Page 178 of Vita Mia

SERA RETURNED A FEWminutes after the Générale and his men. She was surprised by his appearance and alarmed. The first thing she did was locate Marietta. Her patient was in her room sleeping. The depressive state she dwelled in kept her in bed on most days. And her refusal to take any medication wasn’t helping. When Sera realized that the Générale wasn’t pestering Marietta she immediately became worried over the visit.

“Dr. Marchetti? The Générale has been waiting on you.”

Startled she stopped. She found three officers glaring at her.

“Oh? He’s here? Okay, yes, take me to him.”

“This way signora.”

She followed them without objection. They led her to the outside terrace where she and Marietta had started to take their lunches. It was a calming place for Marietta. She often took her there after a manic episode to help her manage her rage issues. The Générale wasn’t effected by the serenity in the Sicilian paradise of flowers and trees. He paced while several people in business suits with him sat in the gazebo, and watched. She didn’t recognize any of them. When she walked across the lawn to the stone steps of the gazebo the Générale whirled on her in anger.

“Where the hell have you been?” he demanded.

“Excuse me?” Sera replied.

“You heard me. You asked me to relocate her, here to Sicily, of all fucking places! You’re to be discreet. To not leave her side and get her ready for the courts. I arrive and find you gone? Search her!” he commanded.

One of the officers grabbed her arm and she slapped him. “Don’t touch me! You will not search me. I am not your prisoner! I am a professional. Do you hear me!”

“Calm down. Everyone calm down.” The man in the dark blue suit spoke. “Signorina. I’m Silvio Briatore. I represent the prosecutor’s office for the case now pending against Giovanni Battaglia with theCorte d'Assise. We’re all friends here. These men work for me. We’re doing preliminary interviews. No need to be hostile Générale.”

The Générale glared at her. Sera’s heart raced. In her pocket was the videotape that Dominic had given her. In her purse was the camcorder she bought in the market before returning to the villa. If either were found on her it was game over.

“Please have a seat,” Silvio said. He gave the Générale a commanding look and the Générale took a step back. Sera accepted a seat at the table of men.

“What is this visit about? We aren’t ready for interviews. I’m still trying to determine her best medication.”

“Agreed. This is a leapfrog over due process, I know. The Générale has met face to face with Giovanni Battaglia.”

Sera frowned. “How did it go?”

“He refused to confess. He has demanded counsel. I have to tell you we have concluded our investigation. We have checked and crossed checked all the information you shared on the Battaglias. The case isn’t strong.”

“I gave you dates, names, people. Why isn’t it strong?”

“No one corroborates these events, no bodies for the crime, nothing. The strongest evidence we have to present to the courts is Marietta Battaglia. I’ve come personally to meet with her. I need to help the prosecutor decide if we should push this case forward or delay the trial.”

“Delay, how long of a delay?”

“A year or two. We can watch the Camorra crumble and weaken Giovanni in custody enough to get the confession we need,” the Générale boasted.

“Or you could get nothing for years. Is that what you gentleman want while the world watches?”

The prosecutor gave the Générale another look.

The Générale opened a folder and placed it on the table. “The Battaglia’s think they have all the players covered. I never show the final card in my hand. And I sure as hell was not going to invest my entire life on this conviction on that crazy woman you keep locked up here.”

Sera looked down at the picture of an older woman with her was younger much prettier woman. There was also a picture of a young man.

“Who are these people?” she asked.

“Her name was Carmella, and she’s dead. This is her mother Sophia and her brother Anthony.”

“And?” Sera said.

“Sophia used to work for the Battaglias in Mondello, up until her daughter tried to kill Giovanni’s pregnant wife Mirabella. She went missing afterwards and Sophia quit the job. Now Sophia is back with the Battaglias and like you she wants justice. She’s working for me.”

“And him?” Sera asked.

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