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Or Rachel.
As far as I was concerned, it was over. Dead and gone.
Now it was time to move on.
111
Ifigured it would be a bad idea to call a member of the Cosa Nostra from a phone MI6 had given me. There might’ve been some sort of surveillance software on it, so I tossed it in the trash and bought a burner from a cell phone shop. Only then did I dial the number I had memorized – the one Dario had given to me in San Vittore.
After a few rings, a man’s voice answered. “Hello?”
I replied in Italian, “This is Lars. Dario gave me your number.”
“Ah, the estimable Lars!” the voice said, suddenly chipper. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you. I’m Niccolo, by the way, but I’m sure you already knew that.”
“Nice to meet you. Is Dario okay? Have you talked to him?”
“He’s fine. I talked to him earlier this morning. He more or less implied it would be better for YOU if I never heard from you… so I’m assuming it’s not necessarily GOOD news that we’re talking right now.”
I thought of Rachel standing in the doorway of her house, the diamond ring glinting on her finger.
“No… but that was the past. I’m ready to move on.”
“I’m sorry to hear things didn’t work out, but I’m glad you’re looking forwards instead of backwards. What can I do for you? Do you need any funds?”
“Actually, I’m interested in the job Dario mentioned.”
“Ah.” Niccolo paused for a second. “You understand that my father and uncle will need to meet with you first, yes? Sort of a job interview. And the job is contingent upon their approval.”
Dario hadn’t mentioned that, but it sounded reasonable.
“I understand.”
“Good. You know we’re in Tuscany? Out in the countryside?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have the necessary funds to fly to Florence?”
“Yes.”
“How about first class? We want you to be comfortable.”
“Economy is fine – ”
“No, no, Dario would thrash me – and deservedly so – if I made you ride coach. Get a first-class ticket, and if it happens not to work out – the job, I mean – we’ll reimburse you. If you get the job, money won’t be an issue. I can arrange to have someone pick you up at the Florence airport, or you can get a taxi and we’ll pay the driver when you arrive. Which would you prefer?”
“I can just get a taxi if it’s all the same to you.” Part of me wanted to give myself the option to bail if I changed my mind and didn’t want to go through with it. “However, I’d like to stop over in Amsterdam to see an old friend.”
“Of course, of course. The job isn’t going anywhere. If you want to take a week or two – ”
“No, just a couple of days will be fine.”
“Whatever you like. Whenever you decide to leave Amsterdam, text me your arrival time in Florence so I can schedule a meeting with my father and uncle.”
“Will do.”
“I look forward to meeting you – the famous Lars from San Vittore! We’ve heard quite a bit about you, you know.”
