Remi added, “We’ll call and let you know if anything turns up. Has Bako moved yet?”

“You’re safe for the moment. Tibor says that Bako and his men are still in Szeged. If they understood the message, they’re in no hurry to get to Italy.”

“That’s the best news of the day,” said Remi.

“Glad to oblige. I’ll talk to you if anything changes,” Selma said and then hung up.

Remi put the phone away and they drove to their hotel, a white building on the beach with a cordon of bright red beach umbrellas that made it look as though it belonged a few miles to the east on the Adriatic. After checking into the hotel and examining their equipment, Remi and Sam went to see the concierge, a fifty-year-old woman wearing a tailored gray suit with the hotel’s logo on the left lapel. “May I help you?” she said, her lightly tinted glasses glinting.

“I understand that this area is full of bicycle paths,” said Sam. “Is there one that runs the length of the Mincio River?”

“Oh, yes,” said the concierge. “It begins where the river flows out of the harbor and runs all the way through Mantua and beyond. I’ve done the ride myself many times. It’s about twenty-five miles.”

“When you say ‘and beyond,’ what do you mean? How far beyond?”

“There’s a natural stopping point at Mantua where the river becomes three lakes. But you could continue eight miles to the place where the Mincio continues to the Po.” She reached into the top drawer of her desk and handed Sam a map. “The bicycle route is marked and shows you just where to go.”

“Thank you,” said Sam. He gave a little bow. “Mille grazie.”

The concierge laughed. “You make a good Italian. Once you get to know this place, you might not want to go home.”

“I’ll try to be a good guest,” he said. To Remi he said, “Let’s get some bicycles.”

They walked along an old canal, following the map, to a bicycle shop. At first, everything in the shop seemed to be the sort of gear used by professional racers. But when the proprietor saw Remi walk past a three-thousand-euro bike and ask for something a bit more comfortable for touring, he showed them some sturdy, practical mountain bikes with thick, knobby tires and well-padded seats. They picked out a pair, with his advice, bought backpacks, and threw in some visors to keep the sun out of their eyes. Sam also bought a variety of accessories—lights, reflectors, and other items that attached to bicycles, and a portable set of bicycle tools.