanzi, and he has a farm in strada San Salvatore, near Villa Adriana. Try to remember it in case you have to get there alone. And now, let’s go» he added looking Letizia directly in the eyes.
Letizia was impressed.
Even if the captain was discovered they would know what to do.
Giulio de’ Risis was the man she had waited for so long. And now, the only thing she could do was follow his orders.
«Mr. Romei, you go first. Letizia will follow. Now!» ordered the captain checking on the soldiers.
Alessandro immediately moved trying to walk quietly. A few steps and he was hiding in the door leading to the courtyard.
The soldiers carried on talking.
The captain softly touched Letizia’s left shoulder. She followed Alessandro.
She was nearly under the door arch when one of the soldiers turned to throw away his finished cigarette. He saw something moving.
«Who goes there?» he shouted.
Letizia and Alessandro flattened themselves as much as possible on the wall and kept held their breath.
«I said: who goes there?» shouted the soldier picking up the rifle.
«Captain de’ Risis» answered the captain calmly.
When they heard that voice so firm and calm, Letizia nearly gave herself away. If it wasn’t for Alessandro who held her and put a hand over her mouth they would certainly have discovered them.
«Ah, it is you, captain» said the soldier putting the rifle down.
«Who did you think it was at this time?»
«I don’t know. Maybe the fugitive. Never let the guard down in these times.»
«You are right, you never know. You did your duty. Do you have a cigarette?»
«Do you smoke, captain?» asked the other soldier looking for the cigarette package and some matches.
«Sometimes.»
The captain lighted the cigarette he was offered and stood there chatting with the two soldiers.
Letizia was unable to move. She didn’t want to leave without him. But he clearly wanted her to do so. Alessandro took her hand and she followed him like a doll.
The streets of the village were deserted, and they didn’t meet anyone. Letizia had the impression that many eyes were observing them from behind the closed windows but, even if it was like that, nobody would ever admit to having seen them. It seemed that the whole village, its houses, its narrow and steep streets, the yards, the vegetable gardens and even the animals protected their escape helping them with their silence.
They walked quickly for a good half an hour before arriving at the old stone drinking trough. The car was so well hidden that even knowing where it was supposed to be, they thought they had mistaken the place.
«Here it is! – exclaimed Alessandro triumphantly when he finally found the car in between the bushes – Get in it. I’ll free it from the last branches.»
Alessandro quickly took away all what was hiding the car and sat in the driver’s place. He pulled the ignition cord but nothing happened. He pulled again but the motor didn’t start.
«Damn it! It doesn’t want to start! Give me the crank!» he shouted.
He started to nervously turn the crank so energetically that he nearly broke an elbow. But this time the car started.
«I’m not such a good driver like as the captain but I think I can make it. I have driven twice before!»
«Twice? Perfect. Do you know where to go?»
«South.»
«Alessandro, please!»
«Don’t worry. I know the street more or less. I was born not far from here, in Sora.»
They had to rush to arrive to their destination before the alarm was spread to the entire region’s Blackshirts. The night was dark and the pale moon didn’t seem willing to brighten.
Meanwhile, in Poggio Catino, after smoking a cigarette with the soldiers Giulio de’ Risis went into the hotel. As he expected, in the dining room there was not only Morelli, Giacoboni and Musone finishing dinner, but also seven other men: six Blackshirts[5] and a squadron Chief[6].
Only three of them recognized him and greeted him with the Roman salute.
«Good evening, captain, we were waiting for you» said Morelli as he entered.
Giacoboni showed him the empty chair near him and Musone nodded.
«I nearly didn’t recognize you without the uniform. But you were right not to wear it. My invitation was to have an informal chat in front of some grappa. And when you are on duty you can’t drink, right?» went on Morelli.
«I don’t drink on duty nor with people like Musone. Don’t pour the grappa for me, it would be wasted.»
«Pay attention to what you say, captain, because the one that spits to the sky gets it back on his face» said Musone sarcastically.
«You pay attention. The punishment of a bad man can come late, but never fails.»
Musone didn’t like the captain at all.
The dislike was clearly mutual.
«Gentlemen, please, let’s put aside the proverbs and the personal questions. We are here to discuss the palazzo Biraghi skeleton. Nothing else» intervened Morelli.
«The skeleton is already in Rome. Now we have to try to solve this mystery» announced Giacoboni.
«Which mystery?» asked the captain pretending disinterest.
«No mystery – Morelli hurried to answer – It’s only that we hoped this discovery would have given us some more clues about an ancient treasure. But maybe it’s only a legend.»
«It’s not a legend – declared Musone drinking another glass of grappa – the treasure exists. I believe it’s well hidden somewhere in the Ravine.»
«We already searched the Ravine and there is nothing. I have started to think that the treasure is really only a legend» said Giacoboni.
«I am sorry, what are you talking about? Which treasure? Which legend?» asked the captain.
«Didn’t the Royals tell you before sending you here? We are speaking about the Olgiati’s treasure» explained Morelli.
At that point he couldn’t avoid saying why there was such an interest in the skeleton. In a commentary on a XVI century document kept in the Farfa abbey archives, a certain prelate from Salisano writes about the whereabouts of a treasure map. Some believe he was speaking about the famous Olgiati’s treasure. In the commentary he refers to a modern vestal who looks after it.»
«And you thought this modern vestal could be our skeleton.»
«No, we don’t think it. We are sure. As we are sure that Miss Cantarini found the map and hid it.»
«In case you are right, Mr. Musone, our captain doesn’t have to worry. We know convincing methods to persuade Miss Cantarini to speak, don’t we?» said Morelli lightening a big cigar.
Giulio de’ Risis didn’t comment.
Morelli observed him.
The captain was an inscrutable man. One could seldom see his emotions; his words were always very measured and, it was quite strangely for him, Morelli didn’t yet know if he liked him or not. He felt some kind of sympathy for the captain even though he was sure that under his clean uniform de’ Risis was a subversive. Looking at him through the smoke of his cigar he had the impression the captain was smiling.
Musone checked his watch.
«It is nearly eleven. I believe we can anticipate our surprise» said Mor
elli nodding to the squadron chief.
The Blackshirts moved.
«I am really eager to see their faces when we arrest them. I don’t want to miss it for anything in the world!» said Musone.
Morelli put the cigar out in the ashtray and invited Giacoboni and the captain to follow him.
They didn’t have the time to walk five steps before they heard the squadron chief shouting.
«They ran away!»
«That bloody bitch! Look for her! Look everywhere! They can’t be far!» yelled Musone.
«How do we proceed?» the squadron chief asked Morelli.
«How? Find them and bring them to me! Alive. They certainly have the map. Captain, don’t stand there still, I want every man from here to Rome looking for those two!» cried Morelli turning purple.
The captain answered the order with a nod and went out without saying a word.
3rd December 1938
Tivoli, Villa Adriana, 6.15 a.m.
It was dawn when Letizia and the Great arrived in Tivoli. Then they followed the few directions for Villa Adriana.
Letizia saw a cowboy was sitting on a rock chewing a grass blade and she asked him if he knew where Mr. Mario Tettamanzi’s house was.
«I am Mario. I was waiting for you. But you should be more careful in asking information. You never know who you are speaking to» he answered getting up.
Tettamanzi got into their car and guided them to the archaeological site. He showed Alessandro a rocky wall telling him to approach it. It was hiding a cave.
«They call it the cave of hell. A perfect place to hide the car, isn’t it? Here nobody will come to look for it.»
«Another cave that links directly to hell! I am not sure I’ll be able to stand a third one!» exclaimed Alessandro unable to help being sarcastic.
They left the car in the cave and went away on foot. Tettamanzi took them to a safe refuge that he declared fascist-proof which was going to be their home for a while. It was in the cellar of a farm along the vineyard, not very far from Villa Adriana.
«I live here with my mother who doesn’t know you are here – he explained helping Letizia to get in – I already prepared some food and blankets, you’ll have to adapt to sleep on the floor. I left some matches and an oil lamp, some candles and a chamber pot. I’ll come once a day. It’s nearly six thirty now and by this time I guess all the fascists of the region will be already looking for you.»
He went away without saying anything else. From the noises they heard they understood he was hiding the entrance door with some barrels.
Despite the cold Letizia started sweating. She had nausea and difficulty in breathing. She wasn’t claustrophobic but in at that moment, in that narrow space she felt as if the air was missing. Alessandro switched the oil lamp on and gave her a glass of water.
«Here, drink please. Don’t worry, everything will be fine» he told her with a reassuring voice.
He held her firmly in his arms and she slowly felt better. A heavy tiredness took over her body; they had travelled all night long and the events of the last days had seriously tested her. They wrapped themselves in the covers. Though that kind of bed was very hard and uncomfortable, they both fell asleep in a couple of minutes.
Poggio Mirteto (Rieti)
Carabinieri Station, 6.15 a.m.
The captain couldn’t sleep the whole night.
After they had discovered that Letizia and Alessandro had escaped he went back to the Carabinieri station and helped to organize the search for the fugitives.
Morelli alerted the Royal Army and Fascist Militia, Carabinieri, police and every possible informer from Florence to Rome. He was convinced that the two art historians had to be still quite near even if he hadn’t idea of which direction they might have taken. Musone kept blowing on the fire repeating that he always knew they had the treasure map and that if they had let him follow his instinct and methods he would have easily obtained what now had disappeared.
They searched every inch of land in and around Poggio Catino, looking in every house, farm, cave and in every possible refuge in the area. The captain sensibly suggested that since the two didn’t have a car they had to be still in the neighbourhood and, at the beginning, the search focused on a radius of 20 kilometres from the village. They also established checkpoints but they didn’t get any result. The fugitives had disappeared without trace.
It was already morning and there was still no hint, not a single reasonable track to follow, nobody who saw or heard something. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was impossible that the woman and her friend could have succeeded in such a perfect escape without the help of someone. Morelli was starting to think that all the village was united in a coalition against him, probably they all helped the fugitives and he only could trust those who were with him the night before: Giacoboni, Musone and the captain Giulio de’ Risis.
Thinking twice about it he reconsidered: the captain arrived later. A worm started to gnaw his mind and he wondered if that inscrutable man who didn’t speak like a fascist and now was searching with him, was brave enough to dare to help the fugitives.
Morelli wasn’t sure about the answer.
In any case, the escape of Letizia and Alessandro was the proof that they had found the map and didn’t want to put it in his hands and by means of through him in those of the Duce. Mussolini, in his position as minister of internal affairs and war, had sent Morelli secretly to ensure that nothing was going to be stolen from the Nation, the only legal owner of the legendary Olgiati’s treasure. But the map, if they really had found it, disappeared with the two art historians who he hadn’t been able to control. He doubted that the Duce would be angrier with him that he already was with himself.
His thoughts were interrupted by a young Blackshirt running into the Carabinieri station where they had located the central office for the search.
«We probably found something, sir» he said trying to breath normally again.
The captain looked up from the map of the area he was studying and Morelli abruptly put his cup of substitute coffee on the table.
«Near the old stone drinking trough, there are suspicious branches and tracks of the tires that go from the bushes in the direction of the country road. Maybe someone was waiting for them to take them away.»
«A car? There are not a lot of people who own one! It will not be difficult to find the guilty ones!» exclaimed Morelli.
If they escaped in a car, all the searches of that last night had been totally useless.
«We already interrogated all those who own or work with a car or a van in the area, it is not a lot of people and they seem all innocent. No vehicle is missing. I am sorry, sir. Maybe it was someone who is not from here.»
«And you, captain, where is your car?» asked Morelli icily.
De’ Risis couldn’t help laughing.
Morelli responded with a hysterical attack and, if Giacoboni hadn’t stopped him he would probably have beaten the captain.
«Yes captain, where is your car?» repeated Musone entering the room.
«I am sorry Mr. Morelli – said the captain becoming serious again and ignoring Musone – I couldn’t help it. First, I am the only one driving my car. Second, don’t you think it would have been a little bit too visible? Even if I had wanted to help them, do you really believe I would have given them my car? I understand you are looking for any possible track to follow but I hoped you thought that I am, if not intelligent, at least astute. In any case, if you want to control my car, it is parked in the piazza behind the Carabinieri station.»
Without adding anything else the captain went back to study the map on the table. Morelli seemed to be calm now. Actually, the captain’s car was not exactly the right one to go unnoticed.
«The old stone drinking trough is on the country road. Where do you think they went?» said Giacoboni showing the exact place on the map.
«We think they went in the direction of Frosinone – said the young Blackshirt – Mr. Romei still has
a lot of contacts there. One of the sons of Mrs. Rosa told us that one evening, chatting with him after dinner, Mr. Romei said that he is originally from Sora and that went to high school in Frosinone. Maybe the accomplice also came from there.»
«What are we waiting for? Let’s go! I want to be in Frosinone before lunch. And if they are there, I swear, I’ll catch them!» cried Morelli grabbing his hat and going out.
Musone, Giacoboni and the Blackshirt followed him. De’ Risis didn’t move.
«Captain, you are not coming?» asked Musone stopping on the doorstep.
«No.»
«What?» asked a very annoyed Morelli coming back in.
«I said I am not coming. There are still two of my teams on patrol and I won’t move before they are back. I’ll call the Carabinieri in Frosinone in case they have news. I’ll see you tomorrow, gentlemen, have a good day.»
The captain pronounced the last sentences in the tone of someone who didn’t expect any answer. Morelli went away slamming the door well knowing that the captain was doing his duty and that, in any case, de’ Risis was not under his command.
Morelli and the others were gone and the captain was left alone in the room. He took a piece of paper, tore a strip off, wrote something on it and rolled it up making it very small.
Then he repeated it with a second strip. He looked at the strips and put them in his pocket. He checked outside of the window. Everything seemed quiet. He had the time to go and come back from the pigeon house before one of his teams came back.
«Any news?» he asked coming back from the pigeon house.
«None, sir – answered one of the Carabinieri – we searched all the area and there is no trace of the fugitives. Did they already tell you about the tracks of the tires we found near the old stone drinking trough?
«Yes, I have been informed.»
«I think it is the only real track we have. If my guess is right, they started at least seven hours ago with a vehicle that allows them to move fast.»
«They could be anywhere – went on the chief in charge of the second team entering in that very moment – we have to alert all the forces in a 150 kilometres radius. Allow me a question, captain.»
The scarlet Lady Page 9