Free See Naples and Die by Ray Cleveland Page B

and Bruno.”
She pointed to the priest, who threw a spasm. “We went to a hotel room and the bishop
started waving a gun about and saying we were evil, and that’s when we knew
something was wrong.”
    “The bishop had a gun?” said Armando.
    “Yes,” said Brenda, “and he threatened
to kill us. And I’m sure he would have done, if Chrissie hadn’t headbutted
him.”
    “You hit a bishop?”
    “She had to. He was seriously crazy.
Bruno told us that he would have shot us. Didn’t you, Bruno?”
    This time Bruno did manage to nod in
agreement.
    Chrissie picked up the story again. “So
we ran out of the hotel, but another guy was outside with a gun. He was trying
to abduct us. He mentioned the data stick and said we had to take him to it but
Bruno pulled a gun on him … well, actually, he stuck two fingers in his back – but
it worked, and we got away. Then we went into hiding, and Bruno told us the
truth – and that we had been blackmailing everyone, and about the Scarpones and
what was really on the memory stick. Then he got the idea that your boss might
also be keen on knowing what’s on it. And, if he can do some sort of deal with
the Scarpones, then part of that agreement could be that everyone leaves us
alone.”
    This time it was Chrissie who stopped
walking, and she squared up to the gangster. “So what do you think?” she asked.
    Armando raised his eyebrows. “There are
things that bother me – for example, this Italian who set you up. If he is
Italian he knows you cannot extort money from a Mafia family, or from those
they protect. It’s different if you want to sell or exchange something, but to
blackmail the families is madness. Maybe for many millions of euros you may
consider it, but not for a few thousand: in no way is it worth it. So what are
his real motives? It could be that you are innocent pawns in this game, or
perhaps you are also part of a bigger plan.”
    “No, we’re not, honestly. What we’ve
told you is all we know,” said Chrissie.
    Armando rubbed his chin. “I would like
it if you took me to this man.”
    Chrissie groaned. “I knew you were going
to ask that, and we can’t do it. I know he’s a bastard, and could have got us
all killed – but if I take you to him then I’m probably sentencing him to
death, and I couldn’t live with that.”
    “What if I said it was him or you?”
Armando said grimly.
    Chrissie closed her eyes and squeezed.
“I can’t do it.”
    The Mafia hardman looked at Chrissie as
if seeing her for the first time. “What are your names?”
    They all answered in turn, with Megan
introducing Bruno.
    “I’ll tell you what we must do,” said
Armando. “If this is true, and this information really exists, then no matter
about anyone else. You will give us the data, and we will look at it. If this
is a trap you will die, because I will shoot you myself. If the information is
poor quality and tells us nothing that we don’t already know then you are also
dead, because the Scarpones will find you and kill you. However, if we discover
secrets that can destroy the Scarpones then you are saved. But we will only
know these things when we see what you have.”
    “You’ve forgotten the one where we hand
over the data and you kill us anyway,” said Chrissie.
    “Unfortunately, I don’t think you have a
choice,” said Armando. “But, in most cases, we are men of our word.”
    “That’s comforting,” said Brenda. “What
are the odds?”
    “The best odds you’re going to get,”
said the Mafia man bluntly. “Now, where is the data stick?”
    The realisation of their predicament had
shaken Chrissie, but now her natural instincts were kicking in and she was
ready to fight back.
    “Not so fast, Armando. You can stand
there being the tough guy and threatening us, as if our ball had gone into your
garden, but we aren’t the ones with nothing. We’re the ones who have something
that your boss – and let’s say his name, Roberto Vialli – craves.