Page 16 of The Valiant (Spy Girl 4)
"If your mother was as beautiful as you, maybe the man was just enamored with her."
"Or maybe he was worried about what she might discover."
He nods his head. "Ari told me privately about the time line you have been piecing together, and it's been bothering me all night. When you left mad, it hit me. Don't you think, when your mother uncovered the truth, her demeanor would have changed? I mean, can you imagine the weight of knowing about such a plan? Of wondering who you could trust to confide in? Or how you could stop it from happening? I think about that often these days. What decisions will I have to make regarding the safety of my people and the longevity of my country when we figure it all out?"
"That's a good point. I'll think about it. But, either way, she was smart enough to not keep the evidence with her. She buried the Arcadian dollar, split the photos between two vaults, and put the rest in my locket before returning home."
"Exactly. Now, what can I do to help?"
"Let's not talk about it anymore tonight," I suggest.
"Oh, that, my darling, is an easy task." He takes my hand, leading me through the suite, and opens the bathroom door, allowing me a view of the large bathtub, a vase filled with blue bath bombs, and a chilled bucket of champagne.
"It's perfect, Lorenzo," I say dreamily. "You know, I'll be fine in the bath by myself if you want to go back and join the boys. I'm sure they will be up drinking until all hours of the night."
"I would much rather be here with you," he says, giving me a steamy kiss. "You taste of red sauce and wine."
"I had dinner."
"Although you hid your anger well, I could tell you weren't happy about leaving."
"It's just hard to believe, in this day and age, that something so sexist still exists."
"Why don't you slip into the bath while I pour us champagne?"
I let out a sigh and look longingly at the tub. "I can't."
"Why not?"
I plop down on the bed, take the note out of my jacket pocket, and tell him the truth about my evening.
When I finish, he says, "That is incredible."
"I know."
He joins me on the bed and rakes his hand through his hair. "And how are you feeling?"
"Excited because there's more. The reason I asked if all Society meetings are in Rome is because I think my mother might have spied on a meeting. I think this is a list of names of men who attended. Who possibly met in private after at the top of a cathedral."
"What makes you think that?"
"Because she told the waiter that 'society rules.' It's obviously both a clue and the keyword to decode the cipher."
"You know how to do that, too?"
"Of course. Since I was young when she created it, I'm guessing it's a very simple code." I grab a notepad and pen from the bedside table and start writing.
"Why did you get rid of the last two letters in rules?"
"Because they are duplicates," I say, quickly deciphering her note. What I end up with is:
ARCADIA
LORENZO THE MAGNIFICENT
GIULIANO MEDICI
THE SOCIETY
TROJAN HORSE
HARRISON MCCLELLAN
JOHN F HILLFORD SR
I bite my lip, trying not to look as disappointed as I feel.
"Doesn't seem to be much help," Lorenzo says, echoing my thoughts.
"Well, we already know the word Arcadia keeps popping up. I saw Lorenzo the Magnificent's bedroom and tomb today, both of which bear an unusual symbol. You can either believe he started a powerful secret society that still runs to this day, or you can believe the scholars, who say it was simply his personal signet. Giuliano Medici was Lorenzo's brother. I have no idea what he or the Trojan Horse have to do with anything. We both know that the former president ordered the hit on my mother, so I guess it would make sense if he were involved, but since he's dead now--"
"We might never know," Lorenzo states, finishing my sentence. "And then you have Harrison McClellan, billionaire and founder of the largest biotech seed company in the world."
"As in genetically modified seed?" I ask, thinking about the GMO conspiracy theories. "How do you know him?"
"I met him at a state dinner when I was much younger, maybe five years ago. He was in attendance to speak about the concept of storing seeds. They had set up a trust, which was funded through large charitable donations, and were building the Seed Vault in Norway, up near the Arctic Circle, and he was asking for deposits."
"And you gave him seeds?"
Lorenzo shakes his head. "Not exactly. The Seed Vault is similar to a bank vault. It's like taking something of value and putting it in a safety deposit box until you choose to retrieve it. The seeds are our property, only there to be kept safe."
"And why do seeds need to be kept safe?" I ask.
"Lots of reasons, I suppose. Change in climate, disease, or a worst-case scenario like a nuclear catastrophe that decimates our plant life."
"Are there genetically modified seeds in there, too?"
"No. Norwegian law prohibits it."
"So the guy whose company is modifying seeds built a vault to store the ones that are not modified?"
"Yes."
I lean back and close my eyes, suddenly feeling very tired. "How about that bath now?"
"Sounds like the perfect way to end the evening." He takes my hand, leads me back into the bathroom, and turns on the faucet to fill the tub. "Would you like to do the honors, or shall I?"
"Please do. I love watching your face when the bath bombs fizz and turn the water blue."
Lorenzo opens the champagne while the tub fills, and then he undresses and gets in. While it is a large soaking tub, plenty big enough for two, it is much smaller than the palatial one he has at his palace, and I'm trying to determine where I should sit.
I don't get the chance to fret about what is appropriate because he holds his hand out and helps me into the tub, having me sit between his legs and lean back against his chest. Needless to say, we are in very close proximity.
And quite naked.
He trails his fingers down my arms, but his actions are not sexual in nature, simply meant to relax.
"I want to ask you something, Lorenzo, and I'd like you to answer truthfully."
"Of course," he says, nuzzling his cheek next to mine.
"Do women on the palace tour often stand at the reception balcony and scream out your name?"
"No." He lets out a hearty laugh. "I am rarely in the vicinity of the palace tours. But, one time, I was walking in the rose garden with my mother. We heard someone yell my name, and when I turned, there was this girl. She was dressed in red, and her blonde hair was in a long braid, and even though we were some distance apart--"
"You locked eyes and shared a moment. After a few seconds, you broke the connection, waved to our group, and then continued with your mother to an area of the garden that was hidden from my view."
"That was you?" he says dreamily. "It all makes sense now."
"What does?"
"Why I was so drawn to you when we met at the tailor's. I had been waiting for you. It's why no other girls had ever felt right. Because you had me spellbound."
"No." I let out a chuckle. "I think that happened after the love potion."
"Lee, you must not make light of our attraction," he says seriously, "nor the fact that destiny felt compelled to bring us together in that way as opposed to a meet set up on your part."
"Today, when we went on the balcony, I remembered," I tell him, my eyes filling with tears in the same way they did earlier. "For the first time, I had a memory about my mother that didn't end with her being shot because all I could think about was the way seeing you then had made my heart beat faster, just like it does now."
He holds my gaze and then passionately kisses me, for words are not able to convey the depth of our feelings.
MISSION:DAY THREE
Something soft brushes against my cheek.
"Good morning
, sleepyhead," is whispered in my ear.
I smile at the sound of a familiar voice and roll toward it, slowly lifting my lids, until I realize it is not Lorenzo waking me but rather Daniel, who is sitting on the bed.
"What are you doing in here? Where is Lorenzo?"
"He had a meeting this morning with, I don't know, the Italian Minister of Global Affairs." He gives me a dismissive wave. "You know how Enzo is. Always dashing off for something of grave importance. Now, me, I would never leave a bed you were in. Especially when you are naked."
"I am not naked, Daniel," I reply, sliding the strap of my nightgown back onto my shoulder and sitting up.
"So, you're sleeping together, but you still haven't slept together?" I open my mouth to speak, but Daniel raises his hand up. "I know; no comment."
