The Rome Prophecy

65

To everyone’s relief, Anna is still Anna.

Louisa Verdetti passes out a tray of drinks. Cola Lite for Valentina and Anna, espresso doppio and water for Tom and herself.

Valentina’s phone rings. She apologises and ducks outside the patient’s room to take the call.

Louisa hopes she stays there.

Getting through the layers of alters and down to the host is something of a clinical breakthrough. The chance of an uncluttered discussion with a DID sufferer is precious, and she’s scared to death that questions about crimes and investigations are going to send Anna plunging back behind the cover of one of the alternative personalities.

‘Do you feel okay to continue with our chat?’she asks kindly.

‘Of course.’ Anna sounds as sprightly as if she were being asked directions on a warm summer Sunday. ‘What is it you want to know?’

Valentina’s sudden return interrupts them.

She smiles apologetically, clicks the door quietly behind her and despite seeing that Louisa is in mid-conversation, addresses Anna directly. ‘Do you know a man called Guilio Angelis?’

‘Yes. Guilio works with me.’

Valentina makes her way to a chair alongside Anna’s. ‘We discovered him in your apartment yesterday, before we found you. Did you invite him inside?’

Now Anna has to think. A lot has happened since yesterday. She remembers doctors leaning over her, masked faces, blood everywhere, her blood, and before that – only blackness.

Blackness in the wardrobe, where she was frightened. Blackness in that safe place in her own mind where she goes when terrible things start to happen.

And before that?

Slowly she starts to remember.

‘Guilio came from work to help me.’

Valentina lets out a deep sigh. ‘You asked him into your home?’

‘ Si.’

‘How do you know this man, Anna?’

‘Like I said, I work with him.’

‘Where?’

‘Rosati’s, in the Piazza del Popolo.’

‘How long have you worked there?’

‘Three, four years. I started in the cafeteria and was there for – oh, maybe a year, perhaps a little more, then I’ve been in the ristorante part of it ever since.’

‘And Guilio?’

Another pause. ‘About the same time. I think we even started the same week. He is a very good waiter.’

Valentina has one more attempt to shake a story that she knows is going to result in the guy who assaulted her being released. ‘Anna, this is really important. Are you absolutely sure that you invited Guilio Angelis into your apartment yesterday and that he had the right to be there? He didn’t force himself in? He wasn’t threatening you in any way?’

‘No.’ She looks offended. ‘Guilio’s my friend. He’s always been my friend. Why would he want to hurt me?’

Valentina curses softly to herself and stares into Anna’s eyes.

The woman’s not going to change her story, that much is clear.

She glances towards Louisa. ‘Give me a minute. I have to ring my colleague.’

‘Sure.’

As Valentina leaves, Louisa hands out glasses for the drinks, pops the tab on Anna’s cola and pours it. ‘You don’t have to carry on with this session, you know. If you’re too tired, or you find talking to us distressing, we can put it off until another time.’

Anna squeezes out a smile. ‘No, I’m fine.’ She puts her hand on her bandaged arm. ‘Apart from this.’ She turns her head towards the door where Valentina exited. ‘Have I said something wrong?’

‘No, not at all.’

‘Is Guilio in trouble?’

Louisa doesn’t know how to answer. ‘You’d best ask the capitano when she comes back.’

Several more minutes pass until Valentina reopens the door.

It’s clear something unpleasant has happened.

Her cheeks are flushed and there’s no trace of a smile.

Anna looks agitated. ‘Why were you asking me about Guilio?’

Valentina settles back into a chair next to her. ‘We had to check that his story was the same as yours. We had to make sure he didn’t force his way into your apartment and try to harm you.’

Anna falls silent.

She seems to understand.

Valentina suspects she still hasn’t got the whole story. ‘Anna, have you always lived in that apartment?’

Tension ripples across her forehead. ‘ Si.’

‘It’s unusual, isn’t it?’

She stares down at her glass of cola. ‘You mean my bedroom, don’t you?’

Valentina nods.

‘It’s the only way I feel safe at night.’ She looks to Tom. ‘You understand, don’t you?’

Tom doesn’t, but he tries to give her the impression he does. ‘Help us all to understand, Anna.’ He smiles sympathetically. ‘Tell us in your own words why you do that to your room.’

‘God protects me. Jesus protects me. When I’m in the midst of his words, I believe in Him and I believe He will protect me.’ She closes her eyes. ‘ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me.’ She opens them again. ‘I truly believe that, Father.’

‘I’m sure you do, Anna – and you are right to.’ Tom tries to be gentle. ‘But exactly what – or who – do you need His protection from?’

‘I told you earlier. Mother.’

‘Do you mean the Holy Mother, the Virgin Mary, or your own mother?’

Anna clenches her fists.

She crosses her wrists and holds them like a crucifix across her breasts. ‘Don’t you know? Don’t you understand?’

Tom can see that whatever trust she had in him is evaporating as fast as a waft of frankincense at morning Mass. ‘ I do know, Anna, but I need you to tell these other people.’ He gestures to Louisa and Valentina. ‘They won’t believe me if I tell them; it has to come from you.’

Anna starts breathing deeply.

Very deeply.

Panting hard.

Louisa wonders if she’s starting to hyperventilate.

Anna stretches her arms wide and pulls her shoulders back, like a swan opening its wings.

Valentina moves to the edge of her seat.

Something’s going to happen, and this time she’s going to be prepared. There’ll be no surprise head-butting, and no bust lips.

‘The Mother is all we are!’ shouts Anna.

Only she’s no longer Anna.

Tom stands and takes a step towards her.

‘Mater, who is all, is within us.’ She tears at the bandage on her cut arm.

Louisa jumps from her seat and tries to stop her.

‘ Mater, who is all, is with us every day.’ She pushes Louisa away and claws at the stitches.

Valentina is now on her feet and has reached the bed.

‘From Her we are – and to Her we go!’

She grabs Anna’s wrists and restrains her.

‘From Her we are – and to Her we go!’ The nonsense is no longer being shouted, it’s being screamed. ‘From Her we are – and to Her we go!’

Only one person in the room understands what’s happening.

Tom Shaman sits silently and listens.

It makes perfect sense to him.