Dino and Viv came back a few minutes later. “We’ve both talked with our offices, and we’re going back to Rome with you. Viv is going to work with Mike Freeman on security there, and the mayor is going to let me take a few days for consultation with the Rome police on coordinating their operation against Casselli. While we were out, Dante Fiore called. The Italian prime minister has appointed him as Massimo’s replacement. The announcement will be made this afternoon.”

“That’s good news.”

“He tells me that the killing of Massimo and the phone call from the president to the Italian PM have helped concentrate the minds of the government, and maybe even the legislature, when it comes to measures to deal with the Mafia there. That can only be a good thing.”

“How much do you know about how the Italians have been dealing with their Mafia?”

“Only what Massimo told me in a meeting in New York and in a few phone calls. These were about his plans, and not enough time has passed for them to have taken effect, so they’ll be starting from scratch with Dante, albeit with Massimo’s outline for his plans. Dante is going to ride in with us from the airport tomorrow, so he can tell us what his first moves are going to be.”

“The head of the Agency’s Rome station will be with us, too. His name is Jim Lugano, and I expect he already knows Dante.”

“Maybe you’ll get your tsunami after all,” Dino said.

27

Stone lined up on the runway at Ciampino and set the CJ3+ down gently. As he turned off the runway a cart turned into his path with a flashing sign on the back saying: “Follow Me.” Stone did so, and a lineman directed him to park in front of a large hangar. A large black Mercedes van pulled up to the airplane and waited. Stone saw two uniformed Italian policemen carrying automatic weapons standing guard at the van.

Stone, Dino, and Viv deplaned and retrieved their luggage from the airplane, then Stone locked it and got into the Mercedes with the others. The large compartment was set up as a conference table, and introductions were made. Jim Lugano was tall, thin, black-haired, and appeared to be in his early forties. He sported a dense mustache and was dressed in an obviously Italian suit. Dante Fiore was a solidly built six-footer with a thick neck and broad shoulders with short black hair. He pumped Stone’s hand and welcomed him back to Rome.

“I hope your visit will be more peaceful than your last,” he said. “And let me say, I’m glad your girlfriend chose to remain in Paris. We were not looking forward to protecting her while she painted in Rome.”

“You are very well informed,” Stone replied.