Page 16 of Niccolo

I was desperately worried that Dario would be assassinated after Lars was gone.

However, my brother assured me that Lars had taught him the skills necessary to survive the final six months of his sentence.

Besides, Aristide Caproni was long dead – ‘mysteriously’ killed during a prison riot.

I never asked if it was Dario or Lars who did it, though I assumed they were both involved. I didn’t find out until later who struck the killing blow.

But at least Dario’s worst enemy was dead.

I knew there would be blowback from theCamorrasomeday, but at that point, we had much bigger problems.

Like making sure Dario got out of prison alive.

During the phone call when I found out Lars would be released in a week, Dario sprang something else on me.

“He had a girlfriend on the outside who seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth. I need you to find her.”

I frowned. “Does he think she died?”

“No. She just cut off all forms of communication.”

“That’s usually a pretty clear indication she doesn’t want to be found.”

“Niccolo…”

“Alright, fine – what’s her name?” I asked as I got a pen and a piece of paper.

“Rachel Bauer. B-A-U-E-R. But that probably won’t help you. Lars says it’s not her real last name.”

“Okay… what was her last known address, then?”

“Lars says he doesn’t know.”

“He doesn’t know?!”

“They always met at his hotel.”

“Are you sure he didn’t just fall in love with an escort?”

“Very funny.”

“I’m not being funny. Or just barely. Last known phone number?”

“It was out of order by the time he entered prison.”

“Email address?”

“She doesn’t answer. He thinks the email address was a burner – she would change them every 30 days or so.”

“What the fuck was she, a drug dealer?!”

“Niccolo – ”

“How the fuck do you expect me to FINDthis woman if that’s all I have to go on, and she doesn’t want to be found?!”

“Her mother worked at a hotel in Pescara roughly 30 years ago. She was a beauty in her youth and got pregnant by a Brit on vacation. Then she left to go join him in England. If you find the mother, I’m pretty sure you’ll find the daughter.”

I waited for him to continue.

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