The airplane began to move again, this time under its own power. It taxied for what seemed a very long time. A big airport? She decided it was a jet, not a turboprop. Less noise. Then it stopped again for some time. Finally it moved and turned and she felt pressed back into her seat with acceleration. The airplane was taking off. After a while it seemed to level off, and she dozed.

—

Stone’s cell phone vibrated. He retrieved it, turned it on, and saw Hedy’s message: I’m okay but—

“Contact!”

Dino, who had been dozing in his chair, sat up. “What contact?”

“She tried to send a message but was interrupted, just said she was okay, but.”

“But she’s been kidnapped.”

“Exactly, but she has access to her cell phone.”

“They must have let her go to the toilet,” Viv said, “but they didn’t give her much time.”

“You were right, Viv,” Stone said.

“It seems so.”

Stone texted back. I hear you. Try again when you can.

—

Hedy didn’t wake up until the plane touched down. She pretended still to sleep. There was more taxiing, then the plane stopped, then was towed again, this time for a longer ride. Finally, her headset was removed, her seat belt unbuckled, and she was hoisted to her feet and slung over a shoulder again. Men were speaking in Italian, which she understood. She resolved to speak and respond to only English. It might give her some sort of edge. Shortly, she was placed in another car trunk, and the car drove away. Although her hands were now tied in front of her, she made no attempt to reach her cell phone again, because she didn’t know how long she would have before she was interrupted, and she didn’t want to lose the cell phone. She dozed again, and when she woke, she didn’t know how long she had been out. She must still have some of the drug in her. Now they were driving more slowly and making very sharp turns in both directions.

Hedy remembered a road like this: the Amalfi Coast. After an hour or so the car came to a stop, and doors opened and slammed. She was taken out of the trunk again and slung over what felt like the same shoulder. There were steel-like clangings, and she felt the gravity increase and heard the whine of machinery. An elevator, probably some sort of industrial one, hence the louder-than-usual noise as they climbed.

They climbed for what seemed a long time.

30

Jim Lugano answered his cell phone. “Lugano.”

“It’s Lance. What news of the girl?”

“Stone called, he’s had a partial text. She said she’s all right, but she was cut short. She’s a smart girl, apparently, she’s hidden her phone.”

“Smart indeed. Why haven’t we bagged these people? Couldn’t her position be nailed from the call?”