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“Cosenza polizia” was how the man in uniform introduced himself, in a clipped, no-nonsense tone. The other individual, wearing a trench coat and sporting a mustache, had a few more words. He reached a hand out to Maddock. “I apologize for interrupting your dinner, signor, but this is most urgent. I am Fabrizio Colombo from the Ministero dei Beni e Delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo.”
Bones raised an eyebrow. “The Ministry of Cultural Heritage Activities and Tourism?” He and Maddock exchanged looks. They both knew full well what this was about. Cultural heritage referred to artifacts, and more specifically to what they thought of as treasure. Neither said anything while waiting to see what Colombo had to say. They didn’t have long to wait.
“May we speak outside?” Colombo asked.
Maddock looked ruefully at his half-full glass. “I haven’t finished my wine yet.”
Bones glanced around at the nearby tables. “And I’m still working on getting a few chicks’ digits—that’s phone numbers for you old guys.”
The Italian men exchange frowns. Colombo said, “Again, gentlemen, I do apologize for interrupting your meal. By way of compensation, MiBACT will gladly cover your bill. Now kindly come this way, please.’ The polizia cleared his throat while Colombo extended an arm toward the restaurant’s nearest exit, directly off the outdoor dining area.
Maddock remembered what he’d heard about the Italian justice system—that it was corrupt and particularly tough on foreigners. He didn’t know if that was particularly true or not, but that’s what he had heard. Still, he nodded to Bones, and they got up from their table, Bones chugging down the last of his beer as the other three began walking toward the exit. Outside, they walked a short distance to the banks of the Busento River. It was small and shallow, hardly a river at all. Their conversation easily overcame the soft gurgling of its waters.
Colombo stopped near the water and addressed them seriously. “I understand the two of you are treasure hunters.” It wasn’t a question, but the implication was clear. Maddock responded without further prompting.
“Archeologists, actually,” Maddock said. “Specifically, marine archaeologists.”
The polizia stood a short distance away from the other three, keeping an unobtrusive yet sharp watch on their surroundings while Colombo continued to question Maddock and Bones. “So then I am mistaken to assume you are here for Alaric’s Treasure?” He raised an eyebrow as if daring them to say he was mistaken.
Maddock shook his head after which Colombo gave him a long, hard look, but Maddock waited for him to speak first. Finally, the investigator grew impatient. “I understand you have, in your possession, Signor Maddock, artifacts that are rightfully the property of the Italian government.”
Inwardly, Maddock cringed. This was even worse than he thought. He was hoping this was a cursory snooping around into possible treasure hunting activities, but the accusation made it crystal clear that their information was rock solid.
At this point, Bones interjected to say the artifacts were found in international waters. Colombo laughed in response. “Alaric’s fleet was sunk in the Strait of Messina, which is far from international waters.”
“That’s crap,” Bones said. “The wreckage we found wasn’t in the Strait. It was further south, in the Ionian Sea. There are these things called currents, you see...”
But Colombo was having none of it. He instructed them yet again to turn over the artifacts. “I will take down your information, since in some cases a reward is paid to the finders of artifacts belonging to the Italian government.” But the look in his eyes told them this will not likely be one of those cases. “We will accompany you to where you are staying in order to retrieve the artifacts.”
Maddock didn’t see what choice they had, so they walked back to the restaurant, where Colombo’s unmarked car waited. Colombo got behind the wheel while the polizia rode shotgun and Maddock and Bones slid into the back seat. Maddock provided the name of their hotel and Colombo drove them there in short order.
Inside the room, Maddock allowed Colombo to follow him to the room safe, from which he pulled the dagger and one of the falcons and handed them to Colombo under the watchful eye of the polizia.
Colombo nodded but then asked, “What about the cross and the scarab?”
Maddock screwed up his face into a mask of what he hoped looked like genuine confusion. “Cross and what? I don’t know what you’re talking about. “He gestured to the open safe. “As you can clearly see, the safe is empty, but feel free to search our room if you like. Take your time. We’ve got all night.” He folded his arms and waited for the detective to decide upon his next move.
Colombo nodded to the polizia, who then asked Maddock and Bones to accompany him outside. While the three of them waited just outside the closed door, Colombo proceeded to ransack the place. Maddock and Bones could hear drawers being pulled open, furniture being moved, objects being tossed around. After a few minutes, the door opened and Colombo beckoned them back inside.
“Gentlemen, thank you for your cooperation.” The man sounded anything but grateful. “I encourage you to avoid any further artifact collecting without the proper permits. Otherwise, please enjoy your stay in Italy. It is my hope that it will not be necessary for me to pay you another visit.”
Maddock and Bones bid their “guests” a curt goodbye and then closed the door to their room. They stood and looked around at their belongings strewn haphazardly about. Maddock appeared to be lost in thought.
“What are you thinking, Maddock?” Bones kicked an open duffel bag of his over toward the wall. Maddock took out his cell-phone.
“First, I’m going to call Willis and the crew and tell them to break off the dive and get the hell out of Dodge. Something tells me that just because we believe we’re working in international waters doesn’t mean the Italian officials will see it that way.
Bones nodded. “Definitely a good move. I’m sure those government assclowns would be more than happy to redraw the map just to do us dirty. What then?”
“As far as I’m concerned, Lina screwed us over pretty good. So, I no longer feel any guilt about possibly having misled her.”
A grin spread across Bones’ face. “That’s what I’m talking about! Let’s go find us some treasure.”