“Not necessary,” I interrupted, gratefully receiving the tall gin and tonic from a handsome waiter with flashing black eyes. “Cyrene and I have roomed together before. Besides, she snores. You’d never get any sleep with her.”

“I snore!” Cyrene said, mustering an indignant look. “I like that! You could bring down a roof.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Doppelgangers can’t snore. Everyone knows that . . .” My voice trailed to a stop as I watched a man walk across the square. It was fully dark now, and although lights from the various shops and cafés lit up the square, the very center of it had a puddle of shadow that seemed to ripple. Couples strolled around the edges, younger people laughed and joked as they darted in and out of the shops, and dogs barked as they romped after playing children. It was a typical Italian scene, with nothing out of the ordinary, nothing to make my inner warning bells sit up and take notice, and yet, that’s just what they did.

The man with dark hair pulled back in a long ponytail strode across the square, pausing in the center, where the shadows were the darkest. A woman with hair the color of a shiny penny emerged from an alley to meet him. They spoke for a few seconds; then the two proceeded on to where a small, sleek sports car was parked on a side street.

“Do you have the car keys?” I asked Maata, my eyes narrowed on the figure of the man as he got into the car.

“Yes. Do you want them?” She started to rummage in her pockets for them.

“Stay here,” I ordered Cyrene, snatching up my bag. I dug out a few coins and tossed them on the table, grabbing the keys that Maata had produced.

“Where are you going?” Cyrene asked, frowning.

“I don’t know. I see someone who looks familiar, and I really would like to know where he’s going. Stay here. I’ll call you and let you know where I am.”

“Not on your life!” She grabbed her jacket and purse and followed me, Maata on her heels.

I gave them both an exasperated look. “This might be dangerous—”

“Do you have any idea what Gabriel would do if he found out I let you go off on your own?” Maata asked, giving me a stern look.

I didn’t have time to argue my ability to handle myself. The car was already driving away from us, out into the darkness. I simply bolted for the rental car, calling back, “I’ll drive; you two watch for the blue Alfa Romeo.”

“You’re a doppelganger—you probably have better night vision than me,” Maata answered as we reached the car. “I’ll drive; you act as navigator.”

“Smart thinking.” I tossed her the keys and got into the passenger seat.