Page 15 of The Valiant (Spy Girl 4)
I am Huntley Von Allister, who isn't concerned with anything more than who will fill my glass with champagne. And that Huntley manages to slip out of the dining room without flipping the group off.
But Huntley Bond can't help but let the door slam on her way out.
I could use my eavesdropping app to listen to every word they say, but that would mean I'd have to stand out in the hall, looking pathetic, break into the suite next door, or climb onto the balcony. None of which I'm prepared to do.
Instead, I go into my room and put on something much more comfortable than the tight dress and heels I am wearing--black yoga pants, trainers, and a workout bra. I tie a jacket around my waist, put my hair in a ponytail, and go for a run, which is tricky on the cobbled streets of Rome.
Regardless, running feels good. At Blackwood, there was no working out on a treadmill, like Huntley Von Allister does. We ran outside whether it was raining or snowing, in freezing conditions or blazing heat.
I end up standing in front of the Bernini Ristorante on the Piazza Navona, longingly looking at the sign and practically tasting the lasagna.
"Would you like a table?" I hear a man's voice say.
"Yes, thank you." I pull my jacket over my bra top to make myself look more presentable and then allow him to pull a chair out for me to be seated.
"You look familiar," he says. "You have dined at my restaurant before, yes? With your mother. I remember saying you looked so much alike."
"Six years ago," I reply. "You have a good memory, Antonio."
"As do you." He smiles. "I remember all my customers, for each one is a delight to serve. You also came back twice. Once by yourself, which I thought was a bit odd in regard to your young age."
"My mother had a meeting just over there." I point to the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, known as the Fountain of the Four Rivers.
"That's right. You had lasagna, and we talked about the history of this great piazza."
I smile at him. "Is Mama still well?"
"Ah, yes," he says. "As usual, she is in the kitchen. Would you like her lasagna again tonight?"
"Very much so."
While he runs inside to turn in my order, I take a moment to stare out at the beautiful piazza, the history of the place quickly coming back to me. It sits on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, which was built in the first century AD.
I remember the story of how Bernini and Borromini were both great architects of their time and well-known rivals. The story goes that Borromini was commissioned to design the square, but when Bernini caught wind of it, he designed a silver model of the fountain he wanted to build and gave it to the sister-in-law of the pope, ensuring that she would show it off. The pope was so enamored with the design, he took the job away from Borromini and gave it to Bernini.
It seems that men in all periods of time are always vying for power.
I'm brought a glass of wine and told it's on the house. It's late, nearly closing time, and there is only one other group of patrons, who are just finishing up their meal.
As soon as they leave, he puts the Closed sign up and sits down at my table with a glass of wine. "Is your mother well?"
I close my eyes and shake my head. "She died shortly after we were here."
"And what brings you to Rome?"
"Do you remember how you told me about the rivalry between Borromini and Bernini?"
"Ah, yes, of course. Such a scandal."
"My mother was a covert agent. She took a vacation and was looking into something on her own. Something that brought us here and something that got her killed." I take a gulp of my wine. "She was assassinated, Antonio. In front of me."
Antonio's eyes widen in surprise, but it's quickly replaced with compassion. He reaches out and puts his hand atop mine. While it's comforting, I notice that his eyes are squinted, and he's biting his lip, seemingly trying to decide if he should tell me something or not.
"Your mother left an item here that night. It has been hanging on the wall of Mama's kitchen ever since. I have been tempted to read it many times over the years, but I promised her that I would not. She told me that it was only to be given to someone who came looking for it. Are you looking for it?"
"Yes, and no. I have a type of amnesia. I very clearly remember the bullet entering my mother's forehead, but I can't remember the trip we took before that. Recently, I found photos of our trip, and I've been trying to piece together what she discovered that got her killed. As I've been doing so, snippets of memories are returning. I didn't plan to come here tonight. There was no photo of your restaurant. I was just drawn to the place. To you."
"If she was killed for something she knew, maybe it is for the best that you don't remember."
I shake my head. "The problem is, if I don't figure it out, a lot of people might die."
He takes a sip of his wine and seems to contemplate this. Then he sets down his glass and rises from the table without a word. When he returns, he presents me with a dish of steaming lasagna along with my bill.
I let out a sigh, knowing that I'll have to break in later and search Mama's kitchen.
But, in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the delicate homemade noodles layered with meat sauce and cheese.
Antonio allows me to eat in silence as he does his closing routine of cleaning the area around the tables and other busywork.
When I finish eating, I lean back and take my last sip of wine. Then I flip over the bill to see how much I owe him. But, when I do, I find my mother's handwriting and a list of letters that seems to be nothing more than gibberish.
"Is it what you were expecting?" he asks.
I shake my head. "No."
He sits back across from me and eyes it. "She did tell me something else."
"What was that?"
"That 'society rules.'"
I smile broadly and stand up. Grabbing some euros out of my pocket, I lay them on the table.
"Oh no, my bella. Tonight, your meal is on the house."
"Grazie, Antonio," I say, kissing his cheek. "Thank Mama for the wonderful meal."
I start to take off but then turn back around. "I remember my mother was sitting at the fountain. She told me that she had a meeting, yet I don't recall her meeting anyone."
"I believe she was sitting at the fountain, taking notes. I was busy, serving guests, but I managed to keep an eye on her. I thought she might be meeting with a lover and was eager to see what he looked like."
"Do you remember exactly where she was sitting?"
"But of course." He grabs his jacket and walks me across the piazza to the fountain. "Her profile was to the restaurant, but I could see her clearly. Sit down here."
Directly in front of me is the Sant'Agnese in Agone, a beautiful baroque cathedral.
"Now, look up," Antonio says.
I do, immediately noticing a pair of bell towers set on either side of a large dome. "Can we go up there?" I ask.
"It is not open to the public, but the men who care for the bells do go up there. And I have seen others there from time to time."
"What kind of others?"
"Members of the clergy and very important benefactors."
"Thank you. I've got to get going, but I'll see you soon."
"Ciao, bella," he says, kissing my cheeks. "I will hold you to that."
I race back to the hotel, running the entire way and knowing that it's possible I'm in possession of a short list of names of those involved in the conspiracy.
I'm breathless when I swing open the door to the suite my brother and I are sharing. Lorenzo, Peter, and Viktor are seated in the parlor while Ari is pacing.
"Do you have any idea what time it is?" Ari says. "Where have you been?"
I clutch the necklace Lorenzo gave me, knowing, if he were really that worried, he would know exactly where to find me. But I can't say that out loud.
"I went for a run and grabbed some dinner. Believe it or not, I can take care of myself while you boys save the world with your meeting."
"You're being ridiculous. You know that, right?" Daniel says, stepping out of what is supposed to be my bedroom.
"Why were you in my room?"
"Slumber party apparently," he says with a smirk, waving his hand at the group gathered. "Aren't you the lucky girl?"
"I'm tired. It's been a really long day. You boys have a good party without me. Peter, be sure to braid Daniel's hair. That's his favorite thing."
When I go into my room, I see that Daniel has completely taken it over, and my stuff is gone.
Lorenzo joins me. "I had your clothing moved to my suite. Would you care to retire now?"
"Yes, please."
I give the boys my best and tell them to behave, then go with Lorenzo to his suite.
"Is Juan here?" I ask him.
"He is, but he has retired to his room, as have the rest of my security. While we usually take the whole floor to ensure privacy and safety, it's kind of fun, having Ari and Peter down the hall."
I pull Lorenzo close and whisper into his ear, "Was the room swept for electronic surveillance?"
"But of course. As per protocol, my staff has also installed countermeasures to stop any attempts from the outside. And you know that my phone is secure."
I plop down on the couch. "Are all The Society meetings held in Rome? I know your father was a member. What did he tell you about it?"
"Nothing. It's a secret, remember?"
"And what about Rome?"
"I can ask, but they haven't told me as of yet. I guess I will find out when the next meeting is set."
"I remembered something today. When my mother and I were in Florence, someone was following us. I noticed him first at the hotel we were staying at, and then again when we were in the Ponte Vecchio, and again in a church. My mom said I'd missed seeing him at the Basilica di San Lorenzo. She had me pretend to faint, and when the staff carried me into a room outside the public area, we snuck out from there."
