Ben and Francesca set off round the perimeter of the garden, keeping as deep in the shadows as they could. Nobody seemed to notice them or to pay them any attention at all. Any sound they made was masked by the noise of the fire. They reached a small door in the front wall which Ben had missed the previous day, hidden as it was among the over-luxurious vegetation. Francesca knew where the key was hidden and they let themselves out into the roadway without any trouble.
Their route passed close outside the main gates. Looking in, they could see that the driveway and turning circle in front of the house were filled with emergency vehicles. A number of other people – neighbours or passers-by - were standing expectantly just outside the gates. Ben paused to watch. He saw firemen climbing up ladders and smashing windows in the half-gutted wing to help the hoses reach the seat of the fire. He wondered whether they had been warned and would be searching to try and find his incinerated body.
He noticed that a little knot of people were standing just outside the front door. He was sure they included Alfredo, Sylvia and Dino but it was too far away to pick out the expressions on their faces. Ben suggested Francesca ought to go and reassure them, but she would not hear of it.
“We must get away while we can. They will find out soon enough that we have gone. Then they will be after us.”
Once away from the gates they began to run towards the main road. But they had only gone fifty yards or so when Francesca slowed down. It seemed as though the nervous energy which had driven her this far had gone out of her and she was flagging. Ben realised that she wasn’t going to get very far without help. He began to work his damaged shoulder to try and prevent the damaged muscles from stiffening up. That would limit the assistance he could give to the girl. They were both inadequately dressed and Ben’s trousers had been partly burned by the fire. Francesca was trying to hobble along the unmade road in thin slippers. Now he regretted not thinking about bringing the new mobile phone which had been left on the table beside the bed to be consumed by the fire.
“How far is it to Naples?” Ben asked.
“I’m not sure. Perhaps about five kilometres.”
“We’ll never make it. You’re just about done in and I can’t carry you with this shoulder.”
Francesca was adamant. “I am not going back to the house. Nothing will make me return to that place while the Vitelli control it.”
“Where else can we go?”
“We will go to Toni’s flat,” she said triumphantly. “Only he and I know about the place. I know where he hides the key. I have told no one else about it. I have some clothes there, so I will be able to dress properly.”
“Toni never mentioned a flat to me. I would have thought he would at least have given me the address. Where is it?”
“It is in Naples – quite near the city centre. He has only rented it since last year.”
By now they had reached the main road and they set off in the direction of Naples. Ben was still trying to understand why Toni should have kept his ownership of the flat secret from his business partner.
“I suppose it’s more convenient than staying at the Villa Cimbrone.”
“More convenient!” Francesca snorted. “It has nothing to do with convenience. Toni hates the Vitelli as much as I do. He decided it was important to have somewhere which they could not control.”
Ben ignored her contempt. “If it’s near the city centre, how will we get there? You can’t walk that far.”
“I know,” she said triumphantly, “we shall get a lift.” She immediately stepped out into the road to flag down an approaching car.
Before he could protest a little Alfa pulled into the side and a head-full of blonde curls leaned out of the window. “Hi there,” said a jaunty American accent. “I know you’re not going to believe this, but I was just coming to look for you. It was getting late and I figured you might be in some trouble.”
“Donna,” laughed Ben. “Why is it that you keep turning up when I’ve lost most of my clothes?”
“Honey, you know it’s just your body that I want.” She leaned across to open the passenger door. “Well, who’s the little lady?”
Ben brought Francesca forward and introduced her. To his astonishment the girl immediately climbed into the front passenger seat as though she was getting into a taxi that she had ordered. She seemed not in the least embarrassed by her skimpy attire.
“Will you please take us to the centre of Naples,” she asked as though expecting to be obeyed. “I will direct you to the flat of my brother.”
Open-mouthed, Ben climbed into the back seat and watched as an unusually silent Donna did exactly as she was instructed.