Chapter 5: Twelve Past Three

The phone rang four times before it stopped for good.

I pounded on the wardrobe door until my wrists burned.

"Answer it!" I shouted. "Tommaso, answer the phone!"

Nobody came.

A minute later I heard Vittoria's heels cross the bedroom.

The ringing started again, and then it cut off in the middle.

"Galli residence," Vittoria said.

I pressed my face against the slats.

"Mrs. Galli can't come to the phone right now. Is it urgent?"

A pause.

"No, I'm sure it's routine. Please call back in the morning."

"Vittoria!" I hit the door with both fists. "That's my mother. Vittoria, give me the phone!"

The footsteps came closer, and her shadow crossed the slats.

"Keep your voice down, Elisa. You'll wake Dario."

"Please. Please, she's calling about my mother."

"Then she'll call back," Vittoria said gently.

Her footsteps went away, and the bedroom door closed.

I sat down on the floor of the wardrobe among my own coats.

My wrists were still tied.

I had pulled the knot tight myself, fighting it, and now it wouldn't give.

I felt along the rail above me until I found a wire hanger and pulled it down.

I bent the hook straight with my teeth.

It took a long time.

I don't know how long.

I slid the wire into the knot and picked at it in the dark.

Somewhere in the house a clock chimed three.

I kept working.

My mother's voice came into my head, so clearly I almost answered: Papers aren't people.

I pulled the last loop free, and the tie fell off my wrists.

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