Stumble Stones

by Marilyn Baron

  “Then what happened?” Hallelujah asked, thinking this had the makings of a great story.

  “Her ex-husband happened. Turns out he was the father of the baby—she’d been sleeping with him for months behind my back. We were about to take a Scandinavian cruise for our honeymoon. I still have the tickets. Non-refundable.”

  “That’s horrible,” Hallelujah agreed. “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to take care of some business in Rome and then go on the cruise without her.”

  “What kind of business?”

  “You ask a lot of questions for a woman I just met.”

  “I’m naturally curious.”

  “Okay. I’m giving a speech at an economics conference.”

  “What are you going to talk about?”

  “I doubt you’d find it interesting.”

  “Try me.”

  “It’s about fiscal policy reform and stimulus, how to survive volatile markets, and how low and negative interest rates in some countries are holding down the economy and fueling a looming retirement crisis. I’ll also be addressing the viability of the EU.”

  Hallelujah snorted. “You’re right. That’s a mouthful. Exactly what kind of work do you do?”

  “I’m a hedge fund manager in Berlin.”

  “I’ve never been to Berlin, and I have no interest in going there.”

  “Why not?”

  “Well, for one thing, I’m Jewish, and for another, my father is a rabbi.”

  “Berlin is actually a very interesting place.”

  “If you say so. Are you any good at what you do?”

  “I work for the number one firm in Europe, and we’re performing well in a challenging market environment. But enough about me. What about you? What brings you to Rome?”

  Hallelujah frowned and shrugged. “I’m the other side of the same coin. A woman scorned. I found out my husband and his secretary had been cheating on me for more than a year. I can’t say I didn’t see it coming. All the classic signs were there. The late nights, the sudden business trips, the telephone hang-ups. He wasn’t sleeping with me, so I knew he must be sleeping with someone else. But did I do anything about it? No. How stupid am I? It wasn’t until I walked in on them one night in his office and they were naked on his couch. It was staring me right in the face then, so I could no longer deny it.” I should have attacked the situation head-on, which is how Polly would have handled things.

  “I’m thinking of selling the house,” Lucca said. “I don’t need such a big place. I love that house, but—”

  “I can top that. I don’t even have a house to go back to.”

  Lucca rubbed his chin and fidgeted in his seat, then pulled out a package from his briefcase.

  Another nervous flyer. She wasn’t the only one.

  “Say, um, Hallelujah with no nicknames, I need to use the restroom. Would you hold on to this package for me until I get back? It’s a gift for my mother, and it’s fragile. I don’t want to take a chance it will break if we encounter any turbulence.”

  Hallelujah narrowed her eyes. She might have been well on the way to being wasted, but wasn’t there some rule about accepting suspicious packages from strangers? No, that was inside the airport, and this man had obviously cleared security, so whatever was in this package was safe. The old Hallie would have turned him down. The new, free-spirited, adventurous Hallelujah had nothing to lose. She nodded. Why not? They were seatmates, after all.

  Lucca handed her the package and headed toward the back of the plane.

  “Hey, I think you’re going the wrong way. The Business Class restrooms are in the front. And we’re about to take off. You have to be in your seat.” Spoken like a true schoolmarm or a fussy librarian. A real rule follower. Who did she think she was, a flight attendant? But he was already gone.

  Hallelujah ran her fingers around the package and squeezed. It was compact but substantial, and whatever was inside felt like marbles or stones. It didn’t feel fragile or breakable. Her natural curiosity took hold. Her mother always told her curiosity killed the cat, but when had she ever listened to her mother? She’d married Lloyd against her mother’s advice, hadn’t she? Her mother had warned her that Lloyd was too handsome for his own good. But Hallelujah was a writer, and writers, like cats, were naturally curious creatures.

  Would she have time to sneak a peek at the package before the stranger returned? If the package was so valuable, then why didn’t he take it with him? Why was she even hesitating? She was dying to find out what was in the package. It might tell her a little about the man who possessed it. And right now, he had her at a disadvantage. She knew almost nothing about him, except that he’d been jilted.

  Gingerly, she unwrapped the gift. Inside the wrapping was a black velvet bag with a drawstring. How hard would it be to steal a glance to find out what the hottie had been hiding?

  Hallelujah frowned. He’d been gone quite a long time, long enough to go to the bathroom ten times over, unless he was airsick. She looked at her watch. The plane was already in the air and thirty minutes had passed since she’d seen him. The seatbelt sign was off, and she had permission to move about the cabin, but instead she pressed her call button to summon the flight attendant, who came immediately. Hallelujah carefully stashed the package in her purse.

  “Excuse me. I mean, scusi. But the gentleman who was sitting next to me, he was tall with a goatee and black glasses? He left to go to the restroom, and he never came back. He wasn’t in his seat for takeoff. I don’t know what could have happened. Could you please check on him? I think there must be something wrong.”

  The flight attendant excused herself, disappeared behind the curtain, and returned promptly. “I’m sorry, miss, but I reviewed the passenger manifest and, just as I thought, the seat next to you is empty.”

  Hallelujah took a deep breath. “I can see that it’s empty now, but it wasn’t empty almost an hour ago. There was a man sitting next to me. He said his name was Lucca. I don’t think he gave his last name. Probably something Italian, but he was definitely here.” Maybe he had given her a false name.

  The flight attendant rolled her eyes and took Hallelujah’s two empty glasses. “Perhaps you’d like another amaretto sour?”

  “I’m not drunk,” Hallelujah insisted, drumming her fingers impatiently on the seat tray. “I know what I saw. There was a man in the seat next to me, and he seems to have disappeared. He can’t be too difficult to find. He was very—distinctive-looking. He was Italian, or at least he had an Italian accent.”

  The flight attendant perfected her eye roll. “Now, what are the chances a man with an Italian accent would be on an Alitalia flight from Berlin to Rome?” When Hallelujah frowned, she added, “I’ll do a quick check in coach and search the lavatories to see what I can find.”

  “Yes, please do that.” Whatever happened to the concept of customer service? Wasn’t the passenger always right?

  Hallelujah stuck her hand in her purse and rubbed the hidden bag, half expecting a genie to appear. She should probably turn the package over to the flight crew, but not until she determined what was in it.

  When the flight attendant returned, she shook her head. “There’s no one on this flight resembling the man you described.”

  “That’s impossible,” Hallelujah insisted. “Maybe you should look again.”

  “And as I said, there is no one assigned to the seat next to you.”

  “Well, maybe he came up from coach and just sat here before takeoff.”

  The flight attendant shrugged. “That wouldn’t be the first time.”

  “Yes, that must be what happened.”

  “Is there anything else I can get you?”

  Hallelujah shook her head, and the flight attendant turned to walk away.

  She picked up her purse and felt for the package. Okay, she was going to find out what was in it. If it was so valuable, then he’d be back for it. What if it was a bomb? What if the man were a terrorist? Highly l
ikely in this day and age, given all the recent incidents in Europe. But it didn’t feel like a bomb. And Lucca hadn’t sounded like a terrorist. She was exhausting herself jumping to all these conclusions.

  The package was too soft to be a bomb. It wasn’t ticking, and it hadn’t exploded—yet. Lloyd always said she was predictable. Well, the old Hallie would have left well enough alone. The new Hallelujah, however, was about to enter uncharted territory. She stuck her hand into the bag again, praying it didn’t get blown off, and pulled the drawstring loose. Then she looked inside.

  Hallelujah’s eyes bulged as she inhaled a liqueur-scented breath. The bag was filled with dazzling diamonds of all shapes, sizes, and colors. They were brilliantly cut and glimmering, even in the low light of the cabin. There must be millions of dollars of diamonds in her purse. The man would definitely be coming back for them. Unless someone had killed him onboard or he had gotten off the plane at the last minute, before it took off, which was possible. Or maybe she had watched one too many thriller movies on the international flight to Europe. Because when she last saw him, he had been headed toward the rear of the aircraft, so leaving the plane was unlikely.

  Her imagination was running away with her. Should she report the incident? No. The flight attendant was already convinced she was hallucinating or drunk. She was drunk. On Disaronno and diamonds.

  For all she knew, he could be an international jewel thief—a cat burglar. Ha, ha. Maybe he was a James Bond-type British agent, disguised as a hunky Italian businessman.

  She closed the drawstring and zipped the package securely into the deep pocket of her oversized purse. She held her breath and patted the beads of perspiration on her forehead with the white paper drink napkin as the weight of the world came crashing down around her shoulders. She didn’t want to be responsible for all of these diamonds. She should probably turn them over to the flight attendant. But what if Lucca came back? The sooner they landed in Rome, the better.

  First, she was going to search the plane and find the man who claimed to be Lucca. He couldn’t have disappeared into thin air. He wasn’t Houdini, for Pete’s sake. He didn’t have a parachute, that she knew of. She got up from her seat, securely clutching her purse against her body. Did she look suspicious? Her feverish brow surely telegraphed nerves. Hopefully, there wasn’t an air marshal on the flight. Swaying down the aisle, she balanced against the seatbacks as she moved, looking from left to right, almost tripping over the foot of one clumsy passenger, until she had covered the entire length of the plane. Unless he was in the restroom, Italian Hottie Mystery Man was not onboard.

  Wait a minute. That guy in the window seat looked familiar. She stared at the scrumptious-looking Italian, his face partially hidden behind a copy of Corriere della Sera. Only he was holding the newspaper upside down, which either spoke to his versatility and his ability to read Italian upside down or indicated he couldn’t read Italian at all, which meant he wasn’t really Italian, as he had claimed to be. He didn’t have a goatee, and he wasn’t wearing glasses. It wasn’t her guy. Other passengers were beginning to regard her suspiciously. It was time to get back to the business-class cabin.

  Firmly settled back in her seat, she finally felt safe. She couldn’t sleep. She had to keep her wits about her. The man had obviously just pulled off a major heist. And she was as good as his accomplice. What should she do with the diamonds? Would there be bomb-sniffing dogs at the airport when she stepped off the plane? Carabinieri with machine guns? Would they be looking for her? She didn’t fancy being interrogated or spending time in an Italian prison—or any prison, for that matter. What would she do when she got to Rome? What would Polly do?

  Chapter Two

  AS THE PLANET SPINS SCRIPT EXTRACT

  BY HALLELUJAH WEISS

  SCENE 2. IN THE MASTER BEDROOM AT THE WINTHROP ESTATE.

  POLLY: [ACCEPTS A PACKAGE FROM PARKER] What’s this?

  PARKER: Why don’t you open it and find out?

  POLLY: I don’t want anything from you.

  PARKER: They say good things come in small packages.

  POLLY: [LOOKS DOWN AT PARKER’S SLACKS AND CHOKES WITH LAUGHTER] Well, apparently they haven’t seen your package.

  PARKER: I’m serious, Polly. I’ve missed you. I said I was sorry. It will never happen again. I hope this gift makes up for it.

  POLLY: [OPENS THE JEWELRY BOX] You can’t buy me off with a piece of—Is this an engagement ring?

  PARKER: What do you say we make it an even four?

  POLLY: I’ll say one thing, Parker, you have good taste in jewelry. (SHE TRIES ON THE FLASHY DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING.)

  PARKER: You like the ring?

  POLLY: I love the ring; it’s you I’m not so sure about. You’re too handsome for your own good.

  PARKER: Is that a Yes?

  POLLY: It’s a Maybe. But either way, I’m keeping the ring. You owe me that much.

  ****

  Hallelujah didn’t have long to wait.

  As soon as she deplaned and retrieved her luggage, a stranger grabbed her by the elbow, spun her around, and pulled her into his arms. He embraced her like he hadn’t seen her in months. Like he hadn’t seen a woman in years. Like he hadn’t just seen her on the flight to Rome.

  “Darling,” he sighed convincingly—indeed, so convincingly she could feel his erection against her stomach. And that sexy voice. She’d know it anywhere. Apparently, Italians were very demonstrative.

  “What are you doing here?” Hallelujah demanded, trying her best to recover. “What happened to your glasses? And your accent? And your goatee? Are you even a hedge fund manager?”

  “Yes. I’ll take that package now.”

  “Where did you get all those—”

  Lucca clamped a hand over her mouth. “Don’t say another word.”

  Hallelujah struggled to break free of his hold.

  “So you looked in the package. You’re a naughty girl, Hallelujah.”

  Hallelujah tried but failed to look innocent, and she knew it. Lloyd had always said she was an open book, that she’d make a poor poker player. She lifted her chin. “What if I did?”

  “Then I’d have to kill you,” the man said simply, in a tone that conveyed the idea that he meant it. She was still banded by his arms.

  Hallelujah’s eyes widened. “I hope you’re joking. I came to Italy to get away from all the drama in my life. I don’t need any attitude from you. Who are you, really?”

  “Just give me the package, and I’ll be on my way.”

  Hallelujah clutched her purse tightly. “Not until you tell me where you got these. Did you steal them?”

  Lucca shook his head. “You’re going to regret sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

  “I already do. Now get your hands off me, or I’ll call the police.”

  “You don’t want to do that.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Hallelujah glimpsed a stocky man with a gun moving toward them.

  “That man has a gun,” Hallelujah said hoarsely. She wanted to scream, but she couldn’t get a sound out.

  As the man got closer, Lucca pivoted to shield her with his body and turned them in the opposite direction.

  “We’ve got to get out of here, now,” Lucca ordered. “He won’t shoot in a crowded airport.”

  Lucca released Hallelujah, lifted the handle of his suitcase, and rolled it out to trip the man approaching them. Then he reached down to the ground where the man lay, and pocketed the gun.

  “Run, Hallelujah.”

  Hallelujah clutched her suitcase and purse and turned to Lucca, frozen in place. “What about the package?”

  “Just give it to me. I’m sorry I got you involved in this.” Another man approached, and Lucca signaled him and tossed him the weapon. “Silvio, please take my luggage to your condo. I’ll meet you there. And for God’s sake, do something with this gun.”

  People raced by with luggage, and the moving crowd shielded them from danger temporarily. No on
e seemed to notice the downed man now starting to get up. They pushed forward, eager to be on their way. Hallelujah didn’t spot a single policeman in the area. Not even a guard dog. Soon she lost sight of the man.

  “Now they’ve seen you with me,” Lucca said. “Your life may be in danger.”

  “Who’s they?”

  Alexander hesitated. “That’s just it. I don’t know. I do know they want something I have. They must be after the diamonds. Someone broke into my house last night, after I had the diamonds appraised, and ransacked it. And they’ve been following me ever since I left Berlin. That’s why I was in a disguise on the airplane. Someone already took a shot at me.” Alexander met Hallelujah’s eyes. “Will you be okay?”

  Hallelujah’s hands shook so she could hardly grip her suitcase handle.

  “You’re terrified.”

  “Don’t leave me, please,” she pleaded.

  “You don’t want to be mixed up in this. Give me the package and walk away.”

  Hallelujah stood rooted to the spot, still jostled by the crowd.

  “Shit,” Lucca cursed. “Okay,” he said, striving for calm. “We’re going to have to lose whoever is chasing us. Silvio, take her suitcases. Hallelujah, follow me.”

  “B-but I have a driver waiting to take me to Florence. And I don’t even know you. Why should I go with you?”

  “You shouldn’t. But I can’t leave you here alone. We don’t have a choice now, Hallelujah, if that’s even your real name.”

  “It is. I have dinner reservations at Il Palagio at the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze. And I have tickets to the Il Volo concert at the end of my stay. I can’t miss that.”

  “The Ebola concert?”

  “No. Il Volo.”

  “Who’s Il Volo?”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “No, but, whoever they are, fun will have to wait until we take care of business.” He grabbed her arm again and clasped her roughly to his side, dragging her away from baggage claim.