Ian propped himself against the exposed brick wall, sat down on the wooden floor, and unfolded the map Sunderland had sent. When it grew dark, hewithdrew a candle and the tin of matchsticks he’d lifted from the tavern and continued studying the map until he heard the scuffle he’d been waiting for.
The door rattled open, and footsteps approached.
He kept his eyes on the map and only lifted his head at the cock of a trigger.
“You don’t need that,” he told his would-be assailant. “I won’t hurt you.”
The barmaid from the tavern scoffed. “Don’t believe you. You’re a desperate man. Desperate men do desperate things.”
Ian didn’t contradict her. He had a knife in his boot and another inside his pocket. And he could easily overwhelm her if he needed to. “Where is Diana?”
The woman shook her head dismissively. “You need to leave Florence.”
“And you’re going to let me?” He stood slowly, using the wall for support, as he eyed the gun in the woman’s hand. “You broke White Stag protocol coming here.”
“You know nothing about us.”
“I know that a well-trained operative would never approach an opponent alone.” He took a step forward. “Where’s your second?”
Ian whistled the low cry of a barn owl, and when there was no corresponding reply, the barmaid clenched and unclenched her jaw.
“Widow sent you out here alone because you’re dispensable.” He inched closer. “She doesn’t care if you return.”
The woman wrapped a second hand around her gun. “That’s what I signed on for.”
“No, it isn’t. You committed to a mission to help the helpless. You didn’t agree to this.”
“I—”
Her voice cut out as she swayed, then sank to her knees. She futilely tried to maintain a hold on the gun, but it skittered across the floor, where Ian picked it up.
“I’d have thought that all those Stag spies would have discovered the British navy’s experiments with nerve tonic,” he said. “It’s undetectable when mixed with a fine chianti.”
The Stag sputtered an inaudible gasp.
“In three minutes, you won’t be able to sense anything below your neck,” Ian continued. “In four minutes, you’ll stop breathing altogether. Don’t worry, it will be peaceful.”
“You bastard,” she spat out.
“Technically, yes. I am. But I prefer to be called a devil.” With a flash of his teeth, he added, “In two minutes, an associate of mine will arrive with the antidote. If you value your life, you’ll tell me where Diana is.”
“I don’t know.” The woman wheezed. “They keep our crews separate for a reason.”
“Where did they take her afterIl Gioco?”
“Here.”
“How would they travel to meet Widow?”
“It’s different each time. But they’re sticking to land this time.”
“Why?”
“More options.” Her words slurred. “Easier to divert or stop.”
Ian crouched down. “And why would they need to do that?”
“In case anyone was hurt.”