The Doomsday Conspiracy   ::   Sheldon Sidney

Earlyin the morning, Carlo got on his Vespa motor scooter and headed for Via Sorcella, behind the Piazza Garibaldi. He stopped in front of a run-down apartment building, and pressed the bell on a broken mailbox marked “Lucca”.

A minute later a voice yelled out, “Who the fuck is it?”

“Carlo. I have to talk to you, Mario.”

“It better be good at this hour of the morning. Come on up.”

The door buzzer sounded, and Carlo went upstairs.

Mario Lucca was standing at an open door, naked. At the end of the room Carlo could see a girl in his bed.

“Che cosa? What the hell are you doing up so early?”

“I couldn’t sleep, Mario. I’m too excited. I think I’m on to something big.”

“Yeah? Come in.”

Carlo entered the small, messy apartment. “Last night my sister brought home a mark.”

“So what? Pier’s a whore. She …”

“Yeah, but this one is rich. And he’s in hiding.”

“Who is he hiding from?”

“I don’t know. But I’m going to find out. I think there might be a reward out for him.”

“Why don’t you ask your sister?”

Carlo frowned. “Pier wants to keep it all for herself. You should see the bracelet he bought her – emeralds.”

“A bracelet? Yeah? How much is it worth?” “I’ll let you know. I’m going to sell it this morning.” Lucca stood there, thoughtful. “I’ll tell you what, Carlo. Why don’t we have a talk with your sister’s friend? Let’s pick him up and take him over to the club this morning.” The club was an empty warehouse in Pascalone Quartiere Sanita, with a room that was soundproof.

Carlo smiled. “Bene. I can get him down there easy enough.” “We’ll be waiting for him,” Lucca said. “We’ll have a little talk with him. I hope he has a nice voice, because he’s going to sing for us.”

When Carlo returned to the house, Mr Jones was gone. Carlo panicked.

“Where did your friend go?” he asked Pier.

“He said he had to go into town for a little while. He’ll be back. Why?”

He forced a smile. “Just curious.”

Carlo waited until his mother and Pier were in the kitchen preparing lunch, then hurried into Pier’s room. He found the bracelet hidden under some lingerie in a dresser drawer. He swiftly pocketed it and was on his way out when his mother came out of the kitchen.

“Carlo, aren’t you staying for lunch?”

“No. I have an appointment, Mama. I’ll be back later.