“Unfortunately,” Dino said, “there appears to be a deep gorge and a river between us and there.”

They went back down the hill to the open plaza; Stone got out his iPhone and went to Google Maps. He pointed at a bridge. “We cross the bridge and take a right. It’s not far.”

Presently, they found themselves at the door of Restaurant Sibilla, where a small electric cart was parked. Shortly they were seated on a large terrace, covered by a grapevine with a trunk like an oak, with the Temple of Diana nearby.

They had a superb lunch, but went easy on the excellent wine, since they had to drive back. They spent a good two hours there, then Dino had an idea and asked if they could have a ride back to their car. The electric vehicle was brought up, they got aboard, and began to move. Back at the main street, two young men took more than a normal interest in them. As they crossed the bridge, Dino looked back. “Those two guys are chasing us,” he said.

Stone looked back, too; Dino was right. “Fortunately, they’re not gaining on us.”

They were driven to their car, tipped the driver of the cart generously, and drove back down the hill. On the way back, they passed the two young men walking up the hill. One of them pulled a gun from his jacket as they passed.

“Uh-oh,” Dino said. He glanced into his rearview mirror. “They’re getting into a car.”

37

Stone was behind the wheel. “Don’t drive fast,” Dino said.

“You want them shooting at us in town?”

“I don’t think they’ll do that.” As it turned out, Dino was right; they were on the autostrada back to Rome before the car pulled up next to them and shots were fired in their direction. Stars appeared on their armored windows; Dino climbed into the backseat. “I’ll bet they don’t have an armored car like ours,” he said. “Let’s find out.” He rolled down the window a couple of inches and fired two rounds at the front seat passenger. Their window glass shattered. “I was right,” he said.

It soon became clear that their pursuers were under-equipped in the armor department.

“What are they doing?” Stone asked.

“They’ve dropped back behind us, and one of them is on a cell phone.”

“You think they’re calling for reinforcements?”

“I think we should behave as if they are.”

Stone checked the rearview mirror and saw the car rapidly approaching in the fast lane. He slammed on the brakes and cut across two lanes to an exit, while the pursuing car was forced to continue down the autostrada.

“Now we’re lost,” Dino said. The woman in the GPS was demanding that they make a U-turn as soon as possible.

“She’ll recalibrate in a minute,” he said.