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“Come I have your table ready” He led them across the lawn to a table set apart frorew at the base of the stone ruins that ran the length of the parklike grounds Paolo pulled out a chair for Re so that his back was to the wall After exchanging pleasantries, Paolo left to see to his other guests

Forty-five ia’s contact, Sam and Remi decided to order without him They’d just finished their meal when he finally arrived

Luca, as he introduced himself, was dressed in a custom suit, the crisp white shirt open at the collar He was in his late forties, his brown hair peppered with gray “I had hoped to be here before now,” he said, sitting in the chair next to Sa from side to side as he took in everyone seated around theh I was told you wouldn’t leave without me, so I came as soon as I was able”

“Don’t worry about it,” Sam said “You’re here now Have a bite to eat”

“I wish I could, but I really do need to get going”

“At least stay for the tiramisu,” Remi said “It’s my favorite in all of Rome”

As if on cue, Paolo appeared with a third serving of the dessert, which he placed in front of Luca, before picking up Sa “Oh, that is good” He took another bite, finished it off, before sitting back, with a sigh, grateful for the espresso served along with it “Makes me wish I’d been here for the entire meal”

Samus that you have infor auction of an early-model Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost?”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way I took the liberty of looking into your backgrounds on the internet You seeenerally attend They don’t carelost property to its rightful owner In fact, soet what they want as they are to pull out their checkbooks”

“We’re extremely careful,” Sam said “Is documentation provided?”

“Not for this auction The less documentation, the better The success depends on the absolute anonymity of the buyers and the sellers The broker who handles these transactions would never reveal the inforue”

“Hoe get in touch with this broker?”

He studied Sa his decision on what he should say “It’s ten thousand euros cash, in denominations of twenties, just to walk in the door—if you have an invitation The latter I can get you for another ten thousand I prefer mine in hundreds Easier to carry”

“That’s a pretty steep price,” Sam said

“Take it or leave it”