Free Bloody Passage (v5) by Jack Higgins

crazy enough to work, but as you say, one would need an exceptional woman."
    "And I suppose you just happen to have one in mind?" Langley said sourly.
    Barzini sighed heavily. "No faith, that's the trouble with you young people today." He turned to me. "There's a girl called Angel Carter appearing at the Tabu this week. That's a beach club on the way to Romagnolo. A new business interest of mine. First show seven-thirty. I'll introduce you tonight. You'll find her rather unusual."
    "Fine," I said. "I'll buy that, but what about my other requirement?"
    "Someone who's good on a cliff face?" he said. "A climber who's also willing to cut throats? An unusual combination." He hesitated. "Did I ever tell you about my nephew, Nino, my brother's boy?"
    "I don't think so."
    "The original wild one. They sent him to university, but he got thrown out. Did his military service in the Alps with a mountain regiment, then came home and killed a man in a quarrel over some stupid girl."
    "What happened?"
    "He took to the maquis. Lived as a bandit in the Cammarata mountains for almost three years. I finally got him a pardon for his mother's sake by laying out a little money."
    "Where is he now?"
    "That's the trouble, he's on the run again. The Mafia this time." Barzini sighed and shook his head. "Would you believe it, but he has to choose the daughter of the Capo Mafia of all Sicily to put in the family way. Ten thousand dollars for anyone who brings in his head. Believe me there haven't been so many looking for one man since the days of Guiliano."
    "From the sound of things I'd say he'd be glad of a way out. How do we get hold of him?"
    "A phone call to the right person is all it takes."
    As he lifted the receiver, the bell tinkled and Langley started violently. Barzini laughed. "Why don't you go and make the check this time, Mr. Langley?"
    Langley glared helplessly at him and Barzini was still laughing as he dialed the number.
    In Sicily on All Saints' Day the children are given presents from the dead and the graves are probably the best kept in the world. In a society so concerned with death it is not surprising to discover that there are at least eight thousand corpses in the catacombs. But the state of affairs at the Capuchin Zita Church was even more interesting. It was a place much visited by tourists and Barzini's informant had insisted on meeting him there face-to-face, just to make sure he was talking to the right person before disclosing Nino's whereabouts.
    There was no sign of anyone when we got there, only a verger in soiled black cassock who swept the floor.
    "I'll wait here," Barzini said. "You two might as well have a look below while you're here. You'll find it very interesting."
    We went down some steps into a high room--an enormously high room. I think it was one of the most horrible sights I have ever seen in my life. The shelves were piled high with desiccated corpses, all with name plates around their necks. Some were skeletons, some had flesh on their bones, eyes that stared, tufted hair.
    We left in a hurry and I think Langley was fractionally ahead as we went up the stairs. Barzini was standing in the centre of the church making a note in a pocket diary.
    "You lousy bastard," Langley said.
    "Didn't you like it?" Barzini shrugged. "The aristocracy of Palermo. Do you know that people come on Sundays to point out their ancestors?"
    "To hell with their bloody ancestors," Langley said. "What's happened to this guy you were supposed to see?"
    "You mean the verger?" Barzini said. "I've already spoken to him. He's just gone. Nino will be waiting at a trattoria on the other side of the village of Misilmeri on the road to Agrigento. Better to make it after dark so I said ten o'clock. That gives us nice time to see Angel Carter."
    He turned and walked out and we followed, utterly defeated.
    You could hear Club Tabu from a long way away and the car park was almost full in spite of the fact that it was so early in the evening.
    Once