Dirty Secrets (24 page)

The office personnel barely raised an eyebrow in response to his tirade, the lack of reaction signified to Adele that he was prone to bouts of hysteria and general meanness during his day to day dealings with his staff. 

“Whatever you’re selling, I’m not buying.”  He was about to close the door in her face when Adele put her hand up to block it. 

“How about the inside scoop on the explosion at the La Borgota?  I bet you don’t even know who died,” she said.

He released the door long enough for her to duck inside his office.  After shutting the door, he sat on his desk.  The wood creaked in response. 

“What do you think you know?” 

Adele sat down on a hard chair and recounted the story.  “The dead man was Cesare, the Argentero’s trusted family assistant.  He had been working with a bunch of crazies called the Fluer-de-lys.  They want to go back to the olden days, when Florence was a powerhouse.”

“How will they go about accomplishing such a grandiose task.”  He asked.

“The first step in their plan is to have the Argentero’s rule Florence again.  They were going to revive arranged marriages, so Luca and Ambrogio would marry women who fit their status with their families money and influence.” 

“Go on, you’ve peaked my interest.” 

“The only problem--Felicita, Ambrogio and Luca’s free will.  They’ve killed and kidnapped people who’ve gotten in their way.  My friend is one of their victims.  She’s been kidnapped.” 

“Do you have anything to corroborate your story?”  He said, eyeing the journal in Adele’s lap.

“It’s all here in Cesare’s journal.  I made copies.  Naturally, I will hold on to the original.”  Adele said.

“Naturally, and may I ask who you are?”

“My name is Adele.  I am--was Ambrogio’s girlfriend.” 

Ambrogio’s handsome face flashed through Adele’s mind.  The thought of him made her apprehensive, but she was steadfast in her belief that this was the only way to bring Robynne back safely. 

He extended his hand which Adele took, shaking it with the force of a category five earthquake.  “My name is Cosimo.  If you’re telling the truth, this could be the biggest news story of the year.  If you’re lying, I will end you.”

“End, as in kill?”  Adele asked.

Cosimo tried grabbing the copies out of Adele’s hand.  “There is more than one way to skin a cat.  I will string you up by your pretty little fingers in the press.” 

Adele moved farther away from Cosimo, rendering the papers out of reach. “What are you going to do with this information?” 

“Run it, of course.” 

“I want you to do more than run it.  My friend’s life is at stake.  I want you to hold a press conference.  I think if we make a public spectacle out of the Fleur-de-lys, it will weaken them.  They will no longer have the power of anonymity.”

“So, you’re willing to air the Argentero’s dirty laundry in order to save your friend?”

“Yes, I am.  Will you help me?” 

He accepted the papers.  “You are either very brave or very stupid.”

“It’s probably a combination of both.” 

“I need proof of your relationship with Ambrogio.  Do you have pictures of you two together?” 

“No, but the investigator, Giacoppo Falconi, saw me at La Borgata yesterday.  But, you can’t let him know I have the journal just yet.  He doesn’t know it exists; I stole it from Cesare’s room.” 

“I see.”  He was barely listening to Adele now. 

He channelled his full energy on reading Cesare’s diary.  After what seemed like ages, Cosimo assigned his best writer to the story.  He made a few calls and brokered a news crew to meet him outside the building in an hour.  This train was in full motion, and Adele couldn’t get off even if she wanted to. 

The next thing Adele knew, she was in front of a crowd of frothing journalists.  On auto-pilot, she recounted everything she knew about the Fleur-de-lys, and what they wanted for Florence and the Argenteros.  She told them about how Robynne and her came ended up in the middle of this mess. 

Lastly, Adele pleaded for the safe return of her friend, passing out several pictures she had photocopied of Robynne to the crowd.  The size of the gathering had nearly tripled by the time she was through.  The easy part over, she now had to field questions from the crush of people, their hands bobbing up and down in the air like percolating tea-kettles.

“Did you, Ambrogio, and Cesare ever have a threesome?”  One overzealous reporter asked.

“Absolutely not.”  Adele answered after having had the question translated. 

“Aren’t you afraid for your life?”  A tall man shouted in a microphone.

“I’m more afraid for my friend, Robynne,”  Adele said.

Model beautiful, a female reporter pushed her way through the crowd, getting Adele’s attention.  “In your statement, you said Robynne had been gone for four days.  What made you wait so long to publicize her disappearance?” 

“We found a riddle at La Borgata containing possible clues or so we thought, unfortunately, it turned out to be a wild goose chase, set up to lore us away from the castle.”

“I think you’re just a woman scorned, and this tall tale was manufactured for revenge.”  This question was catapulted at Adele from the back of the crowd.  Adele was unable to see the face of her prosecutor. 

“I assure you I am telling the truth.  The proof is in the diary.  My friend is in grave danger.”  Adele said.

“Was Ambrogio having a secret affair with Cesare?  Is Ambrogio using you as a cover to hide his homosexuality?”  Another reported asked.

Cosimo pushed himself between Adele and the microphone.  “Come now, Marco.  Is that the only question you could come up with?  You’re reporting still lacks a certain imagination and finesse.  I don’t regret firing you. This inane question and answer session is over.  If you want any more information, read the story. There will be a special edition of La Nazione out in few hours.” 

The reporters were in a frenzy, still spouting off questions which hung limply in the air unanswered.  Adele turned to go back into the building when a familiar voice caught her attention. 

“Did I mean anything to you at all?”  Ambrogio pushed his way through the riotous sea of people with the help of some guards.

Adele made her way back to the microphone.  “This isn’t about you.  It’s about Robynne. I hope you’ll understand and forgive me.”

“This will ruin us, and you are to blame.  You should have trusted me to make this right.  Now, not only is Robynne’s life in danger, but Felicita’s, Luca’s and mine as well.” 

“You have guards and money to protect you.  Robynne doesn’t have any of it.”

“You are wrong.  She had every resource available to her because I loved you, and she was someone you loved.”

“Loved?  You can’t mean what you’re saying.  What if I’m right and they let Robynne go?”

“You still betrayed us.  I am done with you.” 

“You should keep a better handle on your whores.”  A stubble-faced reporter interjected. 

The man had the misfortune of being close enough to Ambrogio to receive a deadly right hook to his jaw.  Thanks to the dense crowd behind him, he sank to the ground instead of flying backwards.  Statement made, Ambrogio walked away as the horde made room for his departure.

Adele never felt more alone than she did right then.  She hoped sacrificing her relationship with Ambrogio would bring her best friend back safe and sound, if not a little bit angry.  She made the somber walk back to the fourth floor, choosing to take the stairs instead of the elevator with the jubilant editor.  She waited in the breakroom for a few hours until Cosimo himself came to retrieve her. 

“Ambrogio’s appearance was brilliant, although unexpected.  I couldn’t have planned it better myself.”  Cosimo said, the elation dripped from his pours.  He couldn’t sit still; his soul was on fire. 

“I’m glad someone is happy about all this.”  Adele said.

“If it means anything to you, I think you did the right thing.”  Cosimo said. 

Their moment of mutual understanding was fleeting.  As soon as a runner dropped off a copy of La Nazione’s special afternoon edition, he transformed back into the newspaper’s put upon leader.  As he checked the article, “bravo’s” filled the air.  When he was done scrutinizing the finished edition, he passed it over to Adele. 

Immediately, the color drained from her face when she read the tile: “Spurned Lover Reveals All About the Argentero’s:  A Tale of Murder, Kidnapping & the Renaissance.”  Although the headline was in front of her in black and white, she could hardly believe what she was reading.  It was a four page spread complete with pictures and descriptions of all the cast of characters involved.  Under her and Robynne’s photos the caption read:

“
Two American Tourists Came to Florence Looking for Some Italian Sausage, but Received the Whole Pot Instead
.” 

This article is completely sensationalized.  I thought you ran a real newspaper.  Where is your journalistic integrity?”  Adele crumbled the rag up into a ball and threw it in the trash. 

“Journalistic integrity doesn’t sell papers.  The byline is the hook used to reel the stinky little fishes in.  Once we have them, then we can tell the story. 
Capisce? 
It’s nothing personal.”

“I understand more than you know.”  She was about to leave when he grabbed her sleeve.

“
In boca al lupo
,” he said.

“
Crepi il lupo
.”  Adele replied. 

She wanted to punch Cosimo in the face, instead, she accepted his good luck declaration. 

“Adele, your accent is not bad.  I just wanted to practice my English.”  Cosimo said escorted her to the elevators. 

“Thanks for giving me a complex about my accent.”

“Don’t be a drama queen. 
Arriverderci
, Adele.”  He said, letting go of the elevator door. 

She held her tears at bay.  After a few deep breaths, she was ready to face the world again.  Unfortunately, the world had been camped out in front of the building, waiting to pounce on some freshly killed, scandalized meat.  None too surprised that Cosimo failed to mention the reporters outside, Adele retreated into the building.

“How am I going to get through all these people?”  Adele said to a man passing by with an enormous cart full of shredded papers.

He shrugged his shoulders and kept walking.  She was about to head back up stairs when a guard with a familiar face approached. 

Chapter 37

“You?  Are you armed with any more inappropriate jokes?” 

He blushed.  “A few guards were sent to escort you back to your hotel.” 

“Ambrogio still cares. Can you take me to La Borgata instead.” She smiled happily at the weary guard.

“No, I have strict orders.  I should warn you not to go there on your own.  You will not make it past the guard shack.” 

“Just take me back to the hotel then,” she said,defeated. 

At the hotel, she drew the curtains shut and hid under the duvet cover.  Only moving occasionally when she needed to rotate out a tear-soaked pillow for a dry one.  To cheer herself up, Adele turned on the television.  She favored gameshows like the Price is Right and soap operas to the childish antics of Tom & Jerry and the like. 

The lead news story featured on every channel, Adele’s revelations were the biggest story to hit Florence, as well as, the rest of Italy since the country’s economy collapsed.  With no comfort to be had, Adele buckled under the weight of her trying day and slept. 

Awakened suddenly, Adele screamed, frantically swatting away a hand in the process of clamping her mouth shut.  Whoever it was proved too strong.  She lay in bed terrified and muted.  As light flooded the room, her assailant revealed himself to be none other than the guard from the lobby. 

“Calm down.  I have news about Robynne, but you must stop screaming.” When Adele nodded, he removed his hand from her mouth.

She had almost wet the bed with relief at seeing one of Ambrogio’s guards instead of an assassin sent to exact revenge on her.  “You could have just knocked.  Was it really necessary to barge in here and scare me half to death?”

“We did knock,” he said.

Still dressed, Adele launched herself out of the bed.  “Never mind, what do you know about Robynne?” 

“Robynne has been found.  They’ve taken her to the hospital.” 

“Is she alright?”

The guard pulled Adele along like a child.  “I don’t know.  We must hurry.” 

“Can I at least get my purse?”  Adele quickly grabbed for one of Robynne’s massive handbags, placing Cesare’s journal inside. 

In the hospital, the long corridor seemed to stretch on for miles.  With every step, Adele grew more tense.  Her shoulders were at attention and she chewed at the inside of her cheek.  She knew Robynne was alright.  She refused to entertain any other thoughts to the contrary. 

To her benefit, Adele didn’t have to worry over any silly administrative issues like checking in at the nursing station.  Doctors and nurses alike removed themselves from the hurricane formed as they walked by.