The Warrior's Princess

  ‘It’s a long story!’ Steph snapped. ‘We’ll explain later. Let’s just say Will and Dan have issues.’

  ‘OK.’ Rhodri leaned forward, focusing on the practicalities. ‘Did Will say where he was?’ He put his hand over Jess’s, calming her.

  Jess shook her head. ‘It sounded like two words. Villa Maya – something like that?’ She didn’t move her hand away. She looked at Kim pleadingly. ‘Does that mean anything to you?’

  Kim shrugged. Rhodri called the hovering waiter back and addressed him in a stream of fluent Italian. The waiter thought for a moment and replied in equally fluent English with one or two suggestions. They all looked at Jess and she glanced around despairingly. ‘I don’t know, it doesn’t sound right,’ she replied at last.

  The waiter shrugged. ‘No? Mi dispiace.’

  ‘What do we do?’ Jess looked at the others pleadingly. ‘We have to find him. Should we call the police?’

  ‘There’s not much to go on,’ Kim said doubtfully. ‘Are you sure you didn’t hear anything else? We don’t actually know he’s in trouble, do we. He might just be stranded somewhere.’

  ‘Carmella!’ Steph said suddenly. ‘She’ll know if anyone does. Let’s ask her.’

  Jess stood up. ‘I’ll go. She’s only down there and round the corner.’ She gestured down at the piazza below.

  Rhodri pushed back his chair. ‘I’ll go with you, Jess. You two, enjoy your breakfast. Drink the champagne. We’ll have ours later.’

  ‘There’s no need, Rhodri.’ Jess hesitated. ‘Stay with the others –’

  He shook his head. He was already threading his way between the tables. ‘I’m coming with you, Jess. It sounds as though you might need someone with a bit of muscle.’ He grinned at her. ‘And I want to hear what you’ve been up to. No arguments.’

  Carmella drew the two of them through her door, listened to Jess’s introductions, and took them straight out onto the roof terrace. Waving them into chairs she leaned forward anxiously. ‘Tell me again, slowly.’

  ‘Will is missing,’ Jess repeated. ‘He’s in trouble of some sort. Please,’ she went on in a whisper, ‘will you look in your crystal ball? You must be able to tell where he is.’

  Rhodri raised an eyebrow but he sat down in silence.

  Carmella nodded slowly. ‘Wait. I will fetch my cards!’ She reappeared moments later with her bag. Drawing out the pack she began to shuffle them slowly.

  ‘I don’t suppose you have something of Will’s with you?’

  Jess shook her head miserably.

  Carmella glanced up. ‘Don’t worry. We will try anyway. Here. Give me your hand.’ She took Jess’s hand in her own and held it for a few moments, her eyes closed, concentrating. Rhodri sat back, his arms folded, a bemused expression on his face. Releasing Jess’s hand, Carmella picked up the cards again and cut the pack, dealing several onto the low table in front of them. The noise of traffic from the streets below, the endless rattle of tyres on the cobbles, seemed to fade as Jess and Rhodri watched her hands hovering. She reached for another card and then another, staring at them with a frown deepening between her eyes. It was a long time before she looked up, shaking her head. ‘I can see nothing about where he is. I’m sorry.’

  ‘What do you mean, nothing?’ Jess cried out.

  Carmella shook her head. ‘I do not sense that he is injured. I would see that, I think.’ She put her hand out to Jess with a gentle almost motherly gesture. ‘But something is wrong. There is a blackness round him. Confusion. I guess, maybe he is concussed. Or unconscious. Could he have had an accident?’

  ‘I don’t know! He spoke to me on the phone half an hour ago begging me to help him. We need to know where he is!’ Jess said urgently. She sat forward on the edge of the chair. ‘Please, try. You knew what had happened to me in Wales, you must be able to do it.’

  Carmella settled back into deep silence. She didn’t sense that other woman listening today. Was she not interested in Will then, only in Jess or Eigon? She moved one of the cards to the top of her spread and took another to set beside it, studying them intently. ‘I think he is in the dark. He is either asleep or in a darkened room. I don’t think he is injured. If I could see through his eyes I might get a clue where he is but there is nothing.’

  Rhodri sat forward suddenly. ‘Can he hear anything?’

  She glanced up as though seeing him for the first time, then looked down at the cards again. ‘Bells. He heard bells.’

  ‘Close by?’ Rhodri was concentrating on her face.

  She nodded.

  ‘Church or clock?’

  ‘A church. The angelus.’

  ‘Good. Several bells or one?’

  ‘Two. Perhaps more.’

  ‘Can he hear traffic?’

  She shook her head.

  ‘Water? Fountains?’

  She nodded. ‘Very faint.’

  ‘Birds singing?’

  There was a long silence. Carmella smiled. ‘A dove cooing somewhere in the distance.’

  She opened her eyes and surveyed him. ‘How did you know what to ask?’

  He grinned. ‘My aunty Blodwen used to go to a clairvoyant in Radnor. You’re not reading those cards. You’ve tuned in to Will psychically.’

  Carmella shook her head. ‘No, I read the cards.’

  ‘Whatever!’ He shrugged. ‘The important thing is we have a clue. Now, try again. We know a certain amount but not nearly enough to find him. We need a name.’

  ‘But supposing he doesn’t know where he is, Rhodri?’ Jess put in.

  ‘He does. He told you. You couldn’t hear it because of the phone, but it was there in his brain. Come on, Carmella. Try!’

  Carmella frowned. She shook her head. ‘This is too hard.’

  ‘No it isn’t. Forget those damn cards, woman. Just tune into him!’

  Jess saw a flash of anger in Carmella’s eyes. She shrugged. Letting her hands fall into her lap she sat back and after a moment did as she was told.

  There was a long silence. She shook her head at last. ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Not good enough.’ Rhodri leaned forward and took Jess’s hand in his. He passed it to Carmella. ‘Use Jess as the link again. Will is thinking about her.’

  Carmella raised an eyebrow sharply but again she did as she was asked. Holding Jess’s hand loosely in her own she closed her eyes.

  ‘“They are never going to find me!”’ she said at last. ‘“Dear God, what has he done to me?”’

  Jess and Rhodri were watching her face. Jess held her breath.

  ‘“My phone. Where is my phone? I can’t find my phone.”’ There was a long silence, then Carmella went on, ‘“Jess. Jess will come.”’

  ‘Speak to him,’ Rhodri murmured. ‘In your mind tell him we are coming. Ask him where he is.’

  There was another long silence. ‘I can see it. I can see the house. A beautiful villa across the road. He is in a small bedroom. Upstairs. His head is aching. The door is locked. He can see the villa through the window.’

  ‘Where is the villa? Is there a sign? A street sign? How does Will know where he is?’ Rhodri’s voice was very calm. Jess closed her eyes trying to breathe steadily so her hand in Carmella’s wouldn’t shake.

  ‘I can see through his eyes. A long driveway. Gates. They are chained and there is a notice beside the gates. It has hours on it. Hours when the villa is open.’ There was another long silence. Carmella was frowning. ‘I can’t read it. It is too far away.’ She paused again. Then her eyes flew open. ‘I recognise it! I have been there. I remember the wrought iron over the gates. The, what you call it, a coat of arms? It is the Villa Maria Paollo.’

  Rhodri stared at her. ‘I know it too. I’ve been to a recital there. Well done!’ He stood up.

  Jess stared up at him. ‘How will we get there?’

  ‘I’ve got a hire car. It’s up near the hotel.’ He turned to Carmella and taking her hand he kissed it with a grin. ‘Forgive me for bullying you, but it worked, didn
’t it! Can you tell the others where we’ve gone? I know the way, don’t worry,’ he said over his shoulder as Jess hurried after him. He led her back up the Spanish Steps at a run, past the hotel, towards a red Mercedes drawn up into a parking space under the trees in the Piazza Trinità dei Monti.

  ‘It is Dan, isn’t it,’ Jess said as she climbed into the car. ‘But how could he make Will go with him? How could he get him to go to this place?’

  ‘We’ll know soon.’ Rhodri headed into a network of streets, driving with all the speed and enthusiasm of a citizen born and bred.

  Jess clenched her fists nervously. ‘Is it far?’

  ‘Not very. Maybe ten miles.’ Rhodri braked sharply and turned up a side street, the sound of the engine reverberating between high walls, blank windows shuttered against the heat.

  He swung the car down another street and then onto a main road heading south and put his foot down. Very soon they were driving through suburbs in an area of blistered tatty hoardings, sunburned houses and empty roads, washed by mirages.

  The car speeded up on a dead straight stretch of country road then slowed again as they approached a village. Rhodri pulled into the side of the road. ‘We’re just about there. A bit further, round the corner on the left as we get into the village. There are gates and a long straight drive going up to the villa. I came to a recital here a couple of years ago.’ He didn’t say if he was part of the audience or the star of the evening and she didn’t ask him. He glanced at his watch. ‘It’s probably closed for lunch at this time of day.’

  He was right. They drew up outside the tall elegant wrought iron gates which were, as he had anticipated, shut fast and climbed out. There beside the gates was a notice which listed the opening hours of the villa just as Carmella had said. The gates, topped by an elegant wrought iron coat of arms, gilded in the bright sunlight, were not due to reopen that day.

  Jess bit her lip. She looked from left to right at the high walls. The street was deserted. The village seemed locked in sleep. There was no house across the road.

  ‘Supposing we’ve got it wrong,’ she whispered. She had filled him in on some of the story as they drove south.

  Rhodri wandered a few paces away from her, staring thoughtfully around. ‘We’ve nothing else to go on.’ He paused and glanced at her. ‘It was Will’s voice?’

  She stared at him. ‘You mean someone else had his phone?’ Her optimism was trickling away. ‘It was a dreadful line. I suppose it could have been someone else.’ She broke off with a small shiver. ‘Dan?’

  ‘Maybe. I’m trying to work out what is happening here. Could Dan have actually made the call? To lure you out here by yourself?’

  ‘If Will fought with Dan,’ she whispered. ‘I suppose he might have dropped the phone.’

  ‘Is that likely? Can Will handle himself?’ Rhodri sounded calmly practical.

  ‘He’s fit. A sportsman.’

  ‘And he was expecting Dan to be there. It’s not as though Dan could have jumped him.’

  They looked at each other for a moment. Rhodri scanned the empty road again. ‘I can’t help wondering what would have happened if you had arrived here on your own.’

  Jess paled. ‘But Carmella was talking about Will. She could see Will here.’

  Rhodri shrugged. ‘Good point. But where is this house across the road?’

  They both turned to look at the high stone wall behind them.

  ‘Shall we walk further into the village?’ Jess whispered at last. ‘There are houses further on.’

  ‘Is it possible Carmella made a mistake?’ Rhodri asked after a moment. He was feeling increasingly uncomfortable. ‘Supposing Dan picked up Will’s phone after they scuffled. Dan thinks you’re in love with this man.’ He paused as though waiting for her to deny it and when she didn’t he went on. ‘He obviously fancies you himself, he’s insanely jealous and he has the perfect way of bringing you to him.’ He glanced round again. ‘Jess!’ He put his arm round her shoulders suddenly. ‘Get back in the car. Now.’ He was guiding her away from the gates.

  ‘Why?’ Instinctively Jess resisted, trying to pull away from him.

  ‘Because we’re being watched. Don’t turn round. Just head back to the car slowly. Now.’ He manoeuvred her round to the passenger seat and opened the door. Closing it behind her he walked casually round to the driver’s side, car keys in hand. Climbing in, he rammed the key in the ignition and pulled away from the kerb.

  ‘Someone was standing in the street further down, watching us.’

  ‘Dan?’

  ‘I couldn’t see.’ He pulled up a side street and checking the mirror again he drew in and parked. ‘Just how dangerous is this guy, Jess?’

  She lay back in the seat and closed her eyes for a second. She was going to have to tell him everything. ‘He’s threatened to kill me,’ she concluded when it was done. ‘Perhaps I’m exaggerating, but I’m so scared of him.’ She hunched her shoulders. ‘He’s convinced me he wants to kill me. I’ve told him I’m no threat. I’ve told him I won’t say anything to anyone but he doesn’t believe me.’

  ‘The bastard! He’s not going to get away with this!’ Rhodri was silent for a moment as he digested everything she had said. ‘So what have you done about it?’

  ‘Nothing.’ She shook her head. She felt strangely comforted now that he knew the whole story.

  ‘You don’t strike me as the kind of person to be intimidated.’ It sounded like a reproach.

  She gave a wry smile. ‘Well, I am.’

  ‘You could stop all this by going to the police.’

  ‘They wouldn’t believe me. There is no proof. It would be my word against his. That is why he has been trying to convince everybody that I’m mad. So no one will believe me about anything. You believe me, don’t you?’ She turned and looked at him intently.

  He nodded. ‘Oh yes, I believe you. Maybe I’m becoming as paranoid as you, but maybe not.’ He threw a quick smile in her direction. It was warm, reassuring. Not for the first time she was aware of just how safe she felt in this man’s company. ‘I think I should go and have a look at the house where that man was standing.’

  ‘You’re not going without me.’

  ‘It’s you he’s after, Jess.’

  ‘Yes, and I’m not going to wait here alone!’

  Rhodri frowned. ‘OK. We’ll go together. I tell you what. I’ll drive straight to the house and knock on the door, OK? You wait in the car with the doors locked.’ He grinned at her. ‘I can’t believe we’re doing this.’

  Reversing back the way they had come they turned back into the main street and drew up outside the end house of a terrace of shabby two-storey dwellings, their pitted and crumbling plaster relieved by pretty balconies woven with jasmine. Locking the car behind him, Rhodri strode to the front door. He knocked. The door wasn’t properly closed and it creaked slightly as it swung open.

  ‘Hello?’ Rhodri called. ‘Anyone there? Will?’

  There was no reply.

  ‘C’è qualcuno?’ Still no reply. He glanced round. ‘I’m going in,’ he whispered.

  Jess climbed out of the car and ran after him as he stepped into the hallway. Rhodri glanced at the table inside the door. ‘It’s some kind of B and B,’ he murmured. ‘Look. Visitor’s book.’ It was lying open on the table. The last entry was dated several days earlier. ‘Will?’ he called again more loudly this time. ‘Are you there?’

  And this time there was a reply. A faint sound came from upstairs. Rhodri ran up two at a time, Jess immediately behind him. Only one door on the landing was closed. There was a key in the lock. Rhodri gestured at her to stand back. He tiptoed across and turned the key. Pushing open the door he paused for a moment, listening. They both heard a man groan.

  ‘Will?’ Jess stepped forward.

  Rhodri caught her arm. ‘Let me go first.’ He pushed the door back hard against the wall, then walked in and looked round. Will was lying on the bed, fully dressed. His face was white, one eye sw
ollen. There was no one else in the room.

  ‘Will? Will, my God, what has he done to you?’ Jess ran to him.

  Will tried to sit up and fell back against the pillow with a groan. ‘Hit my head,’ he murmured. ‘Can’t seem to see straight.’

  ‘Is Dan here?’ Rhodri had gone straight to the window. He could just see the villa gates in the distance.

  ‘Gone.’ Will’s voice was very weak. ‘He gave me something. Drug. Used my phone.’ He gestured feebly towards the bedside table where his phone lay.

  ‘Right. Can you stand, mate?’ Rhodri walked over to him. ‘We’ve got a car outside. Let’s get you out of here before he comes back. Whose house is this?’

  Will shook his head. ‘Haven’t seen anyone at all.’ He stared at Rhodri, puzzled. ‘Who are you?’ he mumbled.

  Rhodri grinned. ‘A friend of Jess’s from Wales. Knight errant and not a bad right hook, at your service. You might say I am Dan’s worst nightmare. So, come on, my friend. Let’s see if you can walk.’

  Between them Jess and Rhodri managed to get Will to his feet and down the stairs, pushing him into the back of the car.

  Drawing away from the kerb Rhodri glanced into the rear-view mirror. A man had appeared and was standing in the road watching them go.

  ‘Jess can’t stay here a moment longer.’ Steph shook her head emphatically. They were in Kim’s sitting room. ‘Dan’s got keys to this house and to the garden and to the apartment and he’s getting more and more brazen. Either you go to the police, Jess, or you go back to England. It’s the only answer.’

  Jess and Rhodri had taken Will to the nearest hospital on the way back. He was badly bruised and disorientated and the hospital had insisted on keeping him in for observation. Before they left he had forbidden them to go to the police.

  ‘This is a private matter between me and Dan,’ he said, through gritted teeth. ‘I’m not involving the police. Think of the complications.’

  ‘It’s all my fault. Just by being here I am putting you all in danger,’ Jess said miserably. ‘Dan must have gone completely mad. If he’s going to threaten Will and kidnap him, what else is he capable of?’