Chapter 12

The day had dragged on, Scipio paced his bedroom and threw his rolled up socks across his room to an empty paper bin. His father had kept him locked in his room since he'd been brought back by the police. He was only allowed out to eat with his father downstairs. Dottor Massimo had been acting as though nothing had happened, although every time he passed a mirror he was reminded by the bruise that stained his jaw line. Scipio couldn't help but laugh in his head when he saw his father.

He had been instructed by his father to attend the ball this evening. The maid had brought up a new tuxedo for Scipio and laid it out on his bed. Scipio sat staring at his feet at the other end of the bath, wiggling his toes. He took a breath and slid down beneath the water. If I lie here long enough I'll just slip away he thought.

His mind raced, flashbacks of his father shouting at him, raising his hand at him threatening to strike him. His uncle marching in beside his father both laughing at him. His mother walking out the door without saying good bye, just like she always did. I'll find you Scipio. His father's voice resounded in his mind. And then Ana's 'Oh blah blah blah.' He felt her take his hand. He opened his eyes and sat up quickly like she had pulled him up, the water splashed over the side of the bath.

"I have to get out" He said to himself. He pulled himself out the bath wrapping a towel round his waist. He marched into his bedroom across to the window and pulled at the handle. He knew it was locked but he just hoped it might come open. It didn't budge.

"DAMN IT!" he screamed, slamming his hand against the window frame. He lay down on his bed and buried his face in the pillow. He sat up, his eyes filled with tears. He sat biting his lip staring at the window. He could feel himself slipping away. He was driving himself crazy thinking about her. He sat thinking of how he'd vanish from Venice with her and the others. But Ida, Ana wouldn't leave her would she?

He sighed and began drying himself with his towel. He stood over his bed and his new tuxedo and groaned. The most uncomfortable thing he could possibly wear. He got dressed and combed his hair and stood before the mirror. Everything about him now said Rich Kid. There was a knock at the door and the maid entered.

"Your father wants you downstairs immediately." She snapped. Scipio walked over to her. The anger for his father boiling inside him.

"Next time you speak to me like that you'll be looking for a new job." He sneered and stormed off across the landing. He felt bad for his rudeness but well she deserved it. How dare she speak to him like that! His father would have thrown her out there and then. "But you're not him." Ana's voice sighed. He paused. This was madness. He shook his head and continued. She was gone; his father would have people looking for them. She wouldn't risk staying not with Bo.

"Ana" Ida called up the stairs. She wore a full length strapless crimson gown, with roses to the left of her waist and on the right bust. Prosper stood smartly beside her in his tuxedo. Mosca and Riccio stood behind him also in tuxedos. Insisting they needed to blend in. Ida picked her camera bag and fiddled with Prosper's bow tie.

"ANA!" She shouted as she straightened Mosca's bow tie too.

Riccio cleared his throat and pointed up the stairs. The others turned and looked as Ana stood at the top of the stairs nervously twiddling the strap on her bag. She wore a baby blue strapless dress a similar design to Ida's with a corset top.

"Oh Ana." Ida gasped. "You look beautiful."

"It's amazing." Mosca gasped.

"Thanks" Ana smiled as she came down the stairs carefully. "Could you tighten it a little for me?" Ida pulled the strings on the corset a little tighter.

"All set?" She smiled as Prosper helped her with her coat.

"Your tape recorder?" He asked putting on his own coat. Ana laughed and pulled up her dress to show the tape recorder strapped to her left leg.

"Sorted then." He laughed.

The room was filling with more and more guests. The streets outside were lined with the paparazzi, each time the door opened Scipio caught a glimpse of them. He stood beside his father greeting the guests as they made their way through to the ball room at the back of the house. Then he saw Ida come through the door, Prosper beside her with a large camera bag.

"Dottor Massimo" Ida said curtsying. "Ida Spavento the photographer. Your assistant requested I take photos of the party from within. To save too many cameras." Dottor Massimo kissed Ida's hand.

"And my assistant Lucas" Ida smiled as she indicated to Prosper, who shook the Dottor's hand.

"Signora, My son Scipio." Dottor Massimo smiled.

"A pleasure." Ida smiled curtsying again.

"Signore" A butler said bowing. "Everyone is here sir."

"Excellent." Dottor Massimo smiled.

"Let me escort you through Ida, and then you can begin your photographs."

Prosper and Scipio watched them disappear down the corridor.

"Prosper what's going on?" Scipio asked.

"We're busting you out." Prosper smiled. "Here hold this." He smiled passing Scipio the camera bag. Prosper ran over to a large window on the left and opened it. He whistled loudly, Scipio saw someone run to the window in a tux with another figured in a long dark cloak. Prosper helped the figure through the window and they stood talking to the person in the tux. As prosper shut the window Scipio saw Riccio standing at the window. He smiled as Riccio gave him a thumbs up and then ran off.

Scipio walked over to Prosper and the figure and watched as it pulled off its cloak.

Scipio smiled as Ana turned round and smiled at him.

"Operation bust your ass outta here. Phase 1 complete." She laughed. Scipio grabbed Ana and kissed her.

"I missed you" He said with tears in the corner of his eyes.

"I missed you too."

"Sorry to interrupt but we do have the small matter of the evidence.

"Evidence" Scipio said confused.

"We'll explain on the way come on we need to go to your fathers study. Prosper got to go and help Ida." Prosper handed Ana a small disposable camera and hugged her.

"Good luck, I'll see you in a bit."

"Come on" Ana smiled taking Scipio's hand and leading the way up the stairs to the Study. She explained about her grandmother's death. Scipio looked at her horrified.

"So what are we looking for?"

To be honest I don't know, but we need a picture of the painting in your fathers study to prove he stole it. And I want to try and get him to confess so I can tape it. And then justice. If we can get him locked up then we can stay in Venice, we can stay with Ida. If not then we'll think of somewhere to go."

Scipio opened the door to his fathers study and they slipped inside shutting the door behind then.

"Shit" Ana hissed. "It's gone." Scipio looked at the wall and the empty space that stood before them.

"Now what?"

"Plan B. we have to let him see me. Follow me, tape the confession."

"With what?" Ana pulled up her dress and undid the Velcro strap that had held the tape recorder in place. She threw it to Scipio, who caught it and looked at her laughing.

"Pretty cool huh?" She smiled, Scipio smiled.

"And then." Scipio's smile vanished

"And how do you get away, what if he tries to kill you." And looked back at the wall.

"Then you get the confession and get out." She looked at Scipio.

"I need you to hid somewhere in here. Tape what ever we say when we come in."

Scipio looked at Ana terrified.

"But if he…"

"No matter what, you stay hidden. You know what to do. Take this." Ana took a gun out of her bag and handed it to Scipio. "It's not loaded, it's just for show. It's Bo's bubble gun painted black. What I saw it in a film, it worked then." She kissed him on the lips and walked to the door. She opened it and paused looking at Scipio. She smiled and disappeared.

Scipio looked around the room for somewhere to hide, not behind the curtain too obvious, not under the desk. He ran to the corner and hid beneath a table, and behind the cloth that covered it. He sat right against the wall, his knees under his chin. He put the gun down beside him, he didn't want to hold it he felt evil. He sat nervously and waited with the tape recorder in his hand.

Ana ran back along the landing and down the stairs, she could see Prosper at the door looking for her.

"Where's Scipio?" He asked.

"The paintings gone, he's hiding in the study. I've got to get the Dottor to see me and follow me." Prosper nodded and took Ana's hand he lead her through the guests to where Ida was taking pictures.

"Wait here one minute." He said and went to Ida whispering to her. Ida looked at Ana and then back at Prosper she whispered something back and then continued with taking her pictures.

"The Dottor is having one big picture taken soon. We wait till he's in the picture and then get you to join everyone last so he sees you. Then after sneak off. And hope he follows you. I can't be seen with you it'll blow Ida's cover." Prosper disappeared back over to Ida who began arranging guests for the photo. The servants had set out chairs for people to sit on at the front of the photo. Ana couldn't help but notice that Ida kept one seat right at the front free. It was for her she watched as everyone took their places. Dottor Massimo stood in the middle between Scipio's uncles. His stupid proud smile pasted across his stupid face. Ana felt her rage inside her again but held back. Soon, she kept repeating in her mind. Soon. She disappeared out of the room for a moment and watched Ida put the last person in place then re entered the room. Her eyes immediately met the Dottor's. He scowled at her.

"Oh we have a straggler." Ida laughed.

"Madam if you'd like to stand just her beside Lord Geoffrey. Miss Isaacs would you mind sitting at the front here. Ana took her place and smiled nervously at the camera as Ida clicked away.

"Thank you everyone that was beautiful." Ida smiled. Taking her camera from the stand and folding the stand away.

"Lucas" She smiled. Prosper came over and took the stand and put it back in Ana's bag.

Ana waited until the guests had spread out a little and stayed in the Dottor's eye line. She let him see her looking around over her shoulder and disappeared back out the to the entrance hall. She ran up the stairs to put some space between them. She had seen him making his way through the crowd behind her and now she could hear his footsteps. She opened the door to the study and pulled out her camera, she waited a moment or two and then opened the door to leave again. The Dottor was standing right in front of her.

"Ana Clifford we meet again."

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