‘Well,’ he began, ‘we made our escape over the roofs, as you suggested, although it was not easy. Fortunately Jacob and Matteo were both very nimble and brave. I know I was a terrible burden to them all, with my bad leg and my stick. Jacob had to help me more than once. Poor Sara was struggling with the baby, but Matteo was very grown up, and guided his mother through some scary moments. We managed to get onto the roof of a house in the street behind this one. It also had a roof terrace, so we climbed down onto it. The door to the house was unlocked. We crept down the stairs and opened the door into the apartment. By a miracle it was empty. We simply opened the front door and ran downstairs, or limped in my case, and then up the road, and away. I knew of another safe house nearby and we went there at first. The next day, I arranged for the family to move to the crypt of a church. They were quite safe there, I promise, and the priest and others from the Resistance brought them food each day.’
‘Where are they now?’ Livia asked.
‘Another safe house, south of the river. They’re doing well, as far as I know.’
Livia’s eyes misted with tears. ‘I’m so relieved, I was very fond of them.’
‘They were very fond of you too,’ he said.
‘And I hardly dare ask, what of Elena? How is she?’
‘Well therein lies a tale,’ he said, lying on his side and gazing at her. ‘I told you I would not abandon her, and I didn’t. A group of us went to the convent where she was being held, dressed in Nazi uniforms. You would have laughed to see us. We showed the guard on duty a forged release document for Elena, and demanded she was released on the spot. He, of course, was suspicious and picked up the phone to check with his superior officer. Gianni, one of our group – I don’t think you know him – pulled his pistol on the guard, forcing him to drop the phone. He began to shout for help, so Gianni had to kill him. I felt bad about that, but we had no option, did we?’
Livia nodded. ‘What happened next?’
‘In the meantime, the Mother Superior heard the noise and discovered us. I was worried that all would be lost, but it turned out that she was a remarkable old lady, who hated the Fascists as much as we do. She helped us dispose of the guard, then she released Elena. Poor Elena – she was so overjoyed to see us, she couldn’t stop crying. Then, as we were leaving, the Mother Superior called us back frantically, warning us that if Carità heard one woman had escaped, he would kill all the others. In the end we released the lot – over twenty women came running out of the prison, scattering far and wide. I was worried Carità would work out that the nuns had helped us, and punish them. So before we left, we tied them all up and locked them in a cell.’
‘And how is Elena?’ asked Livia.
‘She was very weak at the beginning, but she is doing all right now. She wants so much to see you.’
‘And I want so much to see her. I’ll go tomorrow.’
Eventually, their stories told, they closed their eyes. As Livia slipped into unconsciousness, she heard Cosimo whispering, ‘Goodnight Signora de Luca.’ And he kissed her on the forehead and they slept.
Thirty-Five
Rome
June 1944
The day after her meeting with Salvato, Isabella received an early-morning phone call from Koch.
‘Good morning,’ he said gently. ‘I have something important to tell you.’
‘What?’ she asked, her heart suddenly racing.
‘I can’t tell you now, on the phone. I’ll send a car – be ready.’
She dressed hurriedly, fearful of what might be about to happen. Was she to be interrogated again, or worse? Perhaps Salvato had been right and she should help the Resistance get rid of Koch once and for all.
The car brought her to Pensione Jaccarino and she was escorted to Koch’s main office.
‘Ah good, you’re here,’ he said, emerging from his private office next door, ‘do sit down. I have some news,’ he began. He was interrupted by a knock on the door. ‘What is it?’ he asked the guard irritably.
‘You are needed, sir. Please come quickly.’
He looked across at Isabella. ‘Wait here, I won’t be long.’