Kathleen stared at him. “Way to bury the lede. Where is it?”
He shrugged. “Okay, maybe I misspoke. I know what the map shows. I won’t know where the treasure is exactly until I get there.”
“Where is it?” Kathleen demanded. “What does the map show?”
Enzo smiled. “The map is of the gardens at Versailles.”
Kathleen stared, her heart racing, excitement shooting through her veins. “Really? As in Versailles outside of Paris?”
“Yes. It took me a bit, but when Aldo talked to me about taking you out back to tour our kitchen garden, it just clicked.”
Kathleen couldn’t help it. She was excited. She reached for her wine glass, enjoying another mouthful as she formulated her next question. “So, what is the plan?” She was very careful not to say ‘your’ or ‘our’ plan. She wasn’t sure what was going on justyet, and she was unclear about what her next step was. Better to be vague about it.
“We’re at lunch so Vitale’s people can see us. They’ll report back, and he’ll wonder what we’re doing. Then, after we finish lunch, you are going to go back with Danny. Not sure if you noticed, but we’re dressed the same. With any luck, they will assume he is me, and it will give me time to get away.”
“And then what?”
“And then I’m going to go find the treasure, and you’re going to go back to the house.” Enzo took a piece of bread and broke off a piece.
Kathleen stared unseeing at him as her brain worked. “How long?”
“Excuse me?” Enzo asked.
“How long will it be before Vitale’s men try to get into the house to check on us? How much time do you think this ruse will buy you?”
Enzo gave a small nod as if approving of her question while sighing at the same time. “I don’t honestly know. I’m hoping forty-eight hours, but it’s a crap shoot. He might come in as early as tonight.”
Kathleen’s stomach turned, and suddenly the wine wasn’t sitting so well. She must have looked nauseous because Enzo offered her a piece of bread. She chewed slowly as she tried to gather her thoughts. The waiter went by, and she flagged him. “May I have some water, please?” she asked.
He was back almost instantly and filled her glass.
She took a long drink and then set the glass down. “You are going to leave here and head to Versailles. Then what? How will you find the treasure?”
Enzo hesitated. “That part I will have to play by ear. I have some ideas, but I have to see what the situation looks like when I get there.”
“What happens to me if Vitale’s people find me at the house and you’re not there?”
“Hopefully, I will have the treasure at that point.”
“And if you don’t?” Kathleen asked, but she knew the answer.
“Kathleen, I will do everything I can to make sure you are protected. As soon as lunch is over, I will call Jamie and explain everything. I’m sure he’ll send an army. My people are loyal, and they will put their lives on the line to protect you.”
Kathleen laced her fingers together and put her hands in her lap so Enzo couldn’t see them shake. “Vitale’s people will try and fight their way in, won’t they?” She knew how this went. She’d been down this road before.
Enzo, to his credit, didn’t try to sugarcoat it. “Yes, it will be a gun fight. People will die. My house is well-fortified, and I’m confident that my people can keep Vitale’s people out, but not without casualties. Once I explain the situation to Jamie, he’ll send reinforcements, and I’m sure he’ll come up with a way to get you to safety.”
Kathleen swallowed hard. “But Vitale will hurt Bianca if that happens, won’t he. He will take out his anger at being duped on her.”
Enzo sighed. “It’s a possibility.”
“Is there any other way to stop this from happening?” she asked bleakly. The thought of people dying because of her made her ill. She’d had to deal with it when Connor had been kidnapped, and it had almost done her in. Thankfully, no one had died, but Spencer, who had been her WitSec person and, really, her best friend, had been hurt. It had taken Kathleen a long time to get over that.
“You can come with me.”
Her gaze locked with Enzo’s. Was he serious? His expression was neutral, thwarting her effort to get a read on him. “What do you mean?” she breathed.
“There is a woman inside dressed as you. She will be your double and go home with Danny. You will then come with me to Paris. Vitale will still send his men to my place, but if you’re not there, my people will allow them to enter. They will find out we’re not there and report back.”
