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"I don't know, but I'm going to find out, Isabella.I won't rest until I do."
ChapterFifteen
Nick's determined words rang through her head as they made their way back to the car.She wasn't sure what to say.The situation had just gotten a thousand times more personal for him.
She couldn't imagine why his grandfather would have suddenly been investigating the deaths of Tomas and Lucinda as recently as a year ago.And if Marcus was investigating, he had to have gotten some new piece of information, which also seemed unbelievable because it had been fifty years.What had happened to make Marcus ask questions?There had to have been a trigger.
And the consequence of Marcus's questions seemed to be a tragic accident that didn't look suspicious on the face of it, but putting everything that had happened before that and was happening now definitely raised questions.
Nick wasn't a man who jumped to conclusions.In fact, he was usually warning her not to make a big leap, but he'd put pieces of information together in a way that led to murder.
That thought raised goosebumps on her arms, reminding her she could have been killed last night, and Nick could have died, too.
What the hell was going on?Why was someone after their families?
The questions ran around in her head as Nick drove back to the house.She wanted to talk things out with him, but he seemed completely lost in his head.He probably just needed a minute to process what they'd learned so far, to consider whether he was putting clues together in the wrong way.
But if his instincts were right, and if Marcus was murdered, then the stakes had been raised.For Nick, it wouldn't just be about getting the paintings back or making sure their grandmothers were safe; it would be about avenging his grandfather's death, the man who had inspired him and mentored him.He would never quit until he found the truth.
She just didn't want the truth to kill him, the way it had killed Lucinda, Tomas, and Marcus.
She also didn't want it to kill her.
But they were in this together, and she wouldn't bail now.
When they arrived at the house, she was happy to see that it was still standing, but also surprised to see a woman at the front door holding a large basket.
"Who's that?"she asked as Nick slowed down to turn into the driveway.
"I don't know."He stopped the car before opening the garage door."Let me check it out."
He was out of the car before she could say she wasn't staying behind.But it didn't matter.She didn't believe the fifty-something woman who was now walking toward them was dangerous.She was wearing a teal knit dress with very high heels and her short, angled blonde hair framed a very pretty face.Not that evil couldn't be dressed up, but her gut said there was no danger here, so she got out of the car and walked across the grass.
"Ciao," the woman said, following up her greeting with a quick spate of Italian that included the names of their grandmothers.
"Sorry," Nick said."My Italian isn't that good.Who are you?"
"Pardon.I'm Catherine Vigonas, the curator of the Museo dei Capolavori Romani.I came to check on Anna and Gloria."She lifted the basket in her hands."I brought them fruit and sweets."
"That's very nice," Nick said."I can take that from you.I'm Nick Caruso, Anna's grandson."
"Oh, the infamous Nick," Catherine said with a gleam in her blue eyes."The FBI agent.Your grandmother is very proud of you.And Gloria raves about her very smart granddaughter, who is setting the world on fire as a reporter," she added, giving Isabella a smile."I assume that's you."
"It is.I'm Isabella Rossi."
"It's wonderful to meet you both, but I am sorry for the situation.How are Anna and Gloria feeling now?I spoke to them Wednesday night after the robbery, and I've been meaning to follow up, but I've been tied up with the Carabinieri and getting our security system back in place so that we can reopen."
"They're feeling better," Nick said."But they're not here."
"Will they be back soon?Are they well?I heard that there was a break-in here last night, but they were not home when it occurred.I hope they are somewhere safe."
"They are, and they're doing all right.I'll let them know you stopped by," Nick said."Perhaps you'd like to hang on to the basket.I'm not sure when they'll return."
"Oh, well, if you're staying here, why don't you keep it?Unless you're also leaving?I know you both live in California now."
"We'll be here for a while," Nick said vaguely.
"Then, please, enjoy the basket."
