Out of the Ashes (28 page)

* * *

Sera was becoming such a familiar face at the
Pompei
jailhouse, she was surprised they didn’t give her a key. Of course, that would make getting David out of his cell a little too easy, and the fates seemed to be conspiring to make her life as difficult as possible lately.

She arrived just after visiting hours started. After a long, sleepless night worrying about how Italy’s surrender might affect him, she wanted to see David as soon as she could. Judging by the dark circles under his eyes, she wasn’t the only one who hadn’t slept well the night before.

“I guess you’ve heard the news.”

David stifled a yawn and tunneled his fingers through his hair, making the waves look more tousled than usual.

“It was kind of hard to miss. The guards even had themselves a little party. Of course, I wasn’t invited, but I got to enjoy the noise of the merrymakers all night long.”

“I know. The celebrations in the street kept me up half the night, too.” Even though she worried for his safety, she couldn’t help but feel some of the excitement radiating through the town. “You should have seen it. The bonfires, the people dancing in the streets. It was just like the night they arrested Mussolini.”

At the shared memory of what almost happened that night, David smiled.

“At least we’re on the same side now.”

She reached up and held his hand where it dangled over the cross-bar of the cell door.

“Oh, David. I’ve been on your side for a long time. I just didn’t realize it until it was—”

Familiar voices echoed down the hallway, drawing Sera’s attention. She turned to find a guard escorting the
Angelicos
toward David’s cell.

“
Heberto
, Maria? What are you doing here?”

“Well, we came to visit David, of course.” Maria beamed a smile at David. “You’re not the only friend he has in this town, you know.”

Sera stood stunned. She’d had no idea they’d been visiting him at all.

Her surprise must have been evident on her face, because David started laughing.

“Don’t look so shocked. They’ve been coming once or twice a week. Signora Angelico browbeats the guards when she doesn’t think they’re feeding me well enough, and
Heberto’s
been keeping me up on all the
bocce
games.” David reached through the bars and shook
Heberto’s
hand. “How did it go on Sunday?”

Heberto
grinned. “Lost the first match, but won the other two.”

“Not bad. When I get out of here, I’m going to have to challenge you to a game.”

“You’ve got yourself a match.”
Heberto
winked at Sera, then looked back at David. “But I warn you, it’s a game of skill, not brawn. Think your pride can handle an old man beating the socks off of you?”

David chuckled. “We’ll just have to see about that… old man.”

The sound of the outer door grating open ended the friendly banter. Sera felt her heart leap into her throat as two guards made their way toward them. Without questioning how, she knew they were coming for David.

“Signore Corbelli. The
giudice
della
corte
di
circuito
is in office and will hear your case now.”

Sera didn’t know whether to be excited or scared.

“But I didn’t think the judge was going to make a decision until the background report came from Naples.”

The guard didn’t even glance her way as he unlocked David’s cell.

“As a matter of coincidence, the report arrived just before he did, about an hour ago.”

Sera’s heart plummeted to her stomach from where it had been lodged in her throat. Dear God, this was it. She might be only moments away from losing David forever.

Following David and the guards down the hallway, with
Heberto
and Maria trailing behind her, Sera felt as if she were the condemned instead of David. How did he manage to walk so tall and seem so brave when she was falling apart inside?

The officers led them through the main area at the front of the jailhouse and up a wide, wooden staircase to a large room on the second floor. Crammed bookcases lined the walls on both sides, and a large wooden desk sat in front of a row of windows allowing bright sunlight to flood the cluttered room. As she stood in the doorway, the smell of cooked onions and over-ripe olives battled with the musty odor of old books and dust. A heavy-set man sat behind the desk in his shirtsleeves, a plate with the remains of his recent malodorous lunch resting on a stack of papers.

Sera,
Heberto
, and Maria hovered just outside the open door as the guards brought David to stand before the judge. Sera held her breath while Maria and
Heberto
each clasped one of her hands. If it weren’t for their support, she probably would have melted into a quivering puddle on the floor.

Judge
Buscelli
looked up at David and eyed him with interest.

“Signore Corbelli, you are being held under suspicion of murder in the death of Giovanni Ragusa, is that correct?”

“It was self-defense, Your Honor.”

The judge patted a paper on his desk with his hand. “So it says here in your statement. Do you have anything you’d like to add to it?”

David held his back stiff, looking straight ahead.

“All I can say is what I’ve said before—that I acted in self-defense. Signore Ragusa shot at myself and
Signorina
Pisano. When he ran out of bullets, he attacked me with a knife. I had no choice but to fight back to save both our lives.”

“I see.” Judge
Buscelli
leaned back in his chair, the wooden legs groaning under the strain of his weight. “And why, exactly, was Signore Ragusa trying to kill you both?”

David didn’t speak right away. The air grew heavy with expectation as everyone in the room waited for his answer.

“He was stealing artifacts from the ruins and selling them on the black market. It was because of me that he was discovered and wanted by the authorities.”

The judge nodded his head. “Revenge is often a strong motive, along with greed and love.”
Buscelli
glanced down at a paper on his desk and adjusted his dark-rimmed glasses to read it. “It says here that you and Signore Ragusa had a previous altercation, just prior to his being charged with stealing the artifacts. Did that have anything to do with the thefts?”

“No, that was over me.” The words flew out of Sera’s mouth before she could stop them.

Buscelli
looked around David at her.

“Ah,
Signorina
Pisano, I presume. Please do come in.”

Sera walked on shaky legs to stand before the judge, forcing one of the officers who flanked David to move to the side.

“I’ve read your statement also,
Signorina
Pisano. Care to elaborate on any of it, since you were there when this unfortunate incident took place?”

Sera looked at David standing beside her, her mouth suddenly gone dry. What if the judge’s decision hinged on what she said now? What if she said the wrong thing?

“What he says is true. Giovanni was angry at David and blamed him for ruining his career.”

“And was that the only reason?” the judge prompted, glancing back and forth between them as if he already knew the answer.

“No. Giovanni and I were engaged for a time. He said he wanted me back, and I refused him.” She felt David stiffen by her side. She’d never told him about that.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, afraid he might be angry that she’d kept it from him. She licked at her dry lips and continued on. “Giovanni knew I was developing feelings for David. I think he believed that David was taking his rightful place, in the ruins and in my life.”

David turned to look at her, his brown eyes darkening ever so slightly. Sera’s heart began to pound again under his scrutiny, and she wondered what he was thinking.

“
Sì
, well. Since Signore Ragusa is no longer able to tell his side of the tale, I only have your word for it.”

Sera felt hope fade. The judge didn’t sound convinced of David’s innocence.

“Fortunately, I recently received twelve additional statements from tourists who were in the Amphitheatre at the time of the altercation.”

“Witnesses? What witnesses?” Maria blurted out.

Sera was as surprised as she was. There hadn’t been anyone else in the arena with them until the police arrived.

Buscelli
cast Maria a quelling glance, then turned his attention back to David.

“They have each sworn an affidavit attesting to the fact that they witnessed the fight and that it did, indeed, appear to be self-defense on the part of Signore Corbelli.”

“So does this mean David is free to go?” Sera asked.

“Not quite. There’s still the matter of the background information the public prosecutor requested on Signore Corbelli since he is virtually unknown in
Pompei
.” The judge looked to the officer standing beside David. “I understand the report has finally arrived?”

The officer handed
Buscelli
a large tan envelope.

Panic swamped Sera, and a bead of sweat trickled between her breasts. As the judge cut open the envelope with a silver letter opener, the tearing sound ripped through her already frayed nerves. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt a desperate need to grab David’s hand and run as fast as she could.

Buscelli
reached in the envelope and frowned. “What is the meaning of this?”

Sera held her breath, uncertain of what was happening.

“It’s empty. The report is not in here.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Sera saw Maria glance sharply at
Heberto
. He shrugged his shoulders at her, obviously as perplexed as everyone else.

The judge glared back and forth between the two officers in the room as if it were somehow their fault the envelope was mailed without the report inside.

“Well, since the other witnesses corroborate your story, the report is somewhat irrelevant now. I am not going to charge you with murder.”

Sera couldn’t stop her quick intake of breath. Was he really going to let David go?

“However, there is a penalty for any act of self-defense that results in a death. Since you have been held past the forty-day custody limit, I’m commuting your sentence to time already served, plus a fine of three hundred thousand lira.”

Three hundred thousand lira!
Sweet Mother Mary, that was over three months’ pay. Sera doubted David had that much money saved.

If he was surprised at the amount, David didn’t show it.

“I regret, Your Honor, that I don’t have the money to pay the fine.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Buscelli
sighed heavily. “In that case, I’m afraid you will have to serve out the remainder of the minimum three month sentence.”

“David, I’ll get the money,” Sera said.

“No!” He looked sharply at her. “I can’t let you do that.”

Damn his male pride.

“And I won’t let you sit in that jail cell one minute longer than necessary. I have some money saved—”

Maria stepped forward.

“And I’m certain we can come up with the rest between us and our friends.”

David looked at the three of them, an indomitable wall of determination. He shook his head as the tension in his shoulders eased.

“I’ll pay all of you back as soon as I can.”

Heberto
patted him on the back.

“All in due time, son.”

The judge cleared his voice, drawing their attention back to him. “Very well. In that case, Signore Corbelli will be released as soon as the fine is paid.”

As the guards turned to take David back to his cell,
Buscelli
stopped them. “Signore Corbelli, one more thing. Once you are released, I’d advise you to remain in
Pompei
. If that missing report ever turns up and shows anything in your past to indicate this incident may have been anything other than self-defense, I may be forced to re-examine this case.”

David nodded to the judge, his eyes hooded.

“I understand, Your Honor.”

Sera watched as the guards led him away. At least he would be out soon if they could raise the money to pay the fine. Turning to
Heberto
and Maria, she hugged them both.

Maria smiled at her. “We’ll help all we can, dear.”

“Thank you.” Pulling away, Sera turned and headed for the door.

* * *

“Signora and Signore Angelico,” the judge called, stopping them as they made to follow Serafina. “I would like to speak with you a moment. Close the door,
per
favore
.”

Hershel and Marsha exchanged wary glances. Why did he want to talk to them?

As the door clicked shut behind Serafina, a disturbingly familiar voice spoke out of the judge’s mouth.