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"Let’s push a couple of set acquainted And Arturo, Carlo--thank the good Lord you’re a us! This is Italy, and we’re surrounded by Aood friends to have," Arturo assured hio to dinner, you can actually read the lish as well as Italian," Arturo reminded him

"But it’s ure it out," Drew assured hireat!"

Apparently, everyone but Stephanie thought that it was just great Suzette, apparently coht have been anything other than a working relationship between Grant and Stephanie, had somewhat latched on to Grant, for which Stephanie realized she actually blessed her

Grant was drawn to the other side of the table Doug was to her left, and a free chair wound up at her right

"We need the extra chair?" Arturo asked

"Clay is coht--Clay isn’t here Strange, I thought he was headed here before Suzette, Lena, and I started over," Stephanie said

"Ran into hio-round," Drew explained

"One of our cast has disappeared," Lena explained

"Disappeared?" Carlo Ponti said, intrigued

"Skedaddled, as we say in the West," Dreled

"You’re froone, however you want to say it," Lena explained

"Should you call the police?" Grant suggested

"Well, I think the laws in Italy are pretty matically "She packed up and left Apparently, this corner of Italy wasn’t exciting enough for her"

"She’d been talking about taking off for Ro that’s what she did--since all her belongings are gone," Suzette said

"Dr Ponti, your profession is digging for clues, isn’t it?" Doug asked

"Ah, but I’ in the ground for objects and people who are there--and stay there The past rarelynoted

Stephanie turned to see that Clay was co intently at Carlo and Grant as he came to the chair by her side

Arturo performed the introductions Grant and Carlo stood to shake hands with Clay, then the three men sat down Stephanie wasn’t sure why, but it seemed that a new electricity had come to the table

The men ary of one another She wondered why, or if it was just an instinctive alpha-typeon between Grant and Clay They spoke politely enough to one another, and yet there was so hostility

"Just curious," Grant said, "but if you all knew that the wo, why are you so worried?"

"We’re not so worried," Stephanie said "Just concerned"

"But you think you’re going to find a clue to her disappearance by searching her e?" Grant said

Stephanie turned to Arturo "Maybe we should call the police"

He sighed "The ’police’ are sitting on the other side of the café"

"Really?" Stephanie said, turning

At a table in the opposite corner a handso with an older, slightly graying, broad-shouldered fellow

"Come I’ll introduce you," Arturo said

Stephanie stood, following Arturo

The two reeted one another ware in Italian, then Stephanie was introduced to Franco Mercurio the elder, and his son, Franco Mercurio the younger The elder was called Merc, and the younger, Franco

As they spoke, Stephanie felt the warm sensation of someone behind her; then a hand fell on her shoulder

It was Clay Barton

He had come to be supportive, she assumed He introduced himself with ease, explained that one of their number had left quite abruptly, and that they would appreciate it if the officers would look into the situation

They agreed immediately

"If you wouldn’t alow, I’m afraid," Stephanie said "But we did discover that Geone, as well as all her personal effects We didn’t really norina, ill be happy to look into it i son and protégé nodded as well

"The drinks will not go away," he said "Arturo?"

"I’ll come with you--I have the passkey," Arturo said