Disclaimer: Same old same old

A/N: hard to type but I'm gonna reply to your reviews anyway: Fair Cate: Thanks again for a lovely review, I like what you said about it being refreshing! Tricia: you'll have to wait and see ,thank you! Ren201: Thanks as always for the encouragement Scary-Girly: Your review made me smile, thank you! Valoriahn: Thank you! Glad you like it! ...Well I hope you guys like this chapter.. Im on a writing spree this week cos I felt guilty bout not updating ;)

Chapter 5- When in Rome...

As she placed her handbag down to be x-rayed by Italian customs she took the chance to glance around the bustling airport she had just landed at. People were rushing everywhere and every time she caught a glimpse of a women in her late twenties she thought it was Julia. Of course it wasn't, but she couldn't help but wonder what she looked like now. The Julia at the hotel and the person in her dreams both looked much different, and Chloe kept on thinking she wouldn't recognise her if she walked right passed.

"Miss? Miss?" An agitated Italian voice speaking broken English broke through her trance

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I was in a world of my own." She apologised quickly

"Reason for visit?" He asked abruptly, not caring for niceties.

"Business. I have a conference. Here's my return ticket." She produced it knowing she would need it to provide evidence for length of stay.

"Fine. Next" The customs guy calls out in Italian.

Chloe picked up her bag, smiled and headed over to collect her suitcase before catching a taxi outside. She jumps into the taxi offered to her and settles into the seat.

The porters had deliberately given her an English-speaking driver so she knew exactly what she was doing.

"Where to?" The driver called out.

Chloe dug around in her handbag and found the address Leo had given her and moments later they were on their way. As they drove she missed all the famous landmarks; she was so caught up in thought about what awaited her.

I wonder what it looks like where she lives. She seems to have important valuables; it'll probably be big and expensive. Oh God, What am I going to say when she answers the door? "Hi. I don't know exactly who you are but I'm hoping you know me?" What if she slams the door in my face, or worse, pulls a gun? I mean I don't know what happened down in the basement that day, but the person who looked exactly like me ended up stabbed to death. Well at least I think she was. I guess she wouldn't have been dragged away unless she had a chance for survival. Oh, I hope she is alive. I need answers and soon. Oh God! What if they were looking for me and got her by mistake? Killing me at work would be as easy as killing me at home; I'm hopeless when it comes to security. I guess I'd better put some in at home when I get back, it would make that grumpy husband of mine happy for a start, overprotecting goofball. Chloe frowned and turned her attention to the taxi driver who was calling her. They were there.

Chloe paid him and launched herself out of the taxi, cursing her heels. She knew she had to dress like a businesswoman in a suit to keep her cover, but now she figured she could take her jacket off and look a little more…friendly. She pulled herself fully upright and glanced up at the apartment block towering above her. She could smell the freshly grown flowers that were being tended to by an elderly lady on the front steps, but she didn't take another minute to look at what they actually were, all she could concentrate on was the building itself. It was terracotta brick and intricately designed making it one of the city's most exclusive apartment blocks. She could barely see the roof, but she wasn't bothered about that either, all she could think was which window is Julia's? Where in this beautiful place lies the answers with which I believe will unlock the secrets of my life?

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before smiling at the elderly women and walking up the steps into the large foyer. She strode confidently over to the doormen and allowed them to look her up and down before they spoke.

"Hello Senõra, How can I help you?" One said in Italian.

"Hello. Do you speak any English?" She replied slowly and carefully in Italian, she had picked up a phrase book at the airport in Graz and had memorised some important sentences.

He shook his head but gestured to his colleague behind him. "Paulo, he help."

A well- built friendly looking man came forward and introduced himself. "Hello. I am Paulo, my wife's cousin, she is American. I learn to speak English off her. I will be able to help you"

"Gracias Paulo. I am looking for an old friend of mine. I have her address as being flat 4h." Paulo pulled himself back and studied her face, as if something wasn't right.

"4h? Are you sure? It's not 2 or 3h? Eh?" He asked with a hint of desperation to his voice, he liked this girl, he didn't want to think of her mixed up with troublemakers

"It says 4h quite clearly. Her name is Julia Thorne. Why? What is wrong? Does the flat not exist?" Chloe asked desperately, she didn't want to believe she had been given a dead end, not this early on.

"No, it exists my dear. And the woman you talk of? She exists as well. But she is trouble. Gianni here, he tell me that she was taken away by police. She in major trouble." Paulo nodded at his own words Chloe looked at him in shock. Paulo then proceeded to talk quickly to Gianni who appraised of the situation nodded as well.

"Oh my God" Chloe muttered under her breath. She looked up at Paulo. "When was the last time you saw her?"

"You don't want to be mixed up with her senõra." Paulo answered solemnly.

"Please?" Chloe pleaded. "It is most important that I find her."

" It was last week. We no see her for few months, then she comes back. Gianni. He saw her. A few hours later she was taken away. We haven't seen her since."

Last week? I've seen her since then. What an earth is going on?

"Gracias Paulo. Gracias Gianni. You have been of much help." She sighed and smiled.

Paulo came forward and kissed her on both cheeks. " Good luck senõra."

Chloe started to walk out of the building, raising her hand in feeble waves to the doormen and collapsed on the front step near the elderly woman. She put her head in her hands and started to assess what she knew so far.

Ugh. Why does life have to be so complicated? Let's see. So she lived here, but was taken away by the police. Then a week later she comes to the hotel where she had a safety deposit box, but gets in some kind of fight. Then she leaves. I guess I should figure out why the police wanted her…but how? Chloe groaned and stuffed her hands into her pockets. Suddenly her hand caught on something sharp in her pocket. "Ouch, what the hell is that?" She pulled it out and examined it. It was a stiff business card of a nightclub in town. She turned it over and found the name of Leo's contact and rules for approach" Bingo! The contact can help me!