They didn’t know where I lived! The identity card had Giuliana’s address on it. They would check that address and find that she had died, but they wouldn’t know where I was or my real name. I just wouldn’t go to the questura in the morning. I’d go into hiding. I hurried home, threw some random clothes and baby things into a suitcase and woke Angelo from his nap.

“Francesca, I have to go to a friend for a few days,” I said, babbling the first words that came into my head. “She is not well. She has broken her ankle, and I said I’d keep her company. I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but you don’t need to come here until I send for you.”

“Va bene,” she said, nodding at the thought of time off. “I’ll still get paid, sì ?”

“You’ll still get your normal wages.” I wasn’t quite sure how she was paid, but I suspected that Leo had set up an automatic payment for her, the way he had for me. Which made me decide I should take out money while I still could.

I wrote a letter to Leo, in case he returned while I was away. In the note I said I had gone to visit an old mutual friend. He would know who that was since I had spoken about her a lot. I was going to head straight for the Lido and take out money at the branch of the Banco de San Marco there—until I realized I’d have to show identity. So instead I waited impatiently until the next morning, left Angelo with Francesca and made my way across to the bank behind St Mark’s Square and my friend Signor Gilardi. I asked to withdraw all the money from the account. Signor Gilardi counted out banknotes for me and handed them over with a smile.

“A big purchase, signorina?”

“I’m going to visit a sick friend.” I repeated my alibi. “I don’t know how long I’ll be away.”

“I wish you good journey, then.”

I came out and rushed back to Angelo, making sure that I avoided any streets where I might bump into a policeman. I was sweating and out of breath by the time I staggered up the stairs and downed a glass of water.

“I can make tea or coffee,” Francesca said. “Sit down. Rest a while.”