Page 35 of Ciao Bella

“Well,” smirked Suzette, “don’t canonize us yet. We’re worried about shopping as well, but the boys are the priority.”

Enzo laughed, standing to help the women off the bus.

“Times like this, I wish I were a different kind of man. I would steal you all from your husbands.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Wandering the streets of Venice was like wandering through a Renaissance painting. The frescos, colorful tiled walkways and walls, and ancient homes were awe-inspiring and breathtaking. And yet, it was all being swallowed by the water surrounding it.

“Venice is not just one island,” said Enzo. “She is built on a group of 127 islands that are separated by open water and by canals. Parts of the city are linked by our famous bridges. More than four hundred and seventy-two.”

“How many permanent residents live here?” asked Gaspar.

“A little over two hundred thousand on all the Venetian islands, but that is dwindling every year. Together with the cities ofPaduaandTreviso, Venice is included in thePadua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area.

“It gets its name from the ancient Veneti people who lived here around the tenth century BC. It has always been a major financial and maritime region and once was very powerful during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. Art and, of course, Carnivale later became synonymous with Venice.

“Now, Venice remains a very popular tourist destination, as you know. It is usually ranked as one of the most beautiful cities, and of course,” he smirked, “one of the most romantic cities.”

“We live in an area that floods and has challenges with rising waters,” said Luc, “but this is way beyond challenging. It feels as if the city is literally just floating and will sink any time now.”

“This is true,” said Enzo with a sad expression. “The city faces many challenges, including too many tourists that it cannot support, pollution, tides, cruise ships that sail too close to the city and buildings, and much more. The city is under constant threat.”

“It’s terrible,” said Alexandra. “I wonder if there is anything that Finley could do to help the city?”

“Maybe,” said Wilson. “We could always have her connect to someone here and talk about what she’s doing in the bayous. Carefully.”

“Come. I have arranged enough boats for everyone to have their own,” smiled Enzo. He waited until they were all on board, waving as they maneuvered through the narrow canals beneath the bridges. Seeing Wilson and some of the others sitting up straight, he called out to them. “Duck your heads!”

The men waved, laughing at him. As Enzo turned, the four boys stood staring at him. He tried to remain calm so as not to scare them away.

“Hello,” he said in Italian. The boys’ eyes grew wide, staring up at him. He started to walk, and the boys walked with him. “I can see you, and if you speak, I can hear you. So can the pretty ladies in the boats.”

The boys still said nothing but followed him as he walked toward a small coffee shop where he would wait for everyone to return. He got his coffee and a pastry, took his seat in the warmth of mid-day sun, and allowed the boys to simply watch him.

“This would be much easier if you would speak to me,” he said, looking at one of the boys.

That’s when one of the boys raised his hands and began to sign. He was using sign language.

They were deaf.

That wasn’t mentioned in the police reports. No one ever said that all four boys were deaf. The school they’d once attended was no longer in existence, so he had no way of knowing that it was a school for the deaf.

It all made sense now. That’s how the killer was able to throw all four boys from the Colosseum. He turned so the boys could look at his face.

“Do you read lips?” he asked in Italian. They all nodded, staring at him with admiration. “Good. The ladies do not speak Italian, and I do not know if they read sign language, but we will try to help you. We want to give you peace and allow you to find your families.”

The boys all stood excitedly, hugging one another and thanking Enzo. He could only smile, but inside, his heart was breaking. Someone had taken the lives of four innocent boys. Not just innocent boys but boys who couldn’t hear their attacker coming for them.

He spotted the first of the boats coming towards them, and the beautiful Mary stepped off, her handsome husband behind her. One by one, the boats returned, and they all stepped off, meeting him where he was seated.

“You know, I think I’m going to go inside that lace shop,” said Mary.

“Me, too!” said Lauren. The women followed one another, and Enzo stood.

“I will go with them if you gentlemen would like to get a drink over there. We will meet you and have a late lunch before we return.”

“Sounds great,” said Gaspar. Enzo watched the men go into the restaurant and then followed the women to the lace shop.