The pope asked Alphonso, “Did you find anything about the doctor’s plan?”
“I got into Doctor Gugliemoni’s filing system.”
Gio’s eyes narrowed. “Just like that, eh?”
“The moment Doctor G went in with Gina, I went to talk to the young file clerk. She’s in the market for a boyfriend, so I was able to maneuver around her workstation with surprising ease. She also lacks imagination. The password for their filing program was on the corner of her desk blotter.”
“Ah!”
“Then I excused myself to use the restroom, but instead went to the doctor’s office. He’d left his computer on.”
“What’d you find?”
“He believes Salvio Scortini is the father of Raphielli’s baby. He listed Salvio as the father.”
“His patients have a below-average rate of prenatal mortality—I just cross-referenced what I found with government records.” Alphonso waved his phone. “We can’t report him for bumping off babies in utero, but I looked up the Verona files which contained almost no notations other than Juliette’s appointment dates.”
“So maybe he did give Gina vitamins?” Juliette asked.
“Not a chance. You don’t administer vitamins intravenously,” Gina said dejectedly.
“Whatever compound he gave her, there was no notation in her file. But back to the Verona files, I found Gabrieli’s name in a spreadsheet with dates going back years.”
Juliette said, “Doctor G discovered that Gabrieli had a condition called pellagra and needed to take medicine for life. He took it faithfully every morning.”
“Gabrieli took medicine from a women’s doctor?” the pope asked.
“Doctor G was like family. He’d noticed some inflammation around Gabrieli’s neck and did a quick test. Then he prescribed the medicine.”
Alphonso continued, “I just looked up the ingredients that the compounding pharmacy had on file for Gabrieli, and mostly it contains dosages of normal vitamins. But there are scant dosages of…” He consulted a photo of the doctor’s computer screen on his phone. “Phthalates, bisphenol A, and NPEs. Those are endocrine disrupters and most likely the reason you’ve been childless, Juliette. The count was being chemically sterilized while you were being told it was your infertility that accounted for your lack of children.”
Raphielli’s heart broke for Juliette and Vincenzo as they took the news like a physical assault.
“No!” Vincenzo jumped to his feet, then doubled over and began crying.
Juliette’s face went white as a sheet and her nostrils flared. “That bastard,” she seethed from between her teeth.
Gio spoke up. “It feels like the Alithiníans to me. If they’ve been hunted by the Catholics, it would appear they’ve started to target the Veronas to hurt the Catholics. It’s time to act. Do we know where they meet?”
“Go to where they meet? To what end?” the pope asked.
“I’d like to pay them a visit.”
“I believe they are peaceful faith…except for Salvio who had become a terrorist.”
Gio shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first peaceful religion to attract terrorist-minded disciples. Primo and I can find the rogue members and put an end to this.”
Raphielli said, “Benedetta’s not certain of the location. Her parents always kept her covered and hidden when they traveled to ‘the safe house.’ Apparently, they hide from the neighbors to keep from being discovered. She’s only seen the inside of a water garage on her way down into a small temple for worship. When she was brought there to serve as Salvio’s surrogate, she was locked in a back bedroom. When she escaped, she discovered she was near Parco Savorgnan.”
“Parco Savorgnan is a densely populated area for something secret like this to be going on,” Alphonso said.
Zelph nodded. “Like a needle in a haystack.”
Raphielli continued, “Detective Lampani said that in a quieter area, comings and goings would be noticed, but it’s so busy, they’ve gone undetected. He searched that whole neighborhood and came up empty. She doesn’t know exactly where the safe house is.”
“Right, then I’ll start my friends scouring the Parco Savorgnan neighborhood. She can’t be that far off,” Gio said and stood up.
Juliette nodded her head in agreement, but her jaw was set. Raphielli could only imagine her fury at having children murdered in her womb and then her husband sterilized.
Alphonso stood up as well and the rest of the group followed suit. “We’ll leave now and wait for word on Gina’s condition.”
Raphielli went straight to the shelter and, not for the first time, registered that she was at her best when she was there with the women. When she arrived, she found Paloma hard at work in the office.
“I’ve been busy reviewing candidates for the new shelter, and I’ve held some interviews this morning,” she said.
“Not here…”
“No, I took a pop-up office space over in Dorsoduro, a renovated building, and it comes with a receptionist and security. Very reasonable and rents by the hour.”
“I’m impressed.” She looked over Paloma’s spreadsheet with names and qualifications of the people she’d interviewed. She patted Paloma’s shoulder. “This is great. Maybe add a column with notes about your reference checks? Another for comments you’ll go over with Dante?”
“Sì, good idea.”
“So, on to another subject. You’re pressing charges against Milos?”
“Attempted murder for trying to kill me, and murder for him killing our unborn child. I’m doing what’s right. I’m moving forward so I can start a new chapter in life. I can’t have what he did just swept under the rug.”
“I’m behind you, whatever you need.”
“Well, since your shelter is already paying for my legal defense, I’ll let you know if there’s anything else.” Her expression became serious. “Now that you’re pregnant, what’re you going to do about your love triangle?”
Raphielli panicked. “How is this common knowledge?”
“Come on, I live with you, and I see you sneak off during the day. Judging from the way that Mafioso looks at you, I can see he’s completely spun by you.”
“I’m wrecking my life,” she lamented, overcome with humiliation. “But I can’t help myself.”
“You’re creating drama and you need to stop.”
“You make it sound easy.”
“I can fix your life.”
“Am I so transparent?”
“Like glass, kiddo. You came out of a convent…”
“Abbey.”
“Whatever…where you were told what to do, you hadn’t had any love since your father died, and you were forcibly married off to a monster who tried to kill you. You’re an actual damsel in distress who’s barely twenty with a body that won’t quit. Why wouldn’t you be tempted by hot men who’re crazy about you?” Paloma rattled it off so matter-of-factly, it didn’t even sound shameful.
“Wow, you’re good.”
“I pay attention to everything Mia and Doctor Risinger say in our sessions.”
“But you didn’t solve my problem. I don’t know which one I love more, and Gio’s married. I don’t even think I want a husband.”
“You gotta make up your mind. You’re not the devious kind, and it’ll fuck with your head—pardon my French. I never see you meditate, and for all of that confessing you did with that creepy Cardinal, I wonder if you actually pray. Contemplation is getting lost in the shuffle.”
“Contemplation.” Raphielli looked at Paloma in disbelief. “Who are you?”
“Hey, Mia’s right. Spending some silent time every day helps me know who I am and what I want. You should try praying for guidance and then sitting and listening for the answers.”
“The answers?”
“Apparently they come from within. Go up to the third floor and get quiet in the meditation room with the other women. They just went up after breakfast. You need to get your life in order.”
/> “But I’ve got to review plans for the ball and find a gynecologist for Benedetta and me.”
“Let Kate find the gynecologist—her mother’s probably one—and let the professionals work their magic with your party.”
She fiddled with the fine links around her wrist, a gift from her father when she was a girl. “Right. I’ll go meditate.”
Paloma’s eyes were kind. “Read your own bracelet. The truth shall set you free. Your men can handle it.”
Raphielli thought about that bit of parting advice as she headed for the meditation room on the third floor.
Luigi was dressed and ready for work when he put his arms around his wife. “Gladys, would you like to do some undercover police work for me?”
Her eyes lit up. “I’m your girl! Do I get to wear a disguise?”
“You’ll literally be under a cover.”
“I’ll make the coffee, you tell me the plan.”
He pretended to enjoy her coffee—somehow, she managed to ruin espresso—as he explained that Kate would take her for a boat ride and bring her to him over by the stadium. All she had to do was keep herself covered—especially her head.
“Uh-huh, what are we hoping to accomplish?”
“There’s a mole in my department. They’re the one who kept Salvio one step ahead of me, and now they’re trying to find Benny.”
“Oh! Luigi, are you in danger?”
“No, but they may try to shove me into the canal or something.”
“Uck! I’ll bring the eye drops and the antibiotic ear solution.”
“Spoken like a true wife.” He had to get out to a café for some proper coffee. “Okay, Kate’s gonna come get you.”
“You can count on me.”
He made a beeline for a café and tossed back a double espresso while he called Kate to give her the go-ahead. She agreed to cover Gladys with blankets and bring her to Stadio Penzo on the Rio Sant’Elena side at two o’clock.
Next, he went to the office and pretended to be on the phone. He spoke loud enough for anyone to hear.
“Listen, don’t worry Benedetta, I’ve got a safe place for you. She’ll bring you to me. I’ll be waiting near the closed stadium vending booths on Fondamenta Sant’Elena at two o’clock. It’s deserted this time of year. Everything’s gonna be fine.”
He hung up and saw that everyone seemed to be working diligently, oblivious to his performance. He crossed his fingers and went into Laszlo’s office.
“We have a mole here in homicide. They assisted Salvio and now have been breaking into my desk. I’m gonna flush them out. I’ve set a trap at two o’clock next to Stadio Penzo’s vending booths. Can I get back up?”
The inspector did a double take and then gave him a disdainful look. “No. What’re you watching The French Connection? Set a trap for a dirty cop? I think your headaches and all-nighters have finally caught up with you. Take some time off. Turn around and go back home.”
Fine. I’ll go it alone.
At two o’clock he was pressed up against the stadium wall in the freezing shadows behind a boarded-up souvenir kiosk. He saw Kate approaching in a boat, and behind her his petite wife was shrouded in blankets.
When the boat docked, he stepped out, calling, “Benedetta, over here.” Then everything happened at once.
Kate was helping Gladys up, steadying her and he reached out, helping her up onto the fondimenta when he felt a searing pain slam into his left buttock, taking his feet out from under him. Then a hot knife skittered down his left leg. I’m being stabbed? What the fuck?
Two figures appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Gladys, one trying to press a cloth to her face as she twisted and tripped on the blanket. There was the sound of breaking glass, then police everywhere. A woman was hollering, “Benedetta! She’s my daughter!” and others were saying, “Smells like chloroform! Get them away from that!” and Gladys was yelling, “I’m not your daughter, you dumb bitch! Let go of my hair!”
Luigi rolled onto his side. Lydia was lying on the ground holding a Taser, and the tines of her Taser were rattling alongside Luigi’s left leg. Inspector Laszlo was standing on her hand. Bruno was gasping for breath as he grappled with Benedetta’s father. Another cop was simultaneously trying to hang onto Benedetta’s mother, who was flailing a rag while trying to keep the fumes from knocking her out. Other police officers stepped over to cuff both Amendolas and place them under arrest. Another officer was saying something like “assault of police officers and attempted application of an unconscious-inducing substance in the commission of an attempted kidnap,” which sounded made-up to Luigi, but he commended their quick thinking.
Gladys stood with her hands on her hips, hair wild, her blanket across her shoulders like a cape. Laszlo leaned down, tapped the Taser handle out of Lydia’s hand, and then depressed a button that retracted the probe with a crack.
Luigi looked up at the big man. “You came.”
Laszlo shook his head. “Why is it you’re never wrong, Lampani?”
Gladys crunched over glass to help Luigi up. “I want you to retire! You could have been killed!”
He felt a searing pain in his buttock and flopped back down onto the other hip. “Christ!”
Bruno came to stand over him as the police boat arrived and took the Amendolas and Lydia into custody. “Let’s get you to the hospital. You’ve still got one or both Taser barbs lodged in you.”
“That mole bitch!” He gritted his teeth as Bruno helped him up. Standing on his right leg, he looked for Kate’s boat. When he saw her face, her expression said it all. She would move Benny before anyone else tried to chloroform her.
He kissed one of Gladys’ clutching hands and whispered, “Go with Kate, she needs your help to move something precious.”
Gladys gave him a long look that said she understood, but that they’d be having a talk tonight, before she jumped back into Kate’s boat and the two women zoomed up the canal.
Laszlo said, “I have a two-part question. Who is Benedetta, and why’d you think she’d make good bait for Lydia?” Laszlo lifted one of Luigi’s arms and tried to drape it over his shoulder to support him, but the big man was so tall, he’d have needed to lift Luigi off the ground. Instead, he offered his forearm.
“She’s the missing teen,” Luigi said through gritted teeth.
“That Benedetta? How’s she connected with your Scortini case?”
“While Salvio was evading me, he had her locked in a bedroom and was raping her.”
“Maria madre misericordiosa! This goddamn case!” Laszlo raised his voice, causing pigeons and seagulls to take flight from their perches on the stadium wall. “What’re you going to do now?”
“After I get this metal out of my hip, I’m going to ask Benedetta to tell me the truth about the anti-Catholic movement afoot in Venice.”
“Back to the Catholics?”
“And this has to be kept absolutely secret.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” the inspector muttered to himself as he helped ease Luigi down into the ambulance boat. Overhead, a seagull made a full-throated “Woah-ha-ha-ha-ha!” sound and Luigi felt he was being laughed at.
Benedetta was sitting in her favorite therapy session at Porto delle Donne—the Gratitude Circle—when Kate appeared at the door and knocked on the doorframe, signaling to Doctor Risinger.
“May I take Benedetta?”
“Of course, off you go.”
Benny went into the hall where she was surprised to see Gladys Lampani standing near the door. Raphielli was pulling on her boots and seemed languid from meditation.
Kate beckoned her toward the door. “Benny, it isn’t safe here for you now. We’re taking you...”
“Where’s Luigi?” she broke in.
“In an ambulance, honey,” Gladys answered.
Raphielli said, “You’ll stay with Paloma and me for a while.”
Kate waved her forward. “Come, we’ve no time. Let’s get you into the boat.”
Benede
tta felt a thrill cascade through her body and skipped over to the door. I’ll get to see the temple! “Fantastic!”
Gladys snatched a coat off the foyer peg and handed it to her as Kate hustled them off.
On the short ride, Kate told them about how Luigi had exposed a mole within the department, and Benny’s parents had been arrested with chloroform. Gladys showed her pessimistic side by pointing out that her parents were probably on the phone to their lawyer, who was already spinning the story that they were going to use the dangerous drug on Luigi and not on Benny.
“Could that be the case?” Raphielli asked.
Kate shook her head. “No, the mole tased Luigi, and the Amendolas were trying to chloroform Gladys.”
“Your mother had me by the hair and was shoving a chemical-soaked rag in my face,” Gladys agreed.
“Sounds like them,” Benedetta said.
As they approached the Scortini Palazzo, Benedetta felt overwhelming reverence knowing she was finally going to get inside the home of the children of Sinope, and she was carrying one inside her. The Alithiníans had been barred from this palazzo for two long generations.
They slid into a fancy stone water garage which was colder inside than out in the elements. A deep ancient cold seeped through her coat and the blanket they’d wrapped her in. They hurried up the steps, then across the black stone pavers, then up a grand flight of steps and under the stone entry canopy that was more perfect than any Catholic Church door. The carvings of horses and boats told the stories of Paul and his ministries throughout the Mediterranean as he spread the teachings of Jesus the Christ and then Paul’s grandson, Marcion of Sinope, gathering up Paul’s letters.
Raphielli fumbled with her key, but Kate twisted the bell ring, and an old man opened the door, bowing in a courtly manner.
“Dante, this is Benedetta. She’ll be staying in my suite with me.”
Benedetta was dying to see the temple, but she couldn’t say anything in front of Kate or Gladys, or for that matter, what did this guy Dante know? Everyone looked at each other, as if wondering what to do now.
Kate spoke first. “Well, I need to get back to the shelter. Gladys, can I drop you at the hospital to check on Luigi?”
Surviving Venice Page 27