Part 24 (2/2)

She looked at him, horrified. At the trial? He nodded. But why? Was he curious then? Was that it? Was he like all the others? Was that why he had come? She looked at him suspiciously, and he took her hand.

I want to be there with you. That's why I came.

This time she nodded, understanding, as her fingers tightened slowly in his grasp.

Chapter TWENTY-NINE.

The next morning she stepped out of the car with a guard ahead of and behind her, and with Corbett and Bernardo on either side. Together, they plowed through the mob, her head bowed, her face hidden by a black hat with a brim. Moments later they were in the courtroom and the judge had entered and called Alfredo Paccioli, the jeweler, to the stand.

And Signora di San Gregorio brought you her jewelry? All of it?

Yes, Paccioli murmured.

What did you give her in exchange for it? Did you give her anything? The attorney was pressing, and again Paccioli said yes.

I gave her all the cash I had in the office at the time. And I got another three hundred thousand dollars from merchants I know. I also promised to get her an equal amount the following week.

And what did she say?

Corbett felt Isabella stiffen next to him, and he turned slightly to watch her. Her face was so pale, it was almost white.

She said it wasn't enough, but she took it.

Did she tell you why she needed the money?

No. Paccioli paused, unable to go on. When he spoke again it was almost a whisper. But I suspected. She she ' looked ' ravaged ' broken ' frightened ' He had to stop then as tears washed his florid face. His eyes met Isabella's. She was crying too.

The judge called a recess.

The testimony continued agonizingly for another three days. At last, on the fifth morning, the judge looked at her regretfully and asked her to take the stand.

You are Isabella di San Gregorio?

I am. Her voice was a tremulous whisper, her eyes almost larger than her face.

Are you the widow of Amadeo di San Gregorio, who was abducted from his office on September seventeenth and murdered on The attorney checked the correct date. He supplied it, and Isabella nodded miserably.

I am. Yes.

Can you tell us, in orderly fas.h.i.+on, what happened on that day? The last time you saw him, what you did, what you heard?

Step by step she went through it: her arrival at the house that morning, the business they had discussed, Bernardo's warning, how she and Amadeo had been touched but had cast the warning aside. She looked briefly at Bernardo. There were tears in his eyes, and he looked away.

With anguish Corbett watched the proceedings, willing her to have the strength to go on. For days now he had watched her and listened, taken her back to San Gregorio each afternoon, and talked with her until night. But he had said nothing of an intimate nature, never touched her, except gently with his eyes. He had come to Rome as her friend, knowing that these days would be most painful, that in reliving it, at last she would be free. But knowing also that it might break her, that even if she survived it, she might want nothing from him. He had come anyway, he had been there, as he was there for her now.

And when did you realize that your husband was late?

At ' I don't know ' perhaps seven thirty. She told of being interrupted by Alessandro. And then, in agony, she explained further of calling Bernardo, of waiting, of suddenly being afraid. And then the phone call. She began to describe it, but she broke down and couldn't go on. She gasped for a moment, fighting for air and composure, but suddenly the tears were flowing from her eyes.

They they said they had ' my husband. It was a word strangled between a gasp and a scream.' that they would kill him ' and ' . they let me talk to him, and he said '

Bernardo looked at the judge unhappily, but he only nodded. It was best if she got it over with all at once. They had to go on.

And then what did you do?

Bernardo ' Signore Franco arrived. We talked. Later that night we called the police.

Why later? Had the kidnappers told you not to?

She took a deep breath and went on. Yes, later. But at first I was afraid that if I called the police, my accounts would be frozen and I wouldn't be able to come up with the money at all. And they were frozen, of course. She sounded bitter as she said it.

Is that why you tried to sell your jewelry?

She looked at Paccioli, seated in the back of the courtroom, and nodded. He was crying openly. Yes. I would have done anything ' anything' .

Corbett's jaw tightened, and he and Bernardo exchanged an anguished glance.

And then what happened? After you got the money? Did you deliver it to the kidnappers, although it was less than they had asked?

No. I was going to. I was going to tell them. It was Monday night, and they wanted the money by Tuesday. But' . She began to tremble again. ' but they called. ' It was ' it was. ' A look of horror crossed her face, and her eyes searched out Corbett and Bernardo. Non posso! I can't go on!

No one moved. The judge spoke to her gently and urged her to finish if she could. She waited a moment, sobbing, while the bailiff brought her some water. She took a small sip and went on.

It was in the papers that I had been to Alfredo. Someone told them. And as she said it she remembered the face of the girl. The kidnappers knew then that my accounts had been frozen. That we'd called the police. She sat very still and closed her eyes.

And what did they tell you the next time you spoke to them?

She whispered, with her eyes closed. That they'd kill him.

Was that all they said?

No. She opened her eyes again, as though seeing a vision, as though she herself were now very far away. The tears streamed down her face. She looked up at the ceiling. They said that I could' . Her voice was fading as she looked back again. ' say good-bye to Amadeo' . And ' I did. He told me ' he told me ' to be brave for a little while, that everything would be ' all right ' that he loved me' . I told him I loved him ' and then' .

She stared blindly into the courtroom.

And then they killed him. The next morning the police found him dead.

She was lifeless as she sat there, recalling the moment, the feeling, and the last sound of Amadeo's voice, which seemed to fade as her own voice died away. Silently she looked at the three men accused of his murder, and still crying, she shook her head. The judge quickly signaled to Bernardo. Her part in the trial was over. He wanted her removed.

Bernardo got quickly to his feet, having understood, and Corbett followed him and the attorney to the stand, where they reached out to Isabella, who looked at them, uncomprehending. They killed him ' they killed him ' Bernardo' . Her voice was a hideous wail in the courtroom ' He's dead!

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