Page 207 of Vita Mia

The courtroom became unsettled. Those gathered began to whisper and the judges reminded the court of order. The prosecutor approached the podium where Marietta sat. “Is this not your signature?”

She leaned in and looked at the document then nodded.

“So, you admit to the courts that this is your statement?” the prosecutor asked.

“I admit that is my signature, but at the time that statement was written I was heavily medicated and under duress because that man took my daughter from me and locked me away in a crazy house!” Marietta pointed at the Générale Altovti who sat with other officials.

“Permission to treat this witness as hostile,” the prosecutor addressed the court. He was summoned to the bench along with Giovanni’s defense attorney’s. Marietta dared another look at Giovanni. He continued to stare at her stone-faced. She wondered what went through his head. Was he afraid, was he remorseful, did he even begin to understand the pain and suffering she and Lorenzo had to endure because of him?

The lawyers stepped away. The prosecutor turned with fury in his tone on Marietta. “Did you or did you not state to thePolizia di Stato, your doctors, and my office that your husband was second in command inla Camorraunder Giovanni Battaglia.”

“I did not.”

“Did you not tell these same officials that Caruso Capriccio was a traitor to the Sicilian Don Marsuvio Mancini. That he killed your mother and gave you to American’s to raise under the order of the Battaglia’s consigliere Flavio Ricci?”

“I did not.”

“Did you not tell thePolizia di Statothat the war between Giovanni Battaglia and Lorenzo Battaglia began after he learned that Lorenzo Battaglia was responsible for their father’s death. That the two men are brothers and Giovanni Battaglia conspired to murder him to cover up the secret.”

“I did not.”

“Are you telling the courts that Giovanni Battaglia did not kill your husband in front of you and then kidnap your child. That he is not responsible for the list of deaths you have named, which include the Calderone family, wiped out in the N’drangheta and Battaglia war, Franco Minetti the former brother-in-law to Giovanni Battaglia, Petie “The Fish” Lupo an enforcer hired to kill your sister in America after the Calderone war, Francesco Pellegro business associate and co-club owner with your husband Lorenzo Battaglia, Fabiana Antonia Girelli fashion designer and business partner to your sister murdered in car bombing, Kei Hyogo, Chinese businessman murdered by Giovanni as retaliation for kidnapping and poisoning of your sister, Carmine Deluncio the enforcer to Giovanni and brother to the supposedly deceased Carlo Alvise Giordano who—“

“Stop!” she shouted at the prosecutor “Stop it! I lied okay. Those people, half of them I never met. I was given drugs, do you understand. Taken from my family and locked away in an insane asylum for ten months. I didn’t write a word of that confession! I swear it on my life!”

“We recorded interviews with you,” the prosecutor said in a lethal tone. “Shall I play them for the courts for them to hear how sober you were!”

“I lied! I lied! I lied! My husband isn’t dead. He isn’t a mafia hit man and neither is Giovanni. You’re twisting things!”

The judges demanded the prosecutor cease. Marietta wept on the stand. The prosecutor asked for permission to recess to confer when another message was delivered into the court. Marietta looked up to see the attorneys all delivered messages by the courier and the judges immediately adjourned. She wasn’t sure if it was her testimony or not but both the prosecutor and Giovanni’s attorneys had to have a closed door meeting with the judges.

Marietta left the stand. She glanced to Giovanni who winked at her. She wanted to scream at him for everything but she didn’t. In that brief moment, she realized there was something in her heart besides hate for him. She realized that no matter how much had happened between them, they were family. She walked over to the doctor and took her daughter.

“Don’t worry, you’re fine. Come with me,” Sera said.

Confused, Marietta was led out of the courtroom and bombarded by a picture taking media mob. Bulbs of light flashed in her face and Lorenza cried out in distress. She rushed out of the courthouse to what she expected would be a holding room. She knew her testimony could mean her arrest for perjury or worse. She braced for the worst. Instead of a jail she was put in a car with Sera and they were driven through the crowded streets of spectators.

“Where are we going?” she asked Sera.

“The hospital,” Sera said.

“What? Why?”

The doctor didn’t say. They arrived in the underground parking garage of the hospital and were overtaken by the police presence. It was then that her deepest fears were confirmed. They were going to commit her again. Lock her up in a hospital and call her crazy. They would take her baby.

“No! No! I did what you said. I did it!”

“Shhh!” Sera warned. “Be quiet. Don’t speak.”

Marietta shook her head and cried. “Please, you told me that I wouldn’t lose her again.”

“And you won’t, now come,” Sera said.

She got out of the car. Marietta was forced out of the car. They took an emergency elevator up, crowded in with polizia. The hospital wing they arrived to had Carabinieri and other police officers in attendance. She expected to see the Générale. To hear his wrath. To endure whatever came next. But instead she was escorted to a patient room. The officers interviewing the patient blocked him from view. Marietta walked inside confused until they parted and she saw him.

“Lo?”

He smiled from his hospital bed.

---