One less enemy to worry about

…

There was no doubt at that point that Vittoria and the fake countess were working together, and Vittoria knew who she was.

I helped Juliet sit up against the wall and fetched her a wet towel to put on the back of her head.  After a minute or so she seemed better.

“Did you know the countess wasn’t the countess?” I asked her.

“I just did as I was told.  I think we’re both being used in one way or another, Evan.”

I was beginning to think that too.

Vittoria, of course, had to protest, “What do you mean the countess is a fake.  She is not.  If anyone would know it would be me.”

“Can I shoot her now?” Cecelia asked.

“Do something with her, but don’t leave a mess.”

Cecelia hit her with the gun butt, and she slid to the floor, unconscious.  She was not going to be of any use to us, so it would be a call to Alfie to get the cleaners.

“What the hell was that for?” Juliet was upset.

“Did you go to a farm when Vittoria and the fake Countess went to talk to a man called Dicostini?  Think long and hard before you answer.”

She did.  “I can’t say for sure, I was told to stay in the car.”

“At a farm, another vineyard?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you think they made you stay in the car?”

Another moment to consider the question.  It wasn’t hard, even for her.  So I couldn’t tell you who it was we saw.  They didn’t trust me.  It seems everyone I meet or know doesn’t trust me.”

“Do you honestly think that woman is your mother?”

“Honestly?  No.”

“Well, I don’t think she is either, but I’ve got people working on it.  And, like it or not, you’re working with us now.  Please don’t let me down.”

She sat there for a few seconds or perhaps it was a minute, during which I found I was holding one of her hands.  It was an odd feeling that went through me.

Not the time to get distracted.

“Why are you giving me a chance?”

“Let’s just say I’m hoping you’ll find a way to redeem yourself before I have to hand you over to the authorities.”

“And if I do?”

“I might give you a ten-minute head start.”

I tied up Vittoria so she couldn’t get free or make a noise, then called Alfie and told him we had a package to pick up.

Cecelia tidied up the room so it wouldn’t look like there’d been a kidnapping, and then we put Vittoria in one of the beds and set her out like she was asleep/

If the housemaids came they’d be none the wiser.

Juliet recovered and I cleaned the wound.

It was then she worked it out.  “So, if that other countess was fake, where’s the real countess?”

“Being held where you went yesterday, or another place owned by that man.”

“When did you make this discovery?”

“After speaking to Anna.  She doesn’t know the real countess is missing, nor does anyone else know there is another person also missing, which is basically why Cecelia and I are here.”

“What do expect me to do?”

“Help me find them.  There will be two teams and a few properties to search.  And now that we’re finished here, we’re leaving.”

I helped her to her feet.  “Can you walk?”

“I got hit on the head, not shot in the leg.”  She sounded a little annoyed.  I was not surprised.

“Good.  Save that anger you’re feeling.  You’re going to need it.”

© Charles Heath 2023