Chapter 19: Nothing Left to Hold

Vincenzo's POV

The gray sedan was found by noon, abandoned behind a fish market with its plates in the trunk.

I put a hundred men on the harbor and the roads, and none of them found Dario.

He had spent thirty years learning where this city kept its doors, and now he was using every one.

I told Mara to stay at the lake house with Fio and eight guards.

She said, "Bring her back," and I said I would.

That was all.

She did not make me promise it twice.

The old captain from the docks called me at four.

"Boss. A freezer unit at Berth Nine. Dario's key still opens the padlock. Somebody has been bringing food in since yesterday."

I went with six men and two Pozzi cousins who had not spoken a word all day.

The padlock was open.

Inside the freezer office, on a metal chair under a bare bulb, sat the actress.

Her wrists were taped, and her black funeral dress was soaked at the hem.

She lifted her head and looked at me with swollen eyes.

"You came," she said.

"Of course I came."

"I told him you wouldn't. I said you were busy." Her laugh broke. "Mara would. Mara would come first."

I cut the tape off her wrists myself.

My men checked every corner of the unit and found nobody else.

There were no guards, no trap and no wire.

I stood still, and I did not like how easy it had been.

"Where is he?"

"He left an hour ago." She rubbed her wrists. "He didn't hurt me. He gave me a sandwich. He said he's a gentleman."

"What else did he say?"

"He left you a note." She pointed to the desk. "And he talked on the phone while I pretended to sleep."

The note was in the round hand I knew from a hundred birthday cards.

Nephew. Sunday dinner at the lake house, all the families. I would like to make peace in front of everyone.

Bring your wife. I will bring the cake.

I read it twice.

"He's walking into my own house," I said.

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