In the Mouth of the Wolf

Chapter 15

Giovanni Bruno held a lamp as he walked in front of the munitions lined up against the cave wall. Leary of the steel containers grouped together, he stepped to the opposite side of the cave. Castalani hadn’t given specific information on what was hidden inside the containers, but Bruno had enough smarts to know it was something very dangerous.

He heard footsteps. Amara walked toward him, then put the lamp on the ground before lighting up another cigarette.

Bruno slapped the cigarette out of his hand, shouting, “Idiot!” He crushed the cigarette with the heel of his shoe, before asking, “Anything yet? Did you see or hear the trucks?”

“Nothing.”

Bruno started pacing, knowing the last trucks with the prisoners were overdue. Almost a bigger problem was he didn’t have a way to track them even if he wanted to. All the other vehicles had been driven to Palermo.

Castalani’s bodyguards, Gallo and Luca, leaned against a protruding rock formation with their Uzis slung over their shoulders, just watching Bruno. Within a minute, they all heard the sound of engines. What no one heard was Bruno’s sigh of relief.

As they reached the point in the cave where it curved around, he said to Amara, “You stay here; keep this section lighted. Piscaro, you come with us.”

Bruno held the lamp high overhead, as they all maneuvered around obstacles in their path, making their way through the cave, finally able to see headlights filtering through the tree line. One of the driver’s turned the truck so the lights were shining toward the cave.

Grant saw the glow from a lamp and heard footsteps drawing closer. He motioned with his hand for Moore to back up. Both of them stepped back, pressing themselves against the rock formation. He gave a brief smile inwardly, silently complimenting Russo on shining the headlights toward the oncoming Italians, making it more difficult for them to see into the truck. But daylight was approaching, with a mere hint of sunshine already on the distant horizon. Four men walked out of the cave. Grant remembered Simpson had said he heard at least five voices.

Still staying behind the trees, Bruno shouted at the men driving the trucks, waving them toward him. “Hey! Andiamo! Get those Americani in here!”

“We need some help!” Russo shouted back. “Give us a hand!”

Bruno led the way through the trees, stopping just outside the tree line. “The three of you go,” he said, waving his hand forward, trying to hold the lamp higher.

Once the Italians were past the trees, Grant moved closer to the entrance, seeing Moore staring at him, waiting for orders. Grant pointed at him, then pointed to the cave. Moore held a thumb up, looked toward the tree line, then edged his way closer to the entrance before reaching for his knife. Looking at Grant one more time, he saw Grant’s final nod. He rounded the corner and disappeared into the cave.

Grant continued creeping closer to the trees. His timing would have to be perfect.