As we walked away from the yacht tourists watched us to figure out if we were famous. One lady pointed us out to her husband and got him to take a picture. All because we had gotten off the biggest yacht in Portofino. I tried to look rich and important but I was having trouble doing that because I still felt as if I was on the boat, what with the ground going up and down.

“What does Mr. Andriotti do?” I asked Gino.

Gino laughed and said, “Do? ‘ees the beeggest creeminal in Italia!”

Then I said, “No, really, what does he do?”

“Why you noa beelievea me? I tella you ‘ees a capo. Very powerful creeminal.”

“Then why do you have him for a friend?” Gino just laughed. But I still didn’t really believe him because Mr. Andriotti seemed like one of the nicest people I had ever met. I decided if Mom asked me I’d tell her he owned an airline.

Chapter 28

I MADE A BIG MISTAKE. I guess I was still a little drunk from my lunch on Mr. Andriotti’s yacht. I told Rachael about how it was on the yacht. I met her in front of the hotel and she asked me why I was not able to walk very well. I had never told her or anyone else how Gino gave me whiskey and water because I knew I’d get into trouble and never be allowed to see him again. But it had been such a big day and I had had so much champagne and wine that I got carried away and started telling the truth.

Before I told Rachael the alcohol part I made her promise not to tell Dad. But I forgot to make her promise not to tell Mom. She behaved like a Pharisee. She kept the letter of the Law but not its spirit. While I talked she was all interested and didn’t act shocked but asked lots of questions. But in her heart she was plotting my destruction.