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CAPACI, PALERMO
The flight landed in Palermo and they made their way to Capaci. Even though it was afternoon they decided to get started immediately.
"Before we do anything, we need the layout of Benini's place." Harm said.
"Good idea. I say we take a ride out there now." Webb stated.
"We split up again." AJ said, "I'll go with Webb, you two stay here and see what you can find."
"Check back in an hour." Mac advised.
"We should be back by then." Webb stated.
"Check in anyway." Harm said.
About 45 minutes later Webb and AJ returned to the city and sought out Mac and Harm.
"What did you find?" Harm asked.
"He lives on an estate, there is a gate at the entrance and it's about 1000 feet from the house." Webb stated.
"Did you see anything?" Harm asked.
"There was one man outside, but otherwise no security I could see." Webb answered.
"Sounds like a start." Mac said. "We are going to need fire power."
"Already taken care of, I came prepared." Webb said pointing to a case.
"You've had that with you?" Harm asked.
"Yes," Webb replied getting up, "Are we ready?"
"Webb, do you even know if Anna's there?" Mac asked.
"Are you asking if I am positive? Then no. " Webb said.
"You were right about her being in Italy. I said I would trust your instincts." AJ replied.
"Good, here's my idea." Webb said, "I think that Mac and one of us go through the front, say we are lost; the other two will sneak in."
"And if we find her?" Harm asked.
"When we find her; we get her out of there." Webb said.
"This sounds very simple." AJ commented. "I hope it is."
BENINI ESTATE
Once there Webb handed each of them a berretta.
"Here goes nothing." Mac said as she and Webb walked to the gate. "Hello"
"Posso aiutarlo?" The man said.
"Do you speak English?" Mac asked.
"Yes, how can I help you?" The man asked.
"Oh good, we have been walking for hours, we're lost." Mac said.
"Where are you supposed to be?" The man asked.
"At a hotel in Capaci." Webb said.
"You are not too far." The man replied.
"May we use your phone my husband hurt his leg." Mac asked.
The man thought for a moment, "Si, come on." He opened the gate.
"Your grounds are beautiful." Mac stated.
"Thank you. Please come this way." The man said.
"Mister umm, I'm sorry what is your name?" Mac asked.
"Gino Vassallo," Vassallo replied.
"Mr. Vassallo, thank you for your help." Mac said.
"It's nothing." Vassallo said as he escorted them.
"You live here all alone?" Webb asked.
"I work here." Vassallo said.
"May I sit?" Webb asked rubbing his fake injured leg.
"Please." Vassallo said pointing to a chair.
"Sir, do you think I could get some ice?" Webb asked.
"Of course," Vassallo said and went to the kitchen. After showing Mac the phone, she called Harm on his cell.
Outside Harm and AJ were surveying the house. "Now what?" AJ said.
"Mac says they are in the living room, but no sign of Anna." Harm said.
"Webb is so sure." AJ replied.
"Webb is acting on emotions." Harm stated.
"I don't think he is acting on emotions." AJ replied. "Let's go in."
Inside another man walked into the living room. "Who are you?" Benini demanded.
"We were lost." Mac replied.
"Gino, Cosa stavate pensando?" Benini demanded.
"Hanno avuto bisogno dell'aiuto." Gino replied innocently. Mac and Webb just looked at each other. Neither spoke Italian.
"Thank you for your help." Mac said quickly. "Mister?"
"Benini," He replied.
"Mr. Benini, it's nice to meet you." Webb said.
"Yes, my driver will take you back." Benini said. "Gino vada!" (GO!)
"Our tour guide is coming to get us." Mac said. "It's not necessary."
"I don't have visitors." Benini said.
"You do now." AJ said moving in behind Benini.
"What's going on?" Benini said.
"Where is Anna Paparini?" Webb asked.
"I don't know who she is." Benini replied. "Who are you?"
"She was seen with you, where is she?" Webb asked.
"I suggest you answer." AJ said pushing his gun in Benini's back.
"One word and my men will be here." Benini said.
"We don't want trouble. We just want to know where Anna is." Harm said.
Vassallo came back into the room seeing the situation, pulled out his gun.
"I wouldn't," Mac advised showing her weapon.
"Now tell me where Anna Paparini is?" Webb demanded.
"She's not here." Benini replied.
"She was seen with you." Webb stated. "Where is she?"
"Not here." Benini replied.
"Tie them up." Webb said.
"Tying us up will not answer your questions. Do you know who I am?" Benini said as he and Gino were being tied up.
"Look, I don't care who you are, I just want to know where Anna is." Webb stated.
"I don't know." Benini stated.
"You were seen with her in Rome." Harm said.
"They will kill me if I talk." Benini said.
"I will kill you if you don't," Webb replied.
"My boss was surprised when Giordano's lawyer turned out to be a Paparini." Benini said. "Any other lawyer would have been killed."
Webb looked at AJ, "Kill them." He said flatly. AJ aimed his weapon at Benini's head.
"Wait." Benini said.
"Why? You don't know anything. You're of no use." Webb snapped.
"She was with me." Benini said.
"Where is she now?" Webb asked.
"Her village" Benini said.
"Her village?" Harm asked. What are you talking about?"
"They took her home." Benini said.
"She's back in Washington?" AJ asked.
"How did they find out we were looking for her?" Webb asked.
"The secretary at the airport," Benini said.
"Damn," Webb said. "When did they leave?" Webb was leaving the others out of the conversation.
"Yesterday morning." Benini said.
"Will they move her again?" Webb asked.
"Once they know you are coming yes." Benini said.
"I promise I will come back and kill you if she is moved again." Webb threatened.
They left them sitting there tied up. They got back to town and headed to the hotel.
"Clay do you have any idea where they took her?" Mac asked.
"Prizzi, that's where her grandfather is from," Webb replied.
"So we go there?" Harm asked.
"It can't be more than 2 hours." Mac said. "According to the map it's about 50 miles from Palermo and we are only 11 miles from there now."
"Let's get started." AJ said. They checked out of the hotel and drove to Prizzi.
PRIZZI PALERMO
Ninety minutes later they arrived in the town of Prizzi. Prizzi is a hill town about 50 miles from Palermo. The town is beautiful and simple. They got out and started walking around.
"Where do you think we should start?" Harm asked.
Webb looked around and pointed, "There."
"A church?" Harm asked.
"Who else would know information?" Webb replied.
"Let's go." Mac said. They went to San Francesco d'Assisi Church and found the rector. They spoke to him and explained as much as they could without going into details.
"A new woman did come to town yesterday." The priest informed them.
"Was this her?" Webb asked showing Anna's picture.
"Si that is her." He replied.
"Do you know where she is?" Webb asked.
"No I don't, but I know she will be back this afternoon." The priest said.
"She will?" Mac asked.
"Yes, she asked to have confession today." The priest replied.
"Father, we believe Anna was brought here against her will." Webb said. "Who was she with?"
"She is a guest of Anthony Corelli." The priest said.
"Can we keep this conversation between us?" AJ asked.
"She is in trouble?" The priest said.
"Yes and we are here to help her." Webb replied.
"I don't want violence in my church." The priest said.
"There won't be." Harm said.
"Thank you for your time." Mac said and they left.
Once outside the church they looked around for a place to sit. They walked over to a caffe and sat.
"I guess we wait?" AJ said.
"Does anyone have a plan?" Mac asked.
"Webb? What do you want us to do?" Harm asked.
Webb ran his hands over his face and threw his hair. They were all exhausted but this had really taken its toll on him. "We make our presence known before she enters the church."
"Just walk up to her?" Harm said.
"You don't have to." Webb said. "I will go alone."
"Webb, we are in this together." Mac said.
"I guess we just sit here and wait." Harm said.
An hour passed and a car pulled up in front of the church. Anna and another man got out of the car and began to walk up the church steps.
"There she is." Webb said. "Let's go." They got up, ran across the street and called her name. "Anna."
Anna and her escort turned to see who was calling.
"Who is that?" Anthony asked her.
"I don't know." Anna lied.
"He knows you." Anthony said. "Who is he?"
"I don't know." Anna stated.
"Let's find out." Anthony said.
"Anthony, I would like to go inside." Anna said turning and going up the stairs.
"Anna, come back here." Anthony said grabbing her arm.
"Let her go." Webb shouted pulling his gun.
Two men got out of the car and went towards Webb.
"Non si muova" AJ yelled, he and Harm turned their guns on the men.
"Anna, listen to me." Webb said seeing the fear in her face.
"You are not wanted here." Anthony yelled.
"That's not your decision." Webb yelled back.
"Please, don't this is for the best." Anna said with fear in her voice.
"Anna, remember that Carrolton guy at the Landon house?" Webb began and Anna nodded and smiled weakly.
"It's just another case of stereotyping." Webb said with a nod. "How do you handle that?"
"Clay I can't" Anna said.
"Anna, I will always protect you remember?" Webb said.
Anna turned on Anthony and banged into him knocking him off balance. She ran down the stairs into Clay's arms.
"You understood my note, that's my spook." Anna said kissing him.
"I would have gone to the ends of the earth to find you." Clay said.
"Look out!" Mac yelled. Anthony had gotten up and was coming at them.
"No!" Anna yelled as she pushed Clay away. The gun went off and Anna fell into Clay taking the bullet in her back for him. Mac quickly got off a round and shot Anthony.
"Anna." Clay said falling to the ground with her. "Oh God No!"
"I couldn't lose you too." Anna whispered.
"Anna, don't talk." Clay said pushing her hair from her face. "Someone call for help." Mac ran into the church.
"Clay, don't leave me." Anna cried.
"I'm not going anywhere." Clay said looking at the blood.
"Clay hold me please, don't let go." Anna cried.
"It's going to be ok. I love you." Clay said tears in his eyes. "I'm taking you home." AJ and Harm went to Clay and Anna.
"You're always bringing me home." Anna said weakly.
"Anna, stay with me." Clay begged.
"Thank you for coming for me." Anna said and she closed her eyes
"Don't close your eyes, don't leave me." Clay ordered.
"Ti amo con tutto il mio cuore." Anna whispered. "Non dimentichi mai quello."
"Anna, Anna, open your eyes." Clay urged. He held her close and kissed her. "Pico, please."
The friends stood there watching them. What could they say?
The ambulance arrived and the medics took Anna from Clay. He did not want to release his hold, but with assistance from his friends he let go.
