William read over her shoulder.
“I’d offer to bring her here, but that would only exacerbate things.”
“I have to persuade her to leave Rome.”
Raven quickly typed out a response.
I can’t. It’s a couple of hours by train each way and I have to work early tomorrow.
She was lying and Cara probably knew it. The conclusion of the restoration project had been international news, especially on the heels of the robbery at the Uffizi.
Even if Cara hadn’t seen the news, no doubt Father Kavanaugh would have told her.
Raven sent her lie quickly and within a few minutes, she received a reply.
Right. Work is more important than me. Why the hell did I bother coming. . . .
Raven resisted the urge to throw her phone from the balcony into the rose garden below. She tossed the offending item on a vacant chair instead.
William pulled up a chair beside her. “This may not be what you want to hear, but Cara might still be in America.”
“You think Father Kavanaugh stole her phone and texted me? The texts are coming from her number.”
“I think he wants you in Rome and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get you there.”
“I’m going to call her landline in Florida.” Raven pressed buttons on her phone and held the device to her ear. It rang a few times and shifted to voice mail. She ended the call and dialed Dan’s cell phone number. The same thing happened.
Taking a deep breath, she called her mother’s house. The telephone rang and rang and then she heard a sleepy voice. “Hello?”
“Mom.”
There was a long pause and then the sound of movement and footsteps. “Jane? Is that you?”
Raven gritted her teeth. “It’s Raven. Where’s Cara?”
“What do you mean?”
“I called her house. She isn’t home and Dan isn’t answering his cell.”
“That’s because she’s in Italy. Isn’t she with you?”
“We had a fight. What makes you think she’s coming to see me?” Raven tried her best to sound convincing.
“She wanted to talk to you. I thought she told you she was coming.”
“So she’s on a plane?”
“She left last night.” There were inchoate, muffled sounds and the sharp click of what could have been a light switch. “It’s five o’clock in the morning here. According to the itinerary she gave me, they would have arrived in Rome a couple of hours ago.”
“Really.” Raven sat back in her chair.
“Ja— Raven, what’s going on?”
“Nothing, Mom. Go back to bed.”
“Wait! Don’t hang up.” Her mother sounded panicked. “I want to talk to you.”
Raven screwed her eyes shut. “I can’t talk now. I have to find Cara.”
“I’m sorry.” The words were barely above a whisper.
“What’s that?”
“I’m sorry.” Her mother coughed. “I—I heard about David. It made the news. I—I’m sorry.”
“It’s too late for that.” Raven’s tone was harsh. “Why weren’t you sorry when he touched Cara?”
There was silence for a moment.
“What happened with Cara was a misunderstanding. But of course I’m sorry about how he treated you. I’d like to see you.”
“A misunderstanding?” Raven counted to five in order to control her anger. “It’s pretty difficult to misunderstand an adult male with a little girl who’s naked from the waist down.”
The sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line whistled through the air.
“I don’t need this shit, Mom. Forget I called.”
“Don’t hang up!” Her mother sounded frantic. “Please. Just give me a minute. We haven’t spoken in years. I’ve missed you.”
Raven tapped her thumb and her middle finger together, trying very hard not to yell.
Her mother continued. “You don’t have to call me. I can call you. Just give me a chance, when you’re ready.”
“I make no promises.”
Her mother sighed. “Okay. At least we’re talking now.”
“I have to go.” Raven’s eyes met William’s. He was gazing over at her, looking protective but confused.
“Okay. Good-bye, Raven. I love you.”
“Good-bye.” Raven ended the call and curled into a ball on top of her chair.
William plucked the phone out of her hand and put it aside. He lifted her and sat in her chair, pulling her onto his lap. When he’d wrapped her in his arms as tightly as possible, he spoke. “I take it that was your mother.”
Raven resisted the urge to say something flippant. “Yes.”
“Human beings are the strangest creatures. I can never anticipate what they’ll do next.”
“Does she expect me to talk to her? When she still won’t admit what happened?”
“If she does, she’s mad.”
“Why did she say she was sorry if she denies the truth?”
“She’s a human and a woman. Such mysteries are beyond me.”
Raven gave him a half smile. “You sell yourself short.”
“I doubt it. Is it possible your sister is in Rome?”
“Yes, unless she fabricated the itinerary and lied to my mother. I can’t see her doing that.”