Page 39 of Ciao Bella
“Wait, copies were put in their place?” asked Adele.
“Yes, bella. Around 1938. It’s said that Mussolini and Hitler met on those steps many times. Both fancied themselves gladiators who won and became emperors. Big-headed fools,” he scoffed.
Opening a massive door to a large warehouse extension, he led the women down rows and rows of artifacts. Adele was so excited she just wanted to reach out and touch. Faith grabbed her wrist as she reached for a shield of armor, allegedly from a gladiator.
“We can’t,” she whispered. “Let’s do this first, and then we’ll ask nicely.”
“Fine,” frowned Adele.
“Here they are,” he said, pointing to the beaten, worn steps. “Most people would see nothing special to them. They are just pink steps. But they are glorious with more than a thousand years of history to them.”
“May I touch them?” asked Faith.
“Of course. You cannot step on them. As I said, they were loose and considered unsafe, which was why they were moved here originally.”
Faith touched the cold stone, running her hand along the steps. Adele stepped up, doing the same, feeling the history seep into her fingertips. As she did, Nico appeared before her, smiling. He got close to the steps and pointed to the third step.
“This one?” she whispered, pointing. He nodded, and she smiled at him. Kneeling down, she touched the top of the step and watched as the stone wobbled back and forth.
“See, that’s what I mean. They are unsafe, but no one has found it worthy to save them,” said the director.
“I think the top of the stone can be lifted off,” said Adele.
“Perhaps,” he shrugged.
“Professor? Professor?” yelled a young woman, running toward him. “We have a very big problem with one of the exhibits.”
“Och,” he growled. “Please, stay and look. I will return shortly. Oh, and you may touch the armor on the way out.” He laughed the entire way as Adele opened and closed her mouth. Faith just chuckled, shaking her head.
“Let’s see if we can lift this. Enzo? Can you help?” With Enzo on one side, Faith and Adele on the other, they slowly rocked the top of the step, then slid it to one side.
“It’s opening!” said Kat. As they opened it, they were shocked to see a small journal inside. They could hear the professor returning and panicked, sliding the journal into Faith’s purse. Enzo pushed the step back where it was, and they all just stood around, attempting to look innocent.
“My apologies. It was a silly mistake by a student. Well, where were we?”
“I think we’ve wasted your time, professor,” said Adele. “The steps are beautiful. I hope we can come back and spend more time when we come back to Italy.”
“Any time,” he smiled. He walked them out of the museum and waved as they boarded their bus. When they were nearly to the villa, Erin turned to the women and frowned.
“Well, ladies, we are now felons in a foreign country, having stolen antiquities.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“It’s all in German,” frowned Faith. “I know a little, but certainly not enough to read this. How are we going to get it translated?”
The men hadn’t returned from Ferrari yet, so the women enjoyed the sunshine on the veranda. Aldo and Enzo brought out appetizers, wine, and water to enjoy until dinner.
“I’m not sure we need to be fluent,” said Alexandra. “Look at the last few pages. They’re drawings of a plane and, if I’m not mistaken, a bomb.”
“Let me see that,” frowned Montana. “Savannah, look at this.”
“It’s definitely a plane. Not a great drawing, but then again, if Hitler drew it, he wasn’t an expert.”
“I think it’s the Messerschmitt Me 262 and 264,” said Savannah. “They were revolutionary for their time. They were effective in dog fights and at dropping bombs. They nearly defeated Great Britain with these planes. But they weren’t invented at the time the boys died.”
“Maybe that’s the point,” said Montana. “Maybe they were going to develop them earlier but couldn’t because he lost the journal. Maybe they actually placed the journal there for safekeeping, and they thought the boys saw them when they went to retrieve it.”
“What about the other drawing?” asked Faith.