WHEN IN ROME

Disclaimers: I wish I owned Clayton Webb

Please send me reviews.

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They touched down at Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport in Rome.  Mac, Harm and AJ were exhausted, Webb on the other hand was still operating on adrenaline and showed no signs of fatigue.  They made their way to the hotel and checked into the rooms. 

"Settle in and meet back in our room." Webb said.

"Clay, you need to sleep." Mac stated. "Did you sleep during the flight?"

"I'm not tired." Webb snapped.

"There is nothing we can do until morning; I think we should get some sleep." AJ offered.

"I can go around and ask some questions." Webb said.

"You're going to sleep." Mac said firmly.

"Tomorrow we will get a fresh start." Harm said. "We will find her."

Webb relented and they all went to sleep.  Six hours later Webb was up and ready to go.  He woke AJ and together they went to Mac and Harm's room.

"Ready?" Webb asked.

"What's the plan? Harm asked.

"We start looking, show her picture to people." Webb stated. "She is in Rome or at least she was."

"Webb you're putting a lot into a hunch." AJ said.

"AJ, you don't know her.  She is a walking encyclopedia on old songs and movies." Webb said.

"I'll trust you on this one." AJ replied. "But don't you think we should find out who took her?"

"Then what do you suggest." Webb asked.

"Back to the airport, she would have had to come in through an airport." Harm said.

They went down to the lobby and spoke to the concierge.

"Excuse me, I will need a car to take me to the airport today." Harm said.

"Si signore, if can contact them for you." The concierge replied.

"Thank you," Harm said and walked over to the group. "Ok, she is getting a car to take us back to the airport."

"I think two of us should go to the airport and two stay here looking." Webb said.

"Good idea, Mac and Harm can look around here and we will go to the airport." AJ said.

"I think it would be better if Harm went.  Should they get to view some surveillance tapes, Harm does know Anna better and could spot her." Mac said.

"Right," AJ said. "Check in every 30 minutes and we will do the same. Let's go." Mac and AJ left the hotel and started walking around the shops showing Anna's picture.  The taxi arrived; Harm and Webb went back to the airport.

Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport

"Good morning, I would like to speak to someone regarding past flight manifests." Webb said showing his ID. This wasn't the smartest move since he was not there on official business but he knew it would get through some red tape.

"One moment please." The person said and went to get her superior.

"My name is Paul Arruzioni, I am with Interpol. How may I help you?" Paul said.

"My name is Clayton Webb and this is Commander Harmon Rabb, we are investigating the possible disappearance of a young American woman. Our sources indicate she was last seen in Rome." Webb stated.

"I have no bulletin on this." Paul said.

"It's being kept quiet." Harm began.

"May I see your identification? Paul asked, and they both presented.  "A missing person is usually not in the scope of the State Department or Navy."

"In this case it is. Is there someplace we may speak?" Webb asked.

"Come to my office." Paul said and they followed him.  Harm asked to be excused for a moment and checked in with Mac and AJ.  When he returned to the office Webb was explaining the situation to Paul.

"Her name is Anna Paparini; she was witness to a murder."

"Is it possible she was murdered as well?" Paul asked.

"No." Webb stated emphatically. "She sent me a letter."

"Mr. Webb is this personal?" Paul asked.

"She is a friend of ours." Harm stated.

"This isn't official is it?" Paul asked, realizing the situation.

"No, can you help us?" Webb asked.

"Yes, but it's against my better judgment." Paul replied.

"Thank you." Webb said.

"What can I say; we Italians have a soft heart for love." Paul smiled. "What do you need?"

"Flight manifests to see if she was on any flight arriving from Washington in the past week. Surveillance tapes if you have them, the immigration postings?" Webb began.

"Let's start with manifests.  We have recently computerized our systems.  All names go into a central data base." Paul said as he tapped on his computer keys. "What day did you say?"

"I'm not sure but she has been gone for a week now."

"Could they have used a different name?" Harm asked.

"That would require a fake passport." Webb replied. "It happened too fast."

"Hold on." Paul said.

"What have you got?" Webb asked.

"Here it is, Anna Paparini." Paul said. "She arrived here last Wednesday."

"Was she traveling with anyone?" Webb asked.

"Let me check." Paul said typing again. "Her itinerary shows she sat next to the same person on all flights."

"Who was it?" Harm asked.

"Marco Benini." Paul replied. "You're friend is in serious trouble."

"Why?" Webb asked. "Who is he?"

"Marco Benini works for the Corelli family. If they have this woman, there is a chance she could be dead." Paul stated.

"She's with the Corellis?"  Webb said. "Then she's alive."

"Do you have any idea who these people are? If she witnessed a murder committed by these people, they would not hesitate to kill her." Paul warned.

"Yes they would. They can't kill her." Webb said.

"Who is she?" Paul asked.

"She is the granddaughter of Salvatore Paparini; she's protected." Webb said.

"Are they still in Rome?" Harm asked.

"I doubt it; Benini has a place in Capaci in Palermo." Paul replied.

"I guess we are going to Capaci." Webb stated.

"You do realize who you will be dealing with." Paul asked.

"We've dealt with worse and for less of a reason." Webb said. "We'll be fine."

They thanked Paul for his help. As they were leaving Mac called and advised them they had hit dead ends.  Harm relayed their information and asked Mac to find them a place in Capaci.

Once back at the hotel they had a quick meal and went to bed; the next morning they left for Capaci.  They were getting closer to Anna.