His lawyer pushed a glass of water towards him. ‘Take your time.’
He took several gulps then, burying his face in his trembling hands, he mumbled, ‘There are people out there who will hurt me if I tell you.’
Dario took a neatly pressed handkerchief from his shirt pocket and passed it to him.
‘We wouldn’t let that happen. You have my word. I appreciate you’re scared, but if you help us, not only will we protect you, but we will endeavour to have your sentence reduced and help you find work so you no longer have to rely on these criminals to survive.Capito?’
There was a long pause.
‘Capito,’ came the reply, not much above a whisper.
Despite everything, it took all the strength Dario could muster not to wrap his arms around the boy. He was still a child after all. Where were his parents? What were the circumstances that had led him along this treacherous path?
‘For the record,’ said DCI Marino, circling the two photographs with the swirl of a red pen, ‘the accused has made a positive identification of suspects one and three.’
‘Lucy! He’s here!’
‘Coming!’
Lucy hurtled down the hallway, grabbed her bag, then began the usual frantic hunt for her glasses.
‘Shit, shit, shit!’
Elena giggled. ‘Imbecille.They’re on your head.’
‘I really don’t know why he’s askedmeto choose his sister’s birthday present, Elena. I hardly know her. You go in my place, please. I can take Stefano to school. Besides, I still have two lesson plans to complete for Monday, and we’re running out of cupcakes.’
Truth be told, Lucy hadn’t slept a wink. The more time she spent with Dario, the more she felt herself falling for him. And it scared her.
Elena sighed. ‘For the last time, I’ve got stuff to do too. Now, go!’
A casual Dario was standing by his Vespa in faded jeans and a pale blue collarless shirt, a navy cashmere sweater draped loosely around his shoulders.
‘Buongiorno, principessa!’ he said, lightly pecking her on both cheeks, then carefully placing a helmet on her head like a crown. Ever the gentleman.
‘You wanna drive?’
‘Me?’
‘Sì.I’ll be right behind you.’
Lucy’s mouth fell open.
Do I want to drive thistwo-wheeled Italian icon around the streets of Naples?she thought.Are you kidding? Of course I do!
‘Certo,’ she said, flashing a beaming smile as she hopped astride the front seat.
‘Turn on the ignition. When you are ready, open up the throttle, like this.Bene.Now, check the mirror, signal, turn the throttle slowly, slowly, release the brake, accelerate and…andiamo! Let’s go!’
As she lurched forward, Dario placed his hands lightly over hers.
The early morning rain had cleared, but with the roads still damp, she tootled along with caution.
The traffic lights hadn’t even turned green before an army of kamikaze motorists roared past, tooting their horns and flashing their lights.
She could feel Dario’s chest against her back and his gentle breath in her ear as he calmly called out directions.
‘Don’t be afraid, don’t hug the kerb, keep a safe distance and keep checking the mirror.’
