figura in a nice blue dress that clung to her lithe form.
Aldo’s mouth went dry. He couldn’t let her see him. Meanwhile the sight of her turned Marco’s head, for his brother never missed a pretty girl. Aldo didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t let Marco start talking to her. Knowing his little brother, he’d bring up his fascio job to impress her, and all would be lost.
Aldo froze. Silvia was walking toward him and Marco. He couldn’t avoid her. If he went left or right, she would see him move. He turned his head away as if he were talking to some customers. Out of the corner of his eye, he was aghast to see Silvia looking right at him, and she slowed her step.
Aldo looked over and met her eye, caught. Silvia gazed directly back at him. Strangely, her expression registered no surprise, then she nodded as if sending him a signal. She made her way to the back of the bar and into the narrow hallway, where the stockroom and restrooms were located. Luckily Marco looked away, summoned by a customer.
Aldo followed Silvia, his mind racing. He turned into the hallway, and Silvia was waiting for him.
“I need to talk to you,” she said under her breath.
“Okay, in the stockroom.” Aldo showed her inside the tiny room under the stairwell, which was lined with groceries. He closed the door quickly and turned on the light. “Silvia, what are you doing here?”
“Uno sent me to see you, Aldo.”
Aldo felt shocked. “How do you know my name? Or that I work here?”
“Uno found out because we needed to talk to you. It’s urgent.”
Aldo recoiled. “But how did he find out?”
“He has ways.”
Aldo masked his alarm. “I thought our identities were secret. I thought we trusted each other. We shouldn’t spy on each other.”
“I agree with you, but you don’t understand the risks Uno takes. That’s why I came instead of him.” Silvia’s forehead creased. “Trust me, he has good reasons for how he operates. I won’t hide anything more from you, so I’ll tell you, he knows that your father is a Fascist of the First Hour.”
Aldo thanked God that they didn’t know about Marco. He got his bearings. “I’m sure I’m not the only one of our cell to have a father who’s a committed Fascist. I’m my own man, and nevertheless loyal to our cause.”
“We know that, and that’s not why I’ve come. I’m here to tell you to go to Orvieto tonight.”
“Tonight?” Aldo swallowed hard, off balance. “Why tonight? What happened?”
“Something came up, that’s all I can say.”
Aldo wished he could stall her. The longer he could put off getting the guns, the better. “But I don’t know if I’m ready.”
“Why not?”
Aldo tried to think of a lie, but he was a terrible liar. “Uh, but tonight is such short notice.”
“It couldn’t be helped.”
“But I have to prepare.”
“Prepare what?”
“My bike. I have to get it in order.”
“Is it broken? Can’t you fix it?”
“No, well, it’s not broken, but—”
“Aldo, are you afraid? Is that it?” Silvia’s blue eyes sharpened with suspicion. “Is that why you’ve gotten so thin? Is it from anxiety?”
“Yes,” Aldo answered, sensing that the woman was too smart to believe an outright denial. “But I didn’t want to admit it in front of the others.”
“I knew it. I see things my husband doesn’t.” Silvia patted his arm. “Be brave. It’s dangerous, but not unreasonably so. You said you would go, and you must. My husband shouldn’t have to do everything. Do your part. Keep your word.”
“Okay.” Aldo resigned himself to going, as it didn’t bring the date of the retirement party any closer.
“Bravo.” Silvia smiled briefly. “Leave after nightfall and be back by morning. Our contact will be waiting for you at a tavern called Piccolo’s, on Via del Duomo off the Corso Cavour.”
“How will I know him?”
“He goes by Fabio and he’ll be wearing a checked cap. He’s going to give you a package of six pistols. Ride back to Rome straightaway and place them in a hole in the underbrush near the Terme di Caracalla, where Viale delle Terme di Caracalla intersects Via Antoniniana. Are you familiar?”
“No.”
“I just told you the location. You’ll find it with ease. If it’s not safe for any reason, hide in place or travel the next night. Don’t go back to Orvieto looking for our contact. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good luck. Goodbye.” Silvia opened the door to the storeroom and left, and Aldo heaved a sigh. His chest felt