Page 49 of The Unraveling of Julia

“Then why was he at Forlì, outside the castle?”

“We don’t know he was. We know only that a white Fiat was parked there, not that it was his. I tell you, they’re super common cars.” Gianluca searched her face, his handsome features softening. “I’m not doubting you. I’m telling you not to jump to conclusions.”

Julia’s appetite vanished. “Let’s leave and see if he follows us. Would you mind?”

“Not at all.” Gianluca drained his beer, Julia gathered her purse and trash, then they left the bleachers and went down the stairs. She forced herself not to look back because if White Fiat was following them, she didn’t want to show her hand.

They headed for the tunnel, and the throaty roar of the engines resumed, obliterating all other sound. People were hurrying past them in the opposite direction, running to catch the practice session. The tunnel was emptying. They would be alone. She didn’t know if they would be safe.

“Give me your trash.” Julia held out her hand, and Gianluca gave her the trash as they approached the tunnel. She dropped it intentionally, picked it up, and quickly looked back when she threw it out. White Fiat wasn’t following them.

“He’s not there,” Julia told Gianluca, and they left the tunnel,headed for the parking lot, and reached the motorcycle.

Julia glanced over her shoulder. White Fiat was nowhere in sight. She wedged on her helmet, kicking herself. “Sorry I made us leave. I guess I was wrong.”

“No worries. We should be getting back anyway.” Gianluca swung a leg over the motorcycle, and Julia climbed on after him, putting her arms around his waist. They left the parking lot and drove through the park, winding this way and that through the trees.

“Julia?” Gianluca said through the helmet microphone. He tilted his rearview mirror so she could see. “Look.”

Julia checked the mirror. Three cars back was a white Fiat.

“Hold on tight.”

28

Julia kept her eye on the rearview mirror but couldn’t see the White Fiat at her angle. The road wound through the park and ended in a larger two-lane highway with a barrage of signs. Gianluca steered onto the on-ramp.

Julia clung tightly to him. “Is he still behind us?”

“Yes, two cars back.” Gianluca zoomed ahead, and Julia gritted her teeth. The highway widened to an overpass, two lanes going in both directions over a wooded valley. The shoulder was a skinny strip of gravel next to a metal guardrail.

“Are you trying to lose him?”

“No. Hang on.” Gianluca accelerated, and a white van in front of them switched to the middle lane, letting them pass. A narrow service road was coming up on the right. Suddenly, at the very last minute, Gianluca veered onto the service road.

“Where are you going?” Julia asked, surprised.

“Watch this.” Gianluca sped down the service road, which ran parallel to the highway. He kept looking over at the white Fiat.

The white Fiat moved ahead of them on the highway, where thetraffic was faster. It was too far away for Julia to make out any details of the driver.

Gianluca raced to the end of the service road, entered the highway, and rejoined traffic. They ended up behind the white Fiat, so nowtheywere followinghim. “Boom! Turnabout is fair play!”

“Nice!” Julia felt a surge of excitement. She had a clear view of the white Fiat’s license plate and tried to commit it to memory. “I think I got the plate.”

“I do. Now let’s see if he’s the same driver.” Gianluca steered between the lanes and pulled up alongside the white Fiat. “Is it him?”

“Yes!” Julia recognized him, balding with a mustache, a jowly face, and a cigar.

The Fiat driver looked over, his eyes flaring in alarm. Instantly he veered away into the right lane, then the shoulder, and down the highway.

“Follow him!” Julia heard herself say, on impulse. “Let’s see where he goes.”

Gianluca accelerated down the shoulder, chasing the white Fiat. They raced along the shoulder, spraying gravel. The guardrail was low. The overpass was high. If they skidded on the gravel, they’d fall off the overpass. The valley was a deep drop.

Julia lost her nerve. “I’m getting scared.”

“I hear you.” Gianluca slowed, left the shoulder, and rejoined the traffic at normal speed. “You okay?”

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