Grey Skies

Rome

Chapter 20

Helen

Three hours later, my family plus Tom, Sophie, Anne and Michael are on a chartered private plane headed to Rome. It was quite a surprise to Ben and the girls that we were going to Rome, but they packed quickly, and we are in Rome at 3:47, and at the Roberts' Rome house at 4. The house is about the size of ours in England, four bedrooms. It is so warm here, nothing like England. I prefer cold and cloudy, where you can wear jeans and a peacoat and be a humanly normal temperature. Here, wearing a light tank top and shorts will get you heat stroke. As we walk into the house, we are hit by lovely, cool air. I follow Ben to a room off the hall and throw my bag on the bed. "So, there is no time?" He asks, worried. "Essentially, no. We need to get to the cathedral and get Liz. We have about 42 and a half hours to get her, according to the note. What do they want, that's what I'm wondering. No ransom, nothing. They don't seem to want anything. This is just a...game. Oh my God," I gasp, "Oh my God. Oh my. We've been so stupid! They don't want her, she's not anything to them, who offered to take this, who have we been doubting this whole time! Michael took this without asking me. It's not her, it's me. They want me!" I collapse down onto the bed, suddenly feeling very lightheaded and dizzy.

"Darling, are you sure? If so, we need to get you out of here, out of here before you get hurt."

"I really can't see any other reason, unless they are actually going to just give Liz to us."

We both think for a while, before Ben says, "Samantha,"

"What?" The one Samantha I can think of is my sister. Who lives in France. And hates all the risks my job bring me. She's my overprotective older sister. "Sorry love, but what on earth does Samantha have to do with this?"

"She looks nothing like you, but has your brain!"

"Right. So we're just going to ship her to Rome, so she can yell at me?" The idea is great, but the technicalities are going to be difficult. I ask Ben to call her, they were best friends in upper school and how I met him. I can only hear Ben's side of the conversation, but it sounds something like she didn't give any reason to say no. She's taking the train down, and should be here at 4:07. Until then, we're going to figure out the practically impossible plan. After the initial shock wears off, I gather my courage and walk to the dining room, where Tom and Anne are sitting, talking in hushed tones.

"Is everything all right, Helen? You look as though you've seen a ghost." Tom asks.

"Actually, not everything is all right. Before I explain, can we make sure Michael is out of this house house and my girls are oblivious to what's going on?"

"Of course. Sophie can show him her favourite shops. We come to Rome quite a bit."

"That's fantastic. Does that guarantee us a solid hour of time?"

"More. Sophie can be quite a talker when she wants."

At that moment, Sophie and my girls come in.

"Sophie, darling, do you think you could show Michael, Catherine and Grace some of your favourite shops and sights? Helen's girls have been here before, but I think they could use a refresher. Is that all right?" Anne asks.

"Of course, mum. I love playing tour guide."

"Good, can you now go please round them up?" Anne asks once more.

"Sure. Come on, let's go." She says, leading Catherine and Grace out the door.

After we hear them leave and Ben comes into the room off the phone, we begin to formulate a plan.

"They won't recognise Samantha. But if Michael-" Ben starts.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but who's Samantha?" Anne asks.

"Samantha is my older sister. She's over-protective, but she's willing to do anything for me. She's smarter-

"As smart." Ben says.

"She's as smart as me, but she looks nothing like me. And I think that we should cut off Michael's contact to the outside world, Ben."

"Michael is on the wrong side of this case. We're pretty sure he's guilty." Ben says.

"Anyways, Sam will be here around 11:45 at night. I think that we should work with her at night, and make sure Michael doesn't see her or know of her. Where's his bedroom?" I say.

"Upstairs, that I'm certain of. He's either the 2nd or 3rd door up, Tom and I are in the first with Sophie, but I don't know where your girls are."

"Can we lock his door and make sure he doesn't come out?" I ask, "While he sleeps," I add hastily, after they all look at me as I've suggested he sleep on the roof. "That way, he'll not leave."

"That door doesn't lock," Anne says, a worried look spreading over her pretty face.

"Actually, that's not a problem. Is there a chair up there with a strong wood back that can be moved easily?" I hope so, or else this won't work. "Yes." Tom says. "Ok, let's test it." They follow me upstairs, and I'm surprised that they don't know about the basic way to lock doors.

"Here's the chair." Anne says, attempting to pick it up. She's obviously struggling, so Tom grabs it and follows us down the wide hallway. The first door we open has Grace's bag on one bed, and Catherine's on the other. Not Michaels. The last door is his, and I suggest Anne goes inside so we can show her the way of locking the door. She goes inside, and I prop the chair just under the knob.

"Now try to open it, love." Tom says. We hear rustling, and she simply states,

"It works." We let her out, put the chair back, and go back downstairs.

"That was the easy part. Now we have to get the girl back. I never really was told her height. If you were to say how tall she was, what would you say?" I ask.

"About 5 feet, give or take a few inches. I know Sophie gave you a description and picture, but I doubt she included that Liz is very thin, as Sophie says it's perfectly normal, most likely to defend her friend, but Liz is very, very small, and probably has lost weight

while in captivity." Tom replies.

"Not to be discouraging, but we barely have anything to work off of. If these people are as good as we think they are, they already know I'm here."

"Which is where Samantha comes in, I assume." Anne says.

"Yes. We, Ben and I, believe that she and I don't share enough similarities for us to be recognised as sisters, and we believe that if we send her to the cathedral sooner then later she can poke around a bit. Look for evidence, look for Liz. And she speaks French, Spanish, and Italian. I think we should all try to get some rest. I doubt Ben, Sam or I will sleep at all tonight. I think I'll call her and tell her to sleep on the train. Ben, do you think you'll be able to pass in Italian? I need to be allowed to enter the cathedral at midnight. You'll just take my papers that I'm actually legally doing this, and get permission. Thanks, love. Good luck." Anne and Tom look at me like I'm crazy. "Go do whatever you want. You're in Rome!" They head upstairs to rest, and I call Sam. "Hello, Helen."

"Hi Sam. You really might want some sleep, we'll be going to the cathedral tonight, so just prepare for that."

"Really?"

"Yes. You have an iPhone 5, right?"

"Yes, Helen. See you soon."