One Step to You (The Rome Novels #1)(64)

Claudio stuck the slip of paper into his wallet.

“Don’t lose it!” Those words from Raffaella were practically more of a threat than a piece of friendly advice.

Claudio went back to the living room and let himself collapse onto the sofa in front of the television set. A married couple was discussing things that were really their private business in front of a guy with long hair. What made them want to go and air their dirty laundry in front of everyone on television? He couldn’t even bring himself to do it at home, all alone, in his kitchen.

Now he was going to have to go and talk to that young man. And he’d probably beat him up too. He thought about Accado. Maybe he’d wind up in the same hospital room as him. They could keep each other company. That thought didn’t cheer him up much. He didn’t really like Accado all that much.

The show was interrupted by a commercial break. Claudio got out his wallet and went over to the telephone. Stefano Mancini, aka Step. That boy had cost him ten million lire and two cans of beer. He pulled out the sheet of paper with the motorcycle’s license plate number and dialed the phone number of his friend Davione.

Then, as he waited for someone to answer the call, he thought about his wife. Raffaella really was unbelievable. She’d seen that boy’s motorcycle once or twice, and she could remember the tag number perfectly. While Claudio had been driving that Mercedes Benz for a year and still didn’t know his own license plate number by heart.

“Hello, Enrico?”

“Yes.”

“Ciao, it’s Claudio Gervasi. Listen, I’m sorry to bother you but I need a favor.”

“Ask away.”

For a moment, Claudio wished that Enrico weren’t so damned accommodating. It’s really true, when you don’t need a favor, that’s when everyone’s happy to do it for you.





Chapter 26



Babi couldn’t figure out whether that light tapping on the wooden blind was a dream or reality. Maybe it was the wind. She shifted in bed and heard it again. A little louder, but precise, like a signal.

Babi got out of bed and went over to the window. She looked through the tiny spaces between the extended slats. Illuminated by the light of the full moon was Step. Surprised, she tugged on the cord to raise the blind, doing her best to make as little noise as possible.

“Step, what are you doing here? How did you manage to get up here?”

“It was really easy. I climbed up on the wall and then shinnied up the drainpipes. Come on, let’s go.”

“Where?”

“They’re expecting us.”

“Who is?”

“The others. My friends. Come on, don’t keep asking questions. Let’s get going! This time, if your folks catch us, it really is going to be a problem.”

“Hold on. Let me change into something.”

“No, we’re not going far.”

“But I’m not wearing anything under my nightgown.”

“So much the better.” He laughed.

“Come on, you cretin. Hold on a minute.” She half shut the window, sat down on the bed, and quickly got dressed. Bra, panties, sweatshirt, a pair of jeans, her tobacco shoes, and then she was back at the window. “Let’s go, but we can use the door.”

“No, we’ll go down this way. It’s better.”

“What are you, crazy? I’m scared to do that. I could slip and fall and die. You know what would happen if my folks woke up to the sound of me screaming, followed by a thud? Come on, follow me.”

Babi led him through the darkness of that sleeping apartment, tiptoeing along on soft wall-to-wall carpeting, carefully turning door handles. She deactivated the burglar alarm, took the house keys, and they were out. A slight click from the front door as it shut behind them, slowly pulled closed to prevent any loud noises. Then down the steps and into the courtyard, onto the motorcycle, rolling downhill, the engine off to avoid being heard. Then, outside the gate, Step put the bike in gear, put it in second, and hit the gas. They shot forward, now far from her sleeping home, safe and free to go where they pleased, together—while the rest of the world believed them fast asleep and alone in their own beds.

“What’s this?” Curiously, Babi dismounted from the motorcycle.

Meanwhile, Step pulled something out of the top box. “Follow me, and you’ll see. Don’t make any noise, that’s important.”

They were on Via Riccardo Zandonai, just above the church. They walked through a narrow gate. They followed a dark path running between bushes.

“Here, go under this.” Step lifted a piece of metal mesh that had been torn away at the bottom of the fence. Babi ducked under, taking care not to get caught in the mesh. A few seconds later, Step was beside her. They walked along in the darkness on newly mown grass. The moon lit up everything around them. They were on the grounds of an apartment complex.

“Wait, where are we going?”

“Shh.” Step put his finger to his lips, urging her to be silent.

Then, after climbing over a low wall, Babi heard some sounds of distant laughter or someone talking. Step smiled at her and took her by the hand. They went around a hedge, and there they saw it. In the light of the moon, light blue, transparent, calm, edged in by the dark of night, a large swimming pool.

In it were a number of young people. They were swimming while taking care not to make too much noise. Little waves lapped at the sides, every once in a while overflowing onto the surrounding grass. A strange breathing sound could be heard, that water coming and going and then vanishing down into the void of a little grate.