AN: I realise this next chapter bears some resemblance to the book. This was not 100% intentional. But I loved the confrontation between Scipio and his father.

Chapter 7

Scipio was sat opposite his father at the dinner table, eating in silence. He had seen the paper on his way home. His father was furious that he hadn't come home but Scipio had managed to get to his bedroom and lock the door before his father could shout at him too much. He had retreated to his bathroom and sat with his hands over his ears as his father banged on his bedroom door, screaming like a madman.

He hated his father's temper one minute he was fine the next, he was like a lunatic.

Now at dinner he was just staring at Scipio, he could feel his eyes almost burning into him.

"Have you read the paper today Scipio?" Scipio shook his head. "Then I shall read it to you." His father read out the article calmly and then slide it across the table to Scipio. He glanced at the photo

'Where did you go to get yourself caught up in this?" His father asked.

"I went to see if I could find a book, for one of my lessons."

"And afterwards, you didn't come home all night or last night?" His father asked sipping his coffee, his voice so calm, but Scipio was on edge.

"I went to the hospital with her, to make sure she was ok, she banged her head pretty bad and I was at home last night." Scipio muttered

"Do you know how stupid I looked last night when I came home to find reporters outside our house, badgering me about your stupid stunt? You're to stay in the house unless I say you can leave and no more disappearing acts in the middle of the night."

Scipio didn't reply.

Scipio's father almost slammed his coffee cup down. "You know they can't trace her, no I.D, no name for her, probably a street child, and a thief no doubt. They say they think she's living nearby, the other boy is probably her accomplice"

"She seemed nice when I was sat with her at the hospital. She was only looking after the little boy." Scipio lied.

"Well from now on you stay away from thieves, let some one else be the hero."

"Don't you pity her at all, she was attacked?"

"No" His father looked at Scipio his anger showing in his eyes. "I don't pity thieves. She probably tried to pick his pockets and got caught. What's that girl to you? Are you sure you didn't know her before this?" He pointed to the paper.

"No" Scipio heard his voice getting louder.

"Really, then why help her?"

"For god sake!" Scipio shouted. "Do I have to know her? She could have died! What would you have me do, stand there and watch the bubbles as she DROWNED?"

"She's probably a thief, what does it matter if she died. It's no great loss."

"And what about the little boy. He's six years old. What would happen to him then? He'd be alone?"

"Go to bed Scipio" His father said as he finished his dinner.

"Dottor… Massimo." Scipio stammered. "You… Sir." He sneered. "Are nothing but a heartless bastard. No wonder she left you."

"BED"

Scipio walked briskly from the dining room and to his room. He sat beneath the window and his bedroom door. He had to get away from here.

Mosca and Prosper had gone out to get food for dinner. It was bitterly cold but at least it wasn't raining. Prosper didn't speak as they walked through the alleys. His mind was on his aunt, what if next time it was her that saw Bo?

His daydream was interrupted by a shout from Mosca.

"Oh my god" He cried. "It's Scipio." Mosca grabbed a paper and showed Prosper the front page. There he was in a full front page spread, a picture of him carrying Ana. Thankfully neither Prosper nor Bo was in the pictures.

"Young Scipio Massimo was the hero of the day on Tuesday, when a young girl who has yet to be named, was pushed into the Grand Canal by Ernesto Barbarossa." Mosca opened the paper and continued reading.

"It is believed that Ernesto Barbarossa tried to snatch the girl's younger brother, they were seen arguing before she was pushed. The girl is said to have hit her head and fallen unconscious. Onlookers watched as Master Massimo dove in after the girl, when no one else did. He resurfaced after his second dive with the girl in his arms. He was helped by another young boy who threw a nearby by life buoy to Master Massimo and dragged him to the steps. He carried the young girl up the steps and discovered she was not breathing; Master Massimo then performed CPR on the girl and revived her. The young hero was not available to comment on Tuesday's events. His father however was asked about the events outside their home, 223 Fondamenta Bollani, he is said to be very proud of his son's actions." Prosper looked around confused. It had to be the wrong boy.

"Scipio, got a dad?" Mosca said looking puzzled, Prosper paid for the paper and they ran back to the Stella.

"So where did you two disappear to?" Hornet teased as she sat in the stalls with Ana.

"Just for a walk, and it started raining so we went to a café and sat in there until it stopped and then just wandered about some more." She could tell Hornet wasn't convinced.

"I'm going to go and have a nap, I haven't had any sleep." Ana disappeared upstairs and found Bo on her bed playing with his kittens.

She heard the door downstairs burst open and footsteps.

"Look at this." Mosca said snatching the paper from Prosper and passing it to Hornet. Hornet read the paper silently before it was snatched off her by Riccio.

"I don't understand, Scipio said he doesn't know his family they must think he's someone else." Riccio said passing the paper back to Prosper.

Ana got up and led the way down the stairs. She walked over to the others with Bo in her arms.

"What's going on?" She said curiously, she put Bo down, no one answered. She took the paper from Prosper and looked at the pictures, reading the article.

"There's only one way to solve this." She put on her coat and disappeared out the cinema doors. The others hurried after her. No one wanted to stay behind.