Ciao amico mio,” Enzo groaned. “What a pleasant surprise to hear your voice, even at six o’clock in the morning.”
“Sorry my friend, I didn’t realize the time. Worse yet, I’m not calling with good news.”
“Qual è il problema, what’s the problem?”
“There’s a possibility Simon may be heading your way,” Noble informed.
Then he proceeded to fill Enzo in on the details concerning the hunt for Simon, but held back on the specifics as they related to the actual plot. Although Enzo was the director of the police services for Interpol, the impending crisis was out of his bailiwick.
“If we don’t apprehend him before he crosses our border into Canada, he most probably will head for Europe. He will be traveling with a United Nations Laissez-Passer passport, under the name Aadam Ar-Rashid. Simon’s master disguise for Aadam is short curly hair, salt and pepper in color. He will also sport a full beard and wear thick black-framed glasses. I’ll send you a composite drawing.”
Enzo chuckled. “Mama mia, where did he come up with that name?” He always found Simon’s array of aliases interesting, especially his selection for al-Fadl, meaning the redeemer.
“This time around he is the righteous teacher. Please update your database and I’ll keep you posted as we move in on his location.”
“I’ll call it in to headquarters right away.”
“You’re not in Lyon?”
“No, I’m in San Marino on business.”
“San Marino! Don’t tell me Interpol has an office there?”
“Si,” Enzo announced proudly. “We have a National Central Bureau that works in conjunction with the other three police entities on investigative activities, along with any affair involving public order and national security.”
Noble remembered from one of Enzo’s impromptu history lessons, while working on the European terrorist events in Lyon, that the Republic of San Marino is the oldest independent city-state in the world. Its first governing body dates back to 1243, although the city’s first historical documents date back as far as 885. “Nice boondoggle, Enzo.”
“There may only be roughly thirty-thousand inhabitants, but our role is vital in promoting cooperation between San Marino and other member countries. You must come and visit next time you travel to Italy amico mio.”
“But Enzo, San Marino is not in Italy,” Noble teased.
They both knew that geographically, San Marino is located in the country of Italy, but technically wedged in between two Italian regions, Emilia Romagna to the northeast and Montefeltro in the Marche to the southwest, and is totally independent.
“Bravo, you were paying attention. Seriously, San Marino che bellezza. She is a beautiful, charming medieval treasure resting on the top of Mount Titano, with a three-hundred-and-sixty degree view. You can even spot the Adriatic Coast, about a forty-minute drive away.”
“I would love to Enzo. You may have your wish sooner rather than later, if I don’t stop Simon from leaving the country.”
“We’ll be on alert, but you’ll capture him this time. And when you do, I have the perfect place where you can buy that dinner you owe me.”
Noble remembered the outstanding debt, very well. It was offered when Enzo agreed secretly to lend him the use of Interpol’s WAASP, the top-secret prototype for an aerial surveillance system. It had the capacity to detect underground structures at great depths through solid objects, including mountains. The WAASP was crucial in determining the exact location of the underground encampment that led to the capture of Simon, the second time around.
“Let me guess—dinner in San Marino?”
“When you put Simon away, you’ll be doing the world a great favor. Dinner will be my treat. Besides, you must meet my dear friend Giovanni Righi. He owns Ristorante Righi in the Piazza Libertà next to the Public Palace. The food e fantastico and Giovanni is a prince of a man. It’s the perfect place for a buongustaio, a connoisseur like you.”
“You’re the food lover Enzo. I’ve never had a disappointing meal in your company.”
“Then it’s a deal! Wrap up your case and then let’s spend some time together. I miss our conversations and the stories we share about Hamilton.” At the mention of Hamilton, Noble realized how he too enjoyed his time with Enzo. It was a way of keeping his dear mentor’s memory alive. “It’s a deal. I’ll keep you up to date on Simon’s case. Until later my friend.”
“Ciao amico mio.”
“Ciao.”