Page 126 of The Unraveling of Julia

“I hope he’s in pain,” Julia said, meaning it.

Courtney interjected, “He will be ifIrun into him.”

“Both men have criminal records and are known to us as thugs-for-hire. We will endeavor to identify the third man, whom you call Ballcap and who followed you at the Uffizi, as soon as possible. We have your photos, and I have sent them on to my officers.” Marshal Vernio gestured at the photos on his desk, which he’d printed from Julia’s phone. “I will send a team to Savernella to meet with Marshal Torti and another team to Croce to meet with your realtor Franco Patelli. We will also be paying a visit to Anna Mattia Vesta and Piero Fano in the near future. They should not be too hard to find.”

“Good.” Julia thought it sounded thorough. “What about Adamo Bucci of the Romagna Group?”

“We will visit him, as well.”

“Can I ask another question? How does that work, with Ciro Nardini being charged with my husband’s murder? The murder took place in Philadelphia, so you don’t charge him with that here, do you?”

“No.” Marshal Vernio frowned. “I will liaise with Detective Malloy of the Homicide Division in Philadelphia in the morning. They have jurisdiction over the murder of your husband, and they will be in charge of that investigation and prosecution.”

“Which case goes first? Or do they run at the same time?”

“We go first. This matter involves crimes on Italian soil perpetrated by Italian citizens. We will get it sorted with law enforcement in Philadelphia, and you will be kept informed, as you are integral to both prosecutions.” Marshal Vernio’s face fell into grave lines. “However, our investigation does not happen overnight. Were you intending to return to the villa from here?”

“Yes,” Julia answered, nervous at the thought. “Do you think youcould put a police car in front of the house? Others in the conspiracy may still come after us.”

“Certainly, that was my concern, too. I will send you home tonight with two officers, and I will make sure there is protection for you until we have apprehended all of the suspects.” Marshal Vernio nodded, in a final way. “I will kindly ask you to keep our discussion confidential, and not to post about it on social media.”

“Of course not. Thank you.”

Courtney interjected, “Marshal Vernio, I’m supposed to leave Italy tomorrow. Is that okay?”

“Yes. Please give me your contact information, in the event that we need to follow up.”

Courtney looked at Julia. “Jules, are you still okay with my going?”

“Totally. Please, go. I’ll be fine.”

Marshal Vernio cleared his throat. “Ms. Pritzker, I have two points I would like to clarify about your statement. You believe that Gianluca Moretti was run off the road on his motorcycle because you saw this in a vision, which took place in the hospital?”

“Yes.”

Marshal Vernio frowned. “I cannot file charges on that basis, for obvious reasons.”

“They’re not obvious to me,” Julia shot back. “When you investigate Marshal Torti, Nardini, Vitali, and whoever Ballcap is, I guarantee you’ll be able to substantiate charges for what they did to Gianluca. Maybe they’ll turn on each other, like you say. One way or the other, whoever did this has to be charged.” Julia worried about Gianluca, even now. “No one loves this city more than he does. He deserves your full force—”

“I have your point.” Marshal Vernio raised a hand. “The other part of your account I would like to clarify is what happened in the Boboli, between you and Nardini. How did youreallyget away from him andinflict those injuries on him? It cannot be the account you told me.”

“It is, I swear. I managed to get him off of me and send him into the base of the sculpture. It could’ve been adrenaline, or the psychedelic, or even the spirt of Caterina, empowering me.”

Marshal Vernio pursed his lips. “Theghostof Duchess Caterina Sforza?”

“Look, I know what I saw, but I admit, I’m not sure if Caterina was really there or not. She could’ve been because, evidently, I have abilities as a medium. I thought they’d gone away, but maybe they haven’t, completely. If you want to verify what I’m saying, contact Helen Davenport. She’s worked with Scotland Yard.”

“I have heard of her.”

“So then you know I’m telling the truth.”

Marshal Vernio clucked, shaking his head. “So Duchess Caterina Sforza herself, dead for hundreds of years, enabled you to throw an adult male against the pedestal of the sculpture.” Marshal Vernio mulled it over. “Em, Ms. Pritzker, I wonder if, perhaps, you misremember.”

Julia blinked. “I don’t. It just happened.”

“Reconsider the matter. When one is under threat of mortal danger, one’s perception may be faulty and one’s memory may be, too.” Marshal Vernio cocked his head, his manner deliberate. “Here’s what I think happened. I think Nardini was chasing you and trying to catch you, but just as he reached you, he accidentally slipped and fell against the pedestal, injuring himself.”

“No, that’s not true.”

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