"It's over," Angela said, relief in her voice. She was stretched out on one side of the queen-size bed. "I can't believe it."
They were in a small hotel on the outskirts of Soriano. It had been two hours since they had escaped from Pietro's villa. McCabe felt relieved too until he dumped the money out next to her, and counted it twice, getting?437,000 both times. "Sixty-three thousand's missing."
"You really thought you were going to get it all back?" Angela said. "I'm surprised they didn't spend more. Only three thousand."
"What're you talking about?"
"Mazara gave sixty thousand to my father. He was supposed to give him thirty per cent, 150,000, and thought he could get away with it. So my father will be looking for him if he isn't already."
She explained how it worked, how Don Gennaro received a share of everything, all of the criminal activity in Rome. McCabe had busted his ass to get the money and now this. "Where's he live?"
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know," McCabe said.
"You think my father is going to give you the money? Are you crazy?"
McCabe said, "I tell him I've got you. He wants you back, he gives me the sixty thousand euros."
"I think he would prefer the money," Angela said. "You know I want you to have it, but listen to me, this is not going to work. I am trying to help you, give you some advice. Don't go anywhere near my father. Listen, I don't want anything to happen to you."
That's how they left it. He put the money back in the bag, and ordered room service, appetizers and a couple bottles of Peroni. They'd spend the night in Soriano, and try to get a ride in the morning. He took out Angela's cell phone and dialed Chip's number, heard it ring and heard Chip say hello.
"I need you to do me a favor," McCabe said.
"I don't believe it," Chip said. "Spartacus, you're a popular guy. I saw you on TV, your yearbook picture, and the car you rented that looked like somebody had taken a sledgehammer to it. Captain Ferrara stopped by school a little while ago and asked me what I knew."
It was good to hear his voice. McCabe said, "What'd you tell him?"
"My roommate's lost his mind and disappeared."
"That's probably not too far from the truth." McCabe told him what happened, what he'd done.
Chip said, "You didn't really kidnap the Mafia don's daughter? Tell me you're making this up."
"It does sound strange," McCabe said, "doesn't it?" He looked out the window, saw a half moon lighting up the sky over Orsini Castle.
"That's an understatement," Chip said. "I don't want to rain on your parade, but maybe she's playing along, that ever occur to you?"
"No, Dr Phil," McCabe said.
"That's your ego talking," Chip said.
"What do you know about it?"
"I've watched a lot of TV, seen a lot of movies. Girls like that are used to getting what they want. They're used to the good life. What do you have to offer?"
"I'll ask her."
"But I think you've got a bigger problem," Chip said. "These guys you've gone up against are bad. You read about them in the paper, remember? They're not just going to give up. They're not going to go away. I hope you know that."
Yeah, he knew it.
"Can the Mafia princess talk to her father on your behalf, put in a good word for you?"
McCabe said, "From what she tells me they don't get along too well."
"I'd give it a try," Chip said. "That, or call Captain Ferrara. The way I see it those are your options."
"Or I could take the money and leave the country," McCabe said.
"How're you going to get it through customs and airport security?"
He had a good point.
Chip said, "Or I guess you can always shoot your way out."
"That's a possibility," McCabe said. "We'll talk about it when you get here."
Chip said he'd pick them up at ten the next morning.