Emilia-Romagna to make arrangements for the Americans and the pendant to be transferred from the police boat to the jail in Colorno.”
“Better tell the commissioner to split up the triplets so they can’t plan another escape. Their minds think alike which makes them particularly dangerous.”
“I’m way ahead of you, Luc.”
Max’s eyes glittered as he studied his two cousins. “Let the Duchesses of Kingston get a taste of life in an Italian prison. It will give them an education they’ve been needing. Then we’ll deal with them in our own time, on our turf and in our own way. Capisce? ”
Several deep chuckles ensued.
“Sooner…or later,” he drawled, “I’ll come up with a plea bargain they’ll have to accept. We’ll be able to flush out the thief masquerading as our family friend, and that will be the end of it.”
CHAPTER SIX
G REER looked through the bars of the cell at the over-weight prison guard. The commissioner in the main office had put him in charge of her.
“Is everyone around here crazy? The police were supposed to arrest those wretched jewel thieves out on that catamaran. Instead they arrested my sisters and me. ”
“That is not my problem, signorina .”
Her hands formed fists. “In the United States every person arrested is allowed to make a phone call to their attorney. If you won’t let me use a phone, then you phone him for me. I left Mr. Carlson’s number with the commissioner. I’ll pay for it.”
Her four, twenty-dollar bills were sopping wet along with her clothes, but they were still considered legal tender.
“Everything in time, signorina. It’s midnight and no business can be conducted before morning.”
“I want to see my sisters.”
“That is not possible. Perhaps tomorrow.”
“I’d like to know where we are.”
“All in good time.”
“I demand to know why you’re keeping us here!”
“You women are always demanding something, as if this is a luxury hotel instead of a jail. The Duchesse pendant missing since last year was found around your neck. That should answer your question.”
Last year? “You mean there’s another one?”
“As if you didn’t know, signorina. ”
“But I didn’t! We didn’t!” No wonder they were in trouble… “Listen—the one I was wearing was mine! ”
“How did it come to be in your possession? Can you answer me that? Did it walk out of the museum at the Ducal palace on its own?”
“I’m trying to explain, and you’re being very rude, signore. ”
“You were very rude to steal it.”
“How could I steal it when it was given to me by my parents?”
“And the Vatican City was given to me by mine.”
“Go ahead and be as nasty as you want. I’ve told you the truth.”
“So your parents stole it, is that what you’re saying? The House of Parma-Bourbon will be very interested to learn that piece of information.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. It was handed down in the Duchesse family from generation to generation until it was given to my father by his father!”
He threw back his balding head and laughed. “There is no Duchesse family, signorina. ”
“If you’ll look at my passport, you’ll see my last name is Duchess, spelled the American way.”
“What passport? When the police pulled you out of the sea you did not have one on you.”
“We left them on the boat with our airline tickets because we expected to have them returned when the police caught the real jewel thieves!”
“You Americans love a joke.” He seemed to find everything she said hilarious and started down the dimly lit hallway.
“Wait! Come back! Please!”
“Buona notte, signorina.”
She heard a clank.
It was going to be a long night, and a damp one. Thepolice had supplied them a blanket which she still had wrapped around her. There was another one plus a sheet on the cot against the wall of the miniscule cell. No pillow. In the corner stood an old chamber pot.
Greer couldn’t believe it. If all
“Better tell the commissioner to split up the triplets so they can’t plan another escape. Their minds think alike which makes them particularly dangerous.”
“I’m way ahead of you, Luc.”
Max’s eyes glittered as he studied his two cousins. “Let the Duchesses of Kingston get a taste of life in an Italian prison. It will give them an education they’ve been needing. Then we’ll deal with them in our own time, on our turf and in our own way. Capisce? ”
Several deep chuckles ensued.
“Sooner…or later,” he drawled, “I’ll come up with a plea bargain they’ll have to accept. We’ll be able to flush out the thief masquerading as our family friend, and that will be the end of it.”
CHAPTER SIX
G REER looked through the bars of the cell at the over-weight prison guard. The commissioner in the main office had put him in charge of her.
“Is everyone around here crazy? The police were supposed to arrest those wretched jewel thieves out on that catamaran. Instead they arrested my sisters and me. ”
“That is not my problem, signorina .”
Her hands formed fists. “In the United States every person arrested is allowed to make a phone call to their attorney. If you won’t let me use a phone, then you phone him for me. I left Mr. Carlson’s number with the commissioner. I’ll pay for it.”
Her four, twenty-dollar bills were sopping wet along with her clothes, but they were still considered legal tender.
“Everything in time, signorina. It’s midnight and no business can be conducted before morning.”
“I want to see my sisters.”
“That is not possible. Perhaps tomorrow.”
“I’d like to know where we are.”
“All in good time.”
“I demand to know why you’re keeping us here!”
“You women are always demanding something, as if this is a luxury hotel instead of a jail. The Duchesse pendant missing since last year was found around your neck. That should answer your question.”
Last year? “You mean there’s another one?”
“As if you didn’t know, signorina. ”
“But I didn’t! We didn’t!” No wonder they were in trouble… “Listen—the one I was wearing was mine! ”
“How did it come to be in your possession? Can you answer me that? Did it walk out of the museum at the Ducal palace on its own?”
“I’m trying to explain, and you’re being very rude, signore. ”
“You were very rude to steal it.”
“How could I steal it when it was given to me by my parents?”
“And the Vatican City was given to me by mine.”
“Go ahead and be as nasty as you want. I’ve told you the truth.”
“So your parents stole it, is that what you’re saying? The House of Parma-Bourbon will be very interested to learn that piece of information.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. It was handed down in the Duchesse family from generation to generation until it was given to my father by his father!”
He threw back his balding head and laughed. “There is no Duchesse family, signorina. ”
“If you’ll look at my passport, you’ll see my last name is Duchess, spelled the American way.”
“What passport? When the police pulled you out of the sea you did not have one on you.”
“We left them on the boat with our airline tickets because we expected to have them returned when the police caught the real jewel thieves!”
“You Americans love a joke.” He seemed to find everything she said hilarious and started down the dimly lit hallway.
“Wait! Come back! Please!”
“Buona notte, signorina.”
She heard a clank.
It was going to be a long night, and a damp one. Thepolice had supplied them a blanket which she still had wrapped around her. There was another one plus a sheet on the cot against the wall of the miniscule cell. No pillow. In the corner stood an old chamber pot.
Greer couldn’t believe it. If all
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