AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But before Alyssa said anything else, a tour stepped through the hall, headed by a late-twenty-something Italian man who spoke perfect English. He was dressed smartly in a mustard button-down and slacks, and his thick hair was wild and ruffled, erupting from his ears in black curls.
“This painting in particular,” he was telling his tour, “was painted by Jacopo Bassano and completed in 1573. As you can see, it features Adam and Eve in the garden, much like many, many other paintings of that time. But this painting stands out for us today for one reason— back in 1867, this painting was stolen from the Gallerie dell’Accademia.”
Members of the tour gasped with appreciation, removed their cell phones from their pockets, and took photographs furiously.
“Who stole it?” A man in the tour asked, his eyebrows high.
The Italian tour guide laced his fingers together, clearly pleased with his performance and its effect.
“His name was Mauricio Gionnocaro,” the tour guide went on. “And he was rumored to be, at that time, in charge of a secret society based here in Venice. That secret society potentially served as puppeteers for a number of religious and political heads up until quite recently, when it was rumored that the secret society completely disbanded. As their members upheld their secrecy above all things, it was often difficult for historians to get to the bottom of what really happened. We still don’t know much to this day.
“But thirty-five years after Mauricio stole the painting, his daughter returned it to the museum,” the tour guide went on. “She was disillusioned with her father, and she said a number of choice things about his ‘special operation’ and his ‘delusions.’ I suppose, for me, at least, that makes it clear that this painting was instrumental to the secret society in some way. Viewers often report feeling a definite power within the paint strokes, the colors, and the images themselves.”
Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted the tour.
“I’m sorry. May I ask a question?” It was Alyssa, hovering along the edge of the tour, trying to get closer to the tour guide.
“Of course.” The tour guide smiled.
“Did this man, Mauricio Gionnocaro, have anything to do with the Cacciapaglia family?” Alyssa asked.
The tour guide tilted his head with curiosity. “They are certainly both very old families within the region. I don’t know off-hand if they had or have anything to do with one another, but I’m sure a better historian knows.”
“Is there somewhere I could learn about that?” Alyssa asked. “And more about this secret society?”
The tour guide seemed unaccustomed to people actually caring that much about what he said. He stepped around the rest of the tour to get closer to Alyssa, and, if Janine wasn’t mistaken, his face fell slightly when he noticed she was pregnant.
“The Gionnocaro Museum is not far down the Grand Canal,” he explained. “It was their family home for centuries, until recently. There, you can learn as much as we know about the secret society— which, as I mentioned, isn’t a lot. Perhaps someone who works there could tell you more about the Cacciapaglia and Gionnocaro connection.”
Alyssa’s smile was electric. It was clear that she knew she’d stumbled onto gold. “Thank you so much. What is your name?”
Janine’s heart flipped over. For years, she’d watched Alyssa stumble through men, through relationships, without any sense of belonging. To see her eyes alight like this during a conversation with a handsome Italian man thrilled her— even as it terrified her. For she knew most men wouldn’t date a pregnant woman. They wouldn’t even consider it.
“My name is Nico,” he said. “And you are?”
“Alyssa.” Alyssa stuck out her hand and shook Nico’s hand, there in front of everyone, as though she’d forgotten the rest of the world existed.
“Well, do be in touch if you learn anything, Alyssa,” Nico said. “Are you a historian? A student?”
“Sort of both and sort of neither,” Alyssa said with a shrug.
“Vague! Wonderful.” Nico palmed the back of his neck and looked at the rest of his tour, whose eyes had begun to glaze. He then clapped his hands and said, “All right, everyone. Let’s proceed to the next room. I think you’re going to recognize this next painting. I’m assuming you’ve heard of Michaelangelo?”
As the tour headed into the next room, Alyssa hurried back to Janine and Maggie, where she threw her arms around both of them. Janine laughed.
“I can’t believe this,” Maggie said, shaking her head. “We have to go to yet another location?”
“It’s all a part of the fun, Mags.”
“Let’s get lunch,” Janine suggested. “And maybe read up a bit more on this secret society before we head to the next museum right away?”
“I’m in no rush,” Alyssa assured them. “I don’t want this to be over yet.”
“You’d love to drag this out for years!” Maggie said.
“Maybe not years,” Alyssa said. “But it’s a wonderful distraction. I haven’t remembered how much my feet and back hurt in hours.”
“Speak for yourself.” Maggie smiled, clearly confused with her sister’s joy yet slightly invigorated by it. “All right. Lunch. What’s on the docket?”
