The Rome Prophecy

86

Federico parks his rust-bucket car in Via Dell Babuino.

While he and Valentina sit and talk in the warmth of the car, Tom bangs shut the back door and braves a soft shower as he walks to Louisa Verdetti’s home.

He turns up the collar of his new coat and cuts through Via Dell’Orto di Napoli into Via Margutta. His gaze bounces off elite lines of art galleries and restaurants, and he makes a mental note to return with Valentina.

He finds Louisa’s address behind a large iron security gate, which, not surprisingly in Italy, has been propped open solely for convenience.

The courtyard is breathtaking.

A long and deeply gravelled drive opens up to reveal a quadrangle of ancient, ivy-clad houses that are amongst the most expensive in the city. Some have been turned into select offices for high-earning local professionals and the rest are rented out to cash-rich foreigners.

Tom walks past terracotta fountains and abundant flower beds before he finds Louisa’s block.

Behind a clear-windowed oak door he sees a red-faced, middle-aged man bawling out two maids.

Tom raps on the door pane.

The man breaks from his thundery attack, puts on a sunny smile and opens up for him.

‘ Si? ’

Tom is hit by a backdraught of alcohol fumes. ‘I’m looking for Louisa Verdetti.’ He steps in from the rain without being asked.

‘And you are?’

‘Tom. I’m her friend from America.’

‘Wait.’ The man points to the two maids. ‘You wait too. I haven’t finished with you.’ He picks up a phone and hits some numbers.

Tom smiles sympathetically at the two women, who are now talking to each other in what he thinks is either Polish or Russian.

The man puts the receiver down. ‘She is not there. You want to leave a message?’

Tom searches for a pen in his pocket and picks up a yellow Post-it pad off the small desk. ‘Sure. Do you have any idea where she is?’

‘ Ospedale.’

‘No, she’s not at work.’ Tom writes down his name and cell number.

‘Not working, being treated. She has some problem with her ankle, I think.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Some neighbours just called by to see if she was all right. They saw her earlier being helped into a car by a man and a woman.’

Alarm bells ring with Tom. ‘Why?’

The man seems puzzled. ‘Because she couldn’t walk properly. They were concerned and went out to help. The driver waved them off and said everything was okay and not to worry. It seems she had twisted her ankle and fainted and they were taking her straight to the hospital.’

Tom doesn’t buy it. ‘What time was this?’

He shrugs. ‘Not long ago. About an hour or two.’ He points to the waiting maids. ‘I was inspecting the rooms. They would be cleaner if I did them myself.’

‘Can you tell me the name and address of these neighbours you mentioned?’

The man looks at him suspiciously. ‘I’ll come with you.’ He turns to the maids. ‘You two do not move. That should be easy for you.’