Vittorio didn’t sleep that night. Either he couldn’t rest on the plane that took him to Spain; he was quite tired but he also knew that he was not going to have a full night of rest before Giacoboni found at least the fugitives’ track. Since Vittorio knew the captain’s face very well he was sent to the station together with a couple of policemen. Meanwhile the commissioner and Giacoboni stayed in the hotel interrogating the French tourists.
He arrived at the railway station that it was at seven thirty and the Spanish police were already controlling every passenger.
Looking at the timetable Vittorio saw that the train for Gibraltar had already left. Convinced that de’ Risis would have chosen to flee in the direction of Morocco he calmed down and started to check the passengers as he was ordered to, but knowing perfectly well that it was totally useless.
Actually he was almost relieved.
He was quite happy he was not going to face the captain again. He knew that the information about this phantom treasure was very important for his regime but he was also convinced that now that they had the secret papers some other historian was soon going to solve the riddle.
He was in complete disagreement with the methods his superiors used and he was never going to forget Miss Cantarini wearing the captain’s coat, barefoot and motionless under the rain.
He didn’t want to go on being a fascist Militia man. This he knew for sure.
At the exact moment he realized that, as he had covered the captain’s getaway in Rome, he was ready to do it again: even if he now saw him among the leaving passengers he would have pretended not to recognize him.
But the captain and Letizia were running for their freedom and they missed them by just a few minutes.
It was clear to everyone that the fugitives already left the city, so the commissioner and Giacoboni convinced themselves that they were definitely going south to Morocco.
«I believe you are right, but the train for Gibraltar started this morning quite early and, if they are on that train, by this time they are probably already in Africa» said Vittorio.
«Damn it! I can’t believe we let them escape so easily. Let’s check all the ships going to Africa, hopefully they haven’t boarded yet!» exclaimed Giacoboni.
The Spanish commissioner made a call so that the police could start checking all the ships leaving the coast from Gibraltar and Cádiz. Then he went with Giacoboni and Vittorio to the airport and flew with them to Gibraltar. When they arrived there was no good news waiting for them. The fugitives had vanished. Giacoboni was sure that with their seven hours lead they were already in Africa.
«Morocco! An Arab country under French protectorate! We will never get them» shouted Giacoboni losing control.
His first mission as commander at Morelli’s place was a total failure and worst was to come: he soon had to report the whole story directly to the Duce.
While Giacoboni in Gibraltar was trying to organize the last useless search, Giulio and Letizia were waiting at the French border.
They were going to travel all night arriving in Paris the next afternoon. The documents they had with them were good and the border officers let them in the country with no problem.
«We made it! The border officers weren’t alerted, this means that they thought the most obvious thing. I bet they are looking for us in the south, in the different boarding ports for Africa. They didn’t think it was too easy and the risk for us too high. Moreover living in Morocco everything would have been much more difficult than in France» said Giulio after they passed the border on foot.
«In Paris is not going to be difficult?»
«Not so much. I have friends there that will take care of us for the time we need to get some money from Italy. In any case, we’ll stay in Paris only a few days and then we’ll go to England. From there we’ll decide how to proceed.»
Letizia smiled and didn’t ask anything else. She was happy near that man that always knew what to do.
She caressed the medallion she still had around her neck. That medallion had brought her in front of the Seal’s treasure and she swore to protect and perpetuate its secret hoping that, one day, the world would be ready for it.
A few rain drops fell on her skin and she had the impression it was the scarlet Lady trying to caress her.
Giulio was near her.
He took her hand and she turned.
She smiled softly and he smiled in return.
AKNOWLEDGMENTS
I want to write one more page, and it is the one to thank all those who helped and supported me during the writing of this novel.
I thank Ingrid and Winfried Krümmel who gave me part of their time so that I could completely dedicate myself to writing. Thank you to my friend John Barclay and his rugby-player suggestions and many thanks to my dear friend Cristina Soraci for her advice as great Latin scholar.
Thanks to those people who tried to black mail me and hoped to extort money out of me to have an English translation of the first thirty pages of this novel. Without this horrible experience I probably would have never dared to translate my work myself. It is really true that, as the proverb says, every cloud has a silver lining.
Thanks to the dear Ann McDonough who very attentively and caring edited my translation.
Many thanks to Glenn Cooper who inspired me deeply, liked this book and encouraged me. He is not only a great author but also a great man.
A huge thank you to my readers who every day make me understand that my work is worth it and push me to accept each time new exciting challenges.
Last, but not least, many thanks to my husband that always accompanies me in all the needed surveys, exhorts me constantly and unconditionally supports me.
Thank you for reading this book, I hope you enjoyed your time with it.
Did you like what you just read?
Please take a few minutes of your precious time and write a short recession on amazon and facebook!
Yours,
Giada Trebeschi
* * *
[1] It’s the paramilitary fascist organization.
[2] Consul – Rank of the Blackshirts. It corresponds to the colonel Rank in the Royal Army.
[3] Chief maniple – Rank of the Blackshirts. It corresponds to the lieutenant Rank in the Royal Army.
[4] The Carabinieri are in Italy the military police.
[5] Corresponding to Appointee in the regular army.
[6] Squadron chief corresponds in the Royal army to a Sergeant.
[7] The Squadron Chief corresponds in the Royal army to a sergeant.
[8] Squadron Chief corresponds in the Royal army to a Sergeant.
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