Chapter Eight
I jerked my head up to find Angelo standing across the table from me. I’d hardly eaten anything, which I knew would offend Angelo. Rule number one at DiNapoli’s was eat all your food. Rule number two was don’t leave food behind if you don’t finish. Angelo considered that a personal insult. “I’m sorry. I got distracted.” That worried me, because with a kidnapper on the loose I couldn’t afford to not pay attention to what was going on around me.
“Don’t get me started on phones at meal time,” Angelo said. He pulled out a chair and sat across from me.
I didn’t want to. I’d heard him talk at length about phones and food before. “The Greek salad is delicious. Best one I’ve ever had.”
Angelo smiled.
“And this vinaigrette is the best. I’ve told you before—you need to bottle it. That way I could have it whenever I want.”
“I’ll go put some aside for you,” Angelo said.
Whew. I had managed to get him off the phone topic. As much as I loved him, he could go off on a topic like no one I’d ever known. Of course with a name that meant “messenger of God,” Angelo believed it was his duty to share his messages. Frankly, I don’t think most of the messages Angelo shared came from God. He had strong opinions on how the world should be run. If not the world, at least Ellington. It made me smile.
“There. I like that smile. You’ve been preoccupied since you came in, and I’m worried about you.”
“I have a secret. It’s weighing on me.” I clapped my hands to my mouth. I hadn’t meant to say that. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t. It’s a secret, right?” He smiled.
“Yes. And it would be awful if anyone knew I had mentioned it.” I thought of Stella, of the dire consequences for her. The kidnapper hadn’t mentioned Angelo, but I’m sure he wouldn’t want Angelo to know. As much as I loved Angelo, secrets weren’t his forte.
“Did I ever tell you about the time I picked my mother up at the airport after she had been home to Italy for a visit?”
“I don’t think so.” We stared at each other for a few moments. Ah. I ate some of the pasta. Angelo wasn’t going to talk if I wasn’t going to eat.
He smiled and nodded. “I waited for her inside the airport. She burst out of security like someone was chasing her, which worried me. What had my mama done now?” Angelo leaned forward. “‘Come on,’ she yelled as she charged by me. I couldn’t imagine what she was up to. Fortunately no one was chasing after her. But then again, I didn’t wait long to find out if someone was gonna come.” He shook his head. “‘Mama, don’t you want to take your coat off? It’s ninety degrees out.’ That’s what I asked her.” He looked at me. “She was wearing a black wool winter coat. It dragged on the floor. She shook her head and charged out of the airport. I knew Mama was up to something. She wouldn’t even take it off as we walked to the car. Not even in the car. When we got to her house, she finally took the coat off. Figs.”
“Figs?” I asked.
“She had figs up her sleeves, in her pockets, tucked in the hem.”
I laughed. “How did she get through security in Italy?”
“Probably bribed someone.” Angelo shook his head again.
“What about when she got here and had to go through customs?”
“It’s not like you go through scanners on the way back into the US. And my mama does a great helpless old lady act when she needs to.”
I laughed. “Why did she have figs?”
“Because she wanted me to taste the best figs in the world. The ones my great uncle grew.” He pushed back his chair. “I have to get back to work. I’ll get the vinaigrette for you and wrap that if you aren’t going to finish.”
I handed him my plate. “Thank you, Angelo, for the food and the story.”
Angelo went to the kitchen, and I stared after him. Usually his stories had some point, but I wasn’t getting this one. He brought the wrapped food and the vinaigrette over to me in a bag.
“I’m not sure I understand the point of your story,” I said as I stood up and took the bag.
“Mama had a secret, but it was for a good reason. Sometimes you keep a secret, but it’s for a good reason.”
I hugged Angelo. “Thank you.” I left with a bit of spring in my step. But by the time I got home and walked past Stella’s empty apartment, I again pondered the magnitude of my secret. Second-guessed what I was doing. Francesco was sitting outside the door to Mike’s apartment. I gave him a quick wave and hustled inside my apartment. Time to think about next steps.
Empty buildings are fascinating, aren’t they, Sarah?
Another freaking text after a mostly quiet day. Well, if you counted finding out Mike was living next door as quiet. Was the kidnapper giving me a hint? Did he know I’d driven by a couple of empty buildings as I put signs up this morning? If he did, it meant he was following me, which was scary. No matter. I had to go check out the buildings I’d passed on the way to Alice’s house. If I combined this text with the earlier one saying he had something “in store” for me, it was my only possible move. Thank heavens there weren’t many to check.
I shoved my leftovers and the vinaigrette in the refrigerator and hurried out the door, waving to Francesco again—act natural, the kidnapper had said.
“Busy day?” Francesco asked.
“Yes. And it’s not over yet.” I didn’t linger, but hurried down the steps and out to the parking lot to my car. I drove over to one of the empty storefronts I’d seen earlier in the day. This was a longshot, but sitting at home in the quiet seemed worse. At least it was still light out since the sun didn’t set until around seven thirty this time of year.
I reached the first empty storefront, but didn’t stop. Instead I drove around the block and then down the alley behind it. If anyone was following me, I didn’t spot him or her. I finally pulled into the parking lot in front of the store. The store was at the end of a strip mall that housed a nail salon—now closed—a laundromat and a barbershop. It was a one-story building. Nothing suspicious anywhere. A For Rent sign hung in the window with a number to call. No signs saying: This Is Where Stella Is. I sighed. It would be an unlikely place to keep someone with customers going in and out of the other businesses.
I parked in front of the store, got out, and peered in the window. Empty, dusty, cobweb filled. I noticed something on the floor, but it was hard to make out what it was in the dark store. I turned the flashlight on my phone on and shined it in the store. I gasped. It was a roll of duct tape. I backed away, got back in my car, and started it. Instead of taking off, I sat there. It had to be a coincidence.
After convincing myself of that, I drove to the next vacant store I’d seen and went through the same routine of driving around the block. Again nothing. What did my grandmother used to call doing this? A fool’s errand. I was the fool. This building was two stories, wood framed with a wooden door set between two bay windows. It was pretty although somewhat run-down. Nothing a fresh coat of paint, some potted plants, and a good window washing wouldn’t fix.
I got out of the car and turned in a circle. No one else seemed to be around. There was a For Rent sign in this window, too. The realtor renting the store was the same one who had the listing for the Ghannams’ house. That might be significant. Once again I looked through the windows. This space was cleaner than the last one. A metal folding chair lay on its side in a back corner. The kind of chair people were always duct-taped to in movies. My phone rang.
“Hello?” I tried to answer with confidence, hoping this was someone other than the kidnapper, but I heard the question mark in my voice.
“Sarah! I left a present for you in the store. Go on in.”
I looked around for a camera, but didn’t spot one. There must be one here someplace, but it was the least of my worries.
“I knew you wouldn’t just sit around waiting for me to tell you where Stella is. But you know what they say about curiosity.”
I didn’t want to go into that store. I didn’t want to end up on the nightly news. But I didn’t want Stella to either. I turned another full circle. Where was he? But I didn’t see any curtains twitching, anyone walking or even driving by.
“Go on. Go in. I’ll give you a reward.”
“I’m not breaking and entering.”
“It’s only entering, dear Sarah. I did the breaking part for you.”
I studied the front door. “I don’t see any signs of breaking.”
“Of course you don’t. I have mad skills with a lock-pick.”
He was mad all right. I steeled myself. If it meant some clue or more time to help me find Stella, I’d do it.
“I’ll stay on the line with you.”
“That’s such a comfort.” I tried the doorknob, and unfortunately it easily turned in my hand. I stepped inside the building, found a light switch, but nothing happened when I flipped it on. I used the flashlight on my phone and flashed the light around the room, but didn’t spot anything other than the chair. I approached it. I could see traces of duct tape around the front legs of the chair. A small piece clung like a tiny flag. Had Stella been here? Taped to this chair. I wanted to punch something. I walked around it. Something was duct-taped on the back. I leaned closer. A small Alice in Wonderland doll.