Page 33 of Desert Wind

“Is there fire?” asked Max.

“No fire. Apparently, someone called the fire department seven minutes before the explosion. At least they didn’t burn down an entire neighborhood.”

“Yeah. Lucky. But I bet they were pissed to realize we got what they were after.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Mrs. Cipriani, how may we help you?” asked Kari with syrupy sweetness.

“I believe you were the attorney of record for a woman by the name of Jenna Brooks. Terrible case. A nun, from what I’m hearing, who was beaten and raped.”

“You seem to know a great deal about this case, ma’am. Did you have something you needed to tell us?” she asked calmly.

“No. Nothing. It’s just that I believe she could be someone I know, perhaps someone who’s been lost for some time now.”

“Lost? Ma’am, I assure you that Ms. Brooks is not lost. She’s found herself and is quite healthy and happy now.” Lydia Cipriani stared at the screen, chewing on the inside of her cheek to prevent her from lashing out at the impudent woman.

“I’m glad to hear that, but I’d very much like to see this woman and speak to her myself. I knew her family, and, well, I’m sure they’d want me to help her. I’ll send a first-class ticket for her to come to Italy.”

“Help her? How very kind of you. Ms. Brooks is not a fan of traveling, so it might be better if you came here to the United States to meet her. We could pick a convenient location for both of you.”

“I’m an old woman, Ms. Robicheaux. Certainly, Ms. Brooks could travel much easier than I can. I’m used to getting what I need without an argument. I will send someone to pick her up. Where is she?”

“Let me make myself perfectly clear, Mrs. Cipriani,” said Kari, steeling herself. “You will not send anyone for Ms. Brooks.If you attempt to kidnap her, again, as I suspect you did when she was a child, I will have you arrested, and I don’t give a damn about your age. I will throw your ass in a maximum-security prison and send you to trial.

“I know your game, and I know your business all too well. I enjoy putting those who sell drugs, buy and sell humans, and traffic children in jail. I will not hesitate to do the same to you.”

“Young lady, you have no idea who you’re speaking with,” she seethed through her pearly white dentures.

“Oh, I have every knowledge of who I’m dealing with. You are Lydia Cipriani, wife of Anthony Cipriani, one of Europe’s most notorious criminals. I think you wanted revenge on the St. Martine family and kidnapped their infant daughter, leaving her in that horrible house in Arizona.”

“I never kidnapped anyone,” she said, staring at the screen. “And if you think for one moment you know me or my family, you’re delusional.”

“Delusional or not, you will not get near Ms. Brooks.”

“Where. Is. She?” she said slowly and deliberately.

“None.Of.Your.Business.”

“You are messing with matters that you do not understand. I want to know where that woman is!”

“And I don’t want to tell you,” smiled Kari. “You remarked that you’re an old woman, Mrs. Cipriani. Let me give you some advice. Get your affairs in order before you die. It would be a terrible thing if Claudia St. Martine took over the Cipriani empire.”

Lydia stared at the screen with devilishly dark eyes. This was a woman who understood hate. She understood how tomake grown men crumble with one gaze. She understood death, and she very much understood how to deliver death to others.

“You think you understand what’s happening here, don’t you?”

“I understand all too well,” said Kari. “You’re not my first criminal.”

“Call me what you like, but you are foolish. You understand nothing, and neither does that young woman. It may not happen today, it may not happen tomorrow, but that woman will die. The two of us cannot survive on this planet together.”

“Well, that’s a shame,” said Kari. “I hate having to kill old women.”

So shocked by Kari’s response, Lydia Cipriani ended the video call and left Kari and her team pleased with themselves.

“I think it’s obvious she kidnapped that little girl. The question is, why did she keep her alive? If you wanted her gone, if you wanted to punish her parents, you certainly achieved that by just taking her. But if you really wanted to dig the knife in, why not kill her and send her body back? That’s more the speed of criminals in their category. No mercy, no grace,” said Georgie.

“That’s bothering me as well,” said Kat. Katrina nodded.

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