Romano goes quiet at the end of the line, and I wonder what he is doing. I decide to help him out.
“I assume you’re switching on the secure cam app you gave me. You’ll see the cameras have been installed in each of the rooms. Although to what purpose, I have no idea.”
“But how did you—? There is no way Gaultieri would have left his room unsecured before sleeping.”
“He did not. As I told you, I improvised. As I am sure you know, Johanson flew the red-eye in from Cape Town. When he checked in late last night, he was clearly exhausted but not too tired to order a fresh pot of tea from room service. Let’s just say the slightly modified beverage helped him sleep a little deeper. He will wake refreshed and oblivious to my nighttime visit. The adjoining room to his, in case you were not aware, is being redecorated and is currently vacant. Yes, I got lucky there. On the streets, I learnt to turn random opportunities like these to my advantage. But after acquiring a hotel pass key, I only had to wait a reasonable amount of time after his lights went out. After that, I performed everything in the dark. Now, maybe you’ll tell me why I’m installing cameras in the hotel room of one of your own agents. An assignment that, quite frankly, any one of your colleagues in the UK could have completed without a fuss. I find it hard to believe that you made a mistake with the intended target, Dr Romano.”
Romano lets out an audible sigh, before laughing. I hope he comes clean and tells me the real reason for Gaultieri—to test me.
“The only mistake I made was in underestimating you, Agent Larsen. Well done. This is not the assignment I had in mindfor Lorenzo, by the way, which was cancelled after the target was caught and arrested at passport control in Milan. But, yes, I did want to see how well you would perform. And you have, as always, excelled.”
I relax then because that’s precisely what is written in the email, Romano asking Gaultieri to be in London to test someone considered a highly skilled and potentially invaluable new operative.
“Perhaps something a little more demanding next time?”
“Noted. I took your suggestion, by the way. Command is sending a team to Eagle House this weekend to confront the aggressors. Teresa and Lorenzo have locked everything important in the strongroom and evacuated the villa. I’ve sent them south to a safe house for a month until we have official word that the incursion is over. But the same goes for you. Stay in London until you hear from me again. Do not try contacting me. And please do not be tempted to contact your old friends.”
“Of course not. What about you? What will you do?”
“I have been told to stay here, but nearby. I’ve agreed to let our people view the security footage on the villa system. Once the operation is over and I get the green light, I will go back with a few senior agents and let them see what we have.”
I stall a moment. He must realise they will see footage of me on the night of the intruders. As usual, he is ahead of me.
“Mrs Bellacci has made modifications to the digital records. The timestamp for Alice’s visit has been swapped with the day Spataro’s men called. After that, you no longer appear in any footage. And, as you know, Mrs Bellacci is very thorough.”
“Yes, I have not forgotten.”
“I will send the Leblanc file to your phone later. The attachment will be encrypted with a code.”
“Which is?”
“I am sure you will work it out.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh.
“But you will need to handle Leblanc on your own, I’m afraid,” he continues, more seriously. “My remit does not normally reach outside the borders of Italian territories, and even though we help other agencies from time to time, my influence beyond that goes only so far. Moreover, if I call in a favour to get you access to Leblanc’s room, someone is bound to make a connection.”
“I understand completely. They’re probably watching you as eagerly as they’re searching for Gabriel. I thought I would apply for a menial job at the hospital, perhaps a security or porter role. That way, I’ll have card access to all the wards. Even the secure ones where visitors can’t freely visit.”
“I was going to suggest the same. I have even furnished you with references regarding hospital fieldwork carried out while you worked for the UN. I know I said I would not get involved officially, but I have called in a personal favour from a former colleague who works in the same group of hospitals that houses Leblanc. There is no guarantee that an interview or a job will be offered, but ask to speak to the hospital’s head of hospital support, Ravi Patel. Mention Doctor Stephenson and that may, at the very least, get your foot in the door. In the meantime, do not call this number unless the need is urgent. I will contact you with an update when I can.”
I hesitate before asking the next question. “How’s Lorenzo?”
When I’d called him from the car, I’d received a curt, monosyllabic response before he’d hung up. We have neither spoken nor texted each other since.
Romano lets out a soft sigh. “As expected. He will recover.”
That is all he needs to say. I feel bad about him, but I have a job to do. Focus on the mission first. Romano’s words come back to me.
“Would you like me to remove the cameras from Agent Gaultieri’s room?”
A soft snort from Romano comes down the phone.
“No, he can do that himself. And I will take great pleasure in telling him the job was done while he slept. Have you thought any more about what I suggested on the drive to the airport?”
I had sensed a hesitation in his voice when he’d suggested I remove my tattoo while I was in London. After all, it’s the only remaining visual clue to my identity.
“I have. And I won’t. Not yet, anyway. It’s hard to explain, but it’s a part of who I am.”