by Karen Moore
“So, signori, what do you think?” Salvatore asked at the end of the guided tour. “Is it what you’re looking for and does it meet your expectations?”
Hanna couldn’t contain her enthusiasm; she couldn’t have picked anywhere better if she’d tried. “It’s perfect. I love it,” she replied, “and I’m pretty sure Luciano does, too, don’t you?”
Luciano grinned and wrapped his arms around her protectively. “I’m sure we’ll be very happy here. It’s the ideal place to bring up a family. There’s so much space – you can really breathe. We just need to agree a price and a date when we can move in.”
Hanna smiled back in agreement. Luciano and Salvatore arranged to meet up the following week to discuss the finer details. It was only as they were driving away on the single-track road that Hanna realised how isolated it was. What would she do if she ran out of milk or the baby was ill? And what about company? Don’t be so silly, she told herself, trust your initial gut feelings. Everything would work out just fine.
Chapter Twenty-One
North Wales, Tuesday 21st November, 2017
Hanna was sitting at her laptop, trying to concentrate on the screen. The deadline for submitting her proposal for the festival’s opening event was fast approaching but she’d only managed to write a few paragraphs in the last couple of hours. It wasn’t that she lacked ideas, just the best way to present them.
Everything seemed to be conspiring against her. The weather had turned bitterly cold and a fierce wind battered the cottage on all sides. Snow was forecast. The wood burner kept going out, making her realise how draughty a stone cottage in Wales could be at this time of year. Hanna shivered, took the throw off the back of the sofa, and wrapped it round her shoulders.
Eva was sitting on the rug, bored and restless, trying to thump out a tune on her toy piano. She hadn’t been to nursery for several days and was already missing the company and constant activities.
“Has Cosmo come back yet?” she asked for the umpteenth time. Their adopted cat hadn’t put in an appearance for the last few days, and Eva had asked about him so often that Hanna finally snapped.
“Can’t you see I’m trying to do some work? How many times do I have to tell you? No!”
Startled by the outburst, Eva began to sob loudly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Hanna hurried over to console her, feeling guilty for losing her temper.
“Sorry I shouted, sweet pea. Mummy didn’t mean it. I know you’re worried about Cosmo, but he’ll be back soon, you’ll see. He’s used to being out in the wilds. Cats often take themselves off hunting and come home when they’ve had enough. Come on, I’ll read you a story if you like?”
Eva’s sobs slowly subsided and she nodded, climbing onto the sofa and settling back into the cushions. Hanna put another log on the wood burner, hoping this would help raise the temperature, then sat next to her daughter and began to read. It was one of Eva’s favourite stories about a fox that befriends a polecat, and together they set off on a series of adventures. Eva listened intently, butting in every now and again with her usual “why” question. Hanna answered by rote in a distracted way, but Eva seemed happy enough with the responses.
The wind continued to howl outside, and the log crackled as it caught fire, its flames helping to warm the draughty living room. Eva soon became drowsy, her eyes flickering until she eventually fell asleep.
Hanna covered her with the throw and returned to the laptop, but her heart wasn’t in it. Truth was, her heart wasn’t in anything right now. Waves of anxiety ebbed and flowed through her head, making it difficult to think clearly and concentrate on the matter in hand.
At times she felt they were safe, but she couldn’t be sure for how long. But in more panicky moments, she feared they might be discovered at any moment. In many ways, Hanna hankered after her old life in the sun, the way Luciano had made her feel loved and protected, his touch on her skin. How had it all come to nothing almost overnight? But her life had been a lie; everything was just a façade, a grotesque cover-up. How could she have been so stupid, so naïve? Why didn’t she realise sooner that it was all too good to be true?
And now she was torn, faced with the dilemma of deciding what to do with the information she had. She shuddered, realising that she couldn’t put it off much longer. People would suffer if she chose to do nothing; but would she and Eva pay the price if she revealed the truth? Her mind flashed back to that last day in Sicily. What she couldn’t quite work out was why Luciano had also been threatened.
Hanna blamed herself. It was all her fault, what had she let them get mixed up in? And why hadn’t Ceri been in touch? She could do with catching up with her and getting some advice. Eva stirred in her sleep and shifted her position slightly, snoring softly. Hanna went into the kitchen to make a start on dinner, vowing to call Ceri later once Eva was in bed.
Above the sound of the wind and the rain lashing against the back door came a faint scratching noise. Hanna went over to investigate, cautiously opening the door. There, cowering on the doorstep, was a bedraggled Cosmo, his fur matted and bloody.
“Look at the state of you! Whatever’s happened? Have you been in a fight or been trapped somewhere? C’mon, let’s get you inside and have a look at you.”
Cosmo meowed pitifully but allowed Hanna to pick him up for a closer inspection. Relieved to find nothing more serious than a few superficial cuts, she bathed the wounds with warm water, which met with an occasional whimper from the raggedy feline. When she’d finished, she set down a saucer of cat food which Cosmo devoured in one go before tottering off on unsteady legs into the lounge and settling down in front of the wood burner.
Eva started to stir. Opening her eyes, she shrieked with joy when she saw the cat lying in front of the fire. The noise startled Cosmo, who leapt to his feet and ran off to hide behind the sofa. Eva wobbled after him, calling his name. Cosmo eventually let himself be cajoled out of his hiding place and petted before curling up once again in the same place as before. Hanna watched in amusement as Eva plopped down beside him, carrying on her usual bilingual monologue, the cat doing his best to ignore this.
She went back into the kitchen, turning on the radio for the six o’clock news before starting to peel the potatoes for dinner. She listened to the various news stories: the latest terrorist attack; a Japanese car manufacturer closing factories in Western Europe; the pound dropping against the dollar. As the bulletin was coming to an end, the final breaking news item caught Hanna’s attention:
“Earlier today, a number of arrests were made in Sicily connected with recent people-smuggling in the Mediterranean. Four men, believed to include a number of high-ranking officials, were taken into custody in Catania and in the capital Palermo to be questioned about their involvement and protection of the illegal trade. This is the result of a long-standing police operation into the trafficking, and further arrests are said to be imminent.
“The situation in the Mediterranean is reported to be worsening as large numbers of migrants from Africa continue to be picked up by coastguards off the Sicilian coast, many rescued from capsized boats. A large number of bodies continue to be found. The death toll is said to be at an all-time high, thought to have topped the 3,000 mark this year alone.”
At last, some break in the investigation. Hanna was anxious to find out who’d been arrested. Strange that Ceri hadn’t been in touch. Desperate for news, she picked up the phone, praying that she’d be able to get through. “Hi, Ceri, it’s me. I’ve just heard the news. What’s going on, who’s been arrested? Why haven’t you been in touch?”
“Oh, Hanna, thank God you’ve called. I’ve been trying to get through but the lines seem to be down. Luciano’s father Michele’s been arrested, along with Sergio’s father, for some reason. God knows why when he’s involved in the investigation. We’re frantic with worry. It must be a mistake. We’ve been trying to find out what’s going on…” Ceri’s voice faltered.
“What the hell…? But isn’t Sergio’s fat
her the deputy chief of police? And what have they got on Michele?”
“We just don’t know at the moment. Sergio’s still working on the story. He’s trying to get to the bottom of it, but he’ll be taken off it soon if they find out his father’s implicated.”
“Who else has been arrested?”
“Rino Milazzo, a local mover and shaker in the Democratic Party, and some mayor or other. They’re both suspected of being implicated in some way or turning a blind eye. They could even have been protecting the ringleaders if they’re not directly involved. We’re waiting for more news.”
“Any word about how Luciano’s taking it?”
“Apparently, he’s got one of the best criminal lawyers on the island on standby. Only problem is the guy’s made a name for himself defending a couple of high-profile pentiti among his more legit clients. But Michele’s not likely to turn state’s evidence. He’s bound to get off if they ever bring a case against him…”
“But what about Sergio’s father? Wasn’t he responsible for making a number of arrests in connection with the people trafficking investigation?”
“Yes, you’re right. It might be that he was starting to get too close to the big bosses and they’ve set him up to get him out of the way, or to send him a warning to lay off. You know how things can work over here. But Sergio needs to get to grips with it before things get really serious.”
“At least Luciano’s got something else to occupy his head, rather than the two of us,” said Hanna, realising as soon as she’d said it how selfish it sounded.
But Ceri continued to focus on Sergio. “He’s like a bear with a sore head. There’s no talking to him, he’s hell bent on getting his father freed and finding out who’s really behind the trafficking, rather than these token gestures. We’ll have to see how it pans out. I’ll keep you posted. Anyway, how are the two of you?”
“We’re fine, some days better than others. It’s not that easy getting to grips with being here. Eva’s constantly asking when Daddy will be back. She’s going to nursery and is really enjoying that. Quite the chatterbox in English now, with even the odd word of Welsh.”
“No signs that you might have been traced?”
“Not really.” The little boy at nursery from the Sicilian family came to her mind, and a cold shiver ran down Hanna’s spine at the thought.
“Just be on your guard,” Ceri warned. “You know what they say about ‘la piovra’ – its tentacles reach the most obscure places.”
“Thanks a bunch, that’s all I need to hear,” said Hanna, grimacing. “I’m here to get away from all that.”
“And you need to make sure that it stays that way,” said Ceri. “None of us can have that assurance, no matter where we are.”
“We will, don’t worry. And let me know if you hear any more about the arrests and Sergio’s father. He’s bound to be released soon, once they find out he’s not involved.”
“Let’s hope so,” said Ceri, sounding far from hopeful. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I hear anything. Just be careful and take good care of yourselves.”
“Will do. You, too. Speak to you soon. Ciao.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sicily, Thursday 23rd October, 2014
The sun came flooding through the kitchen window as Hanna folded another load of washing. Its rays played on the autumnal hues of the trees, making her think how much her life had changed in the last six months. A new house, a husband, and the birth of her daughter Eva. It had all happened relatively smoothly and without much effort on her part. At times, it felt surreal, as if this was someone else’s life and not hers.
Even little Eva’s birth had been straightforward. As if on cue, a gurgle rose from the Moses basket in the corner. Hanna went over to check on her. She was still asleep, her face crinkled into a frown, her tiny fingers curled around a corner of the blanket. Hanna smiled, a feeling of wonder and pride welling up inside her.
Throughout all of this was Luciano, handsome and attentive, always at her side whenever he could be. And her best friend Ceri, the only link to her old life and the one person who knew her better than anyone and who she could confide in.
Hanna had adapted easily enough to the new routine of frequent feeds, endless nappy changing and washing, snatching sleep whenever she could, as well as providing her baby with constant kisses and cuddles. Luciano adored Eva and was proving to be a doting and caring father, taking his turn with the chores and proudly showing off his little daughter to family and friends at every opportunity.
The buzzer sounded on the entry phone and Ceri’s face appeared on the screen. Hanna pressed the release button for the gates and went to open the front door. A few minutes later, Ceri drove up the drive and parked her dusty old Fiat with a flourish, the wheels churning up the gravel and sending it spinning in all directions.
“Eccomi, I’ve arrived!” she shouted, getting out of the car, laden with bags.
“Yes, so I see! Still the same reckless driver as ever!”
“Well, I’ve had to adapt my driving habits to being here. At least I fit in now and can hold my own on the roads!”
“Where is he, by the way? Couldn’t he come?” Hanna asked, as she helped Ceri into the house with the bags.
“Work, as usual. He’s tied up with this story about all the migrants being picked up in the Med. Seems like it’s a highly organised business and there’s lots of money being made somewhere. I doubt if much will end up getting published.”
Ceri dumped her bags on the terracotta floor in the kitchen. She noticed the Moses basket in the corner and rushed over, squealing with delight. “How’s my little munchkin then? My, how she’s growing! What are you feeding her on?”
Hanna smiled ruefully; Ceri was well aware that she was breastfeeding which, although going well for Eva, was taking its toll on her.
“You know full well! What’s in all the bags?”
“Just a few presents for Eva, plus some goodies from Sergio’s auntie’s farm up in the hills – salamis, fresh cheeses, sugo, chutneys, that sort of thing.”
“That’s really good of you. You shouldn’t spoil us so much!” said Hanna, hugging her friend. “Luciano really loves all that homemade stuff.”
“So, how are things going? Not finding it a bit isolated out here? It’s not really that far from town, but the roads are so windy and you can easily get lost.”
“Actually, I really like the peace and quiet. And Arazia drops by whenever she can with childcare advice. That needs a bit of careful managing – I get the impression she’d like to be a more permanent fixture.”
“I’ll bet! You’d be better off with Netmums – at least there’d be no strings attached!”
A faint murmur came from the basket.
“Uh, oh – looks as if it’s feeding time again. D’you want to be a love and put some coffee on? There’s some ricotta cheesecake to go with it in the tin over there,” said Hanna, indicating with her head as she gathered Eva in her arms. “She always wakes up hungry. You don’t mind if I feed her, do you?”
“’Course not, carry on,” said Ceri, already springing into action.
“It could take a while. Let me get her started, then you can tell me all about what Sergio’s up to.”
Hanna heard Luciano’s Alfa Romeo screech to a halt outside, over the sound of the TV news. She glanced at the clock; he wasn’t usually home so early. The key sounded in the lock and Luciano burst into the lounge, somewhat breathless.
“Ciao, amore,” he embraced Hanna warmly, before turning to Ceri. “Ciao, Ceri, come va?” He kissed her on both cheeks. “Nice to see you, it’s been a while.”
“That’s ‘cos you’re always working!” said Ceri, playfully. “Someone has to keep Hanna company in your absence!”
“Well, today I finished early. Just wrapped up the negotiations on a lucrative new deal that’ll keep us fed and watered for a good few years, and the rest of the family, too. How’s Eva?”
“She’s fine, ta
king a nap in the kitchen. Don’t disturb her. Ceri, why don’t you stay to dinner?”
“I can’t, I’m afraid. It’s Sergio’s mum’s birthday and we’re going to that little restaurant in Mondello, the one she likes so much. It’s a bit of a drive so I’ll have to get going soon.”
“I’ll make us all an aperitivo then, a non-alcoholic one for Ceri seeing as she’s driving,” announced Luciano, disappearing into the kitchen.
Hanna and Ceri continued to watch the news, the sound of clinking glasses and ice cubes drifting through as Luciano busied himself in the kitchen, preparing the drinks. Graphic images of dead bodies washed up on the shore flashed across the TV screen as the newscaster explained:
“Earlier today dozens of migrants were reported missing after an overloaded fishing boat sank off the coast of Sicily. The Italian Coastguard received an alert that 350 people were in the water. 130 people have been saved so far and the Coastguard is still searching for others. About 30 bodies have been retrieved and the death toll is expected to rise. This is the latest tragedy to occur as a result of the profitable people-smuggling networks that arrange for the transportation of migrants from North Africa to Northern Europe via Sicily.”
“There, that’s what Sergio’s investigating,” said Ceri, pointing at the screen. “It’s been going on for so long now that it’s almost accepted. The cost of human suffering is enormous but it’s big business for some, and getting bigger all the time.”
