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“Correct. Practically nonexistent.”
I leaned back in my chair. “I can handle dangerous men. You just get me the smallest amount of time in prison that you can.”
She nodded. “I will do my best.”
88
Silvia pled guilty on my behalf. Two days later, I appeared in court in shackles to hear my sentence: five years in San Vittore, a prison in Milan.
Silvia looked unhappy after the sentence was handed down.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered before the bailiff came to take me away.
“San Vittore is a very bad place,” she said. “Many mafiosos.”
“It’s alright. You did your best, and I’m grateful. But I need one more thing.”
“What?” she asked, probably wondering if I would ask her to bribe a prison official.
“I need one last phone call before I go to prison.”
“That I can do,” she replied.
As far as I was concerned, Gunnar had really come through for me. Hiring Silvia had allowed me to sidestep the worst of the charges and turn a 15-year sentence into five. Not the best situation possible, but it was one I could live with.
Unfortunately, there was one place where Gunnar hadn’t come through for me: finding Rachel.
“I’m sorry, man,” he said miserably. “I’ve hacked everything I could think of – property records, traffic court, marriage and divorce records, the postal service… there’s no mention of her anywhere. I’ve done scans on the deep web – ”
“It’s okay,” I said. “Just keep looking. Please. I need her to know that I didn’t just disappear. I need her to know what happened to me.”
“I’ll try, but…”
“Don’t worry about that right now. I want you to know you’re the best friend I ever had. You really came through for me with that lawyer. I’ll pay you back the money someday, I swear.”
“Bro, don’t even worry about the money. I’d pay a whole lot more if I could get you out – ”
“It’s okay, Gunnar. I’ll be fine.”
“But you’re going in there with some real sharks, bro…”
“Yeah, but I’m the Great White. You and me, we fought the Taliban. These mafia motherfuckers? They better be frightened of me.”
Gunnar laughed, then turned somber. “Give ‘em hell, my brother.”
“I will.”
“While you’re in there, call me collect if you need ANYTHING. Money for the commissary – if I need to pay somebody off to keep you safe – ”
“I’ll be fine,” I promised him. “I can do the time standing on my head. Just… find Rachel. That’s all I care about: find Rachel.”
“I will.” He was silent for a second, then said, “You take care of yourself, brother.”
“You, too, man. And thanks again.”
When I hung up the phone, it felt like a huge stone slab had slammed down…
Severing my only connection to the outside world…
