Read Online Echoes Through the Vatican: A Paranormal Mystery (The Echoes Quartet Book 2) by K. Francis Ryan - Free Book Online

Sokolov didn’t so much shout into the telephone, he breathed fire. “You asshole! I give a fool like you a simple problem to solve. You were to bring me that dick, Blessing.
    “‘Bogdan, of course you can trust your brother-in-law to do this simple thing for you.’ That is what I say to myself and what do you do instead? You send some other idiots who are now in jail! I say to myself, ‘I should just kill you’, but my sister would have to go find a new husband and next time he may be a bigger asshole than you! Is possible, but I do not see how.”
    Bogdan Sokolov was unhappy and would soon get a lot unhappier.
    ***
    The sedan sat in an underground parking garage. Belladonna, Enrico and Julian sat in the dark silence. No movement. No sound. The busy streets of Rome swarmed with cars, motorbikes and pedestrians. But for the three, the only sound was their breathing.
    “There are people who want to kill you,” the inspector said. “We came to collect you this morning. I told you to stay in your room, so, of course, you had to go out. You do that a lot. Neither Enrico nor I like this habit of yours. The next time we will take stronger measures to keep you where we leave you.
    “On this occasion, however, your disobedience probably saved your life. We, as I say, arrived to pick you up, but instead of you, stregone, we discover two Russians. Imagine our surprise.
    “They were not happy about being arrested. It happens sometimes. My report will read that during the arrest, the suspects resisted and some small damage was done to the hotel room before they could be restrained. In fact, your room was destroyed,” the inspector said and smiled and shrugged.
    “The hotel’s management was initially most unhappy and wanted you arrested too, but…” Julian cut in. “The hotel wanted me arrested? Russians in my room?”
    “Oh, stregone.” She was at her most condescending.
    “Now, follow along wizard. The Russians were there to kidnap you, after which I’m sure they would kill you. At least that is what they said after Enrico asked them. You know how polite Enrico can be – he has a way with people. We will explain all of this to you later.
    “As for the hotel, well, they assigned one of their rooms to you and it became ruined. You must learn to take responsibility for things entrusted to you, no? Do not worry yourself though. The hotel’s manager is Enrico’s second cousin, so you will not be arrested.”
    “Well, that’s something, I suppose,” Julian said.
    “Yes, all was forgiven once he told them you had fled the country leaving your room bill unpaid. Enrico reminded his cousin that you had left a credit card on file with them. The room charges and all repairs will be in your next billing. You should thank Enrico for being so clever,” the Inspector said.”
    “Like hell!” Julian shouted. “You two wreck my room and blame it on me. I have to pay for the damages and you tell the manager I fled the country. Do I have any of this right?”
    “See Enrico, I told you he would understand. He is not so big a fool as you say he is,” the inspector said and her sergeant snorted.
    “Well, I need to get my things.”
    “No need,” the sergeant grunted.
    “Enrico is a man of very few words; you may have noticed.” The inspector smiled. “He means, no need to go back because all of your things are in the boot of the car. I might add, you are very well organized, very neat in your habits. We threw it all in a plastic bag and brought it with us. You had some luggage, but it was bulky so we left it. Besides we were in a hurry.”
    “My things are in a garbage bag? Jesus!” Julian hung his head in defeat and said, “Would you mind giving me a ride to another hotel? After all your ‘help,’” he put air quotes around it, “I think you’ll agree I need another place to stay.”
    Enrico snorted again, shook his head and looked bored.
    “You see, stregone,” the inspector said, “we are the police. It