“Follow me,” he said, sounding as though she’d just asked him to climb a mountain.
Kathleen stood, gathering her bags and drawing in a steadying breath.
Things could only go up from here.
CHAPTER FOUR
Kathleen returned to the hotel completely frustrated. The last three hours had been the most maddening experience she’d ever had. The officers had asked the same questions again and again and again, circling back over every detail until she thought she’d scream. And every time she gave an answer, the two men interviewing her leaned together, speaking in low, rapid Italian, debating each response before they bothered to write anything down.
It had been bizarre. Disorienting. She had zero hope of getting her purse back. Zero faith in the police, either. Not the most comforting feeling. Switzerland had a reputation for being very organized, but it seemed the police were more of the Italian culture. The expression wasrun like a Swiss watch. The same couldn’t be applied to an Italian manner, which was laid back and unbothered.
By the time she slid into a chair in the hotel’s dining room, exhaustion pressed against her bones. It was early by European standards, just seven o’clock, but after the day she’d had, she didn’t care.
She considered going straight up to her room and ordering room service, curling up alone with a tray, and shutting out the world. But she knew herself too well. If she did that now, reverted to her old ways, she’d turn back into a hermit, letting fear win without even realizing it. The important thing was to get back on the horse, to reclaim some sense of normal. Even if it was just the hotel dining room, surrounded by strangers, it was something.
She convinced herself to go downstairs, but had to force her first footsteps to leave her room.Going to have to work on that.
“May I offer you something to drink?” the young waiter inquired. His hair was long, which was the Italian style, she realized, and his quick smile carved dimples into his clean-shaven cheeks. She was sure he was a heartbreaker to his peers, but to Kathleen, he just reminded her of her son, Connor. A wave of sadness swept over her. She missed Connor desperately but knew he was happily ensconced at college. She should be grateful that he was enjoying life.
“Yes… oh, yes. A drink would be lovely.” Kathleen said as she leaned deeper into her chair. “I’m trying to figure out what it is I want, though.” It had been such a long day, and after the struggle to venture out of her room, she felt incapable of making any other decisions. Looking up from the drinks menu, she said, “You know what? Why don’t you surprise me?”
The waiter nodded. “And would you like wine, or would you like spirits?”
As tempted as she was to opt for spirits, that could go downhill fast. “Wine will be great, thank you,”—she glanced at his name tag—“Antonio.”
“And red or white?”
This was turning into more of an ordeal than she felt capable of enduring. “Whatever you think,” she said, trying to maintain her patience.
“It will depend on what you choose for dinner, which wine will complement it best.”
Kathleen wanted to scream. “You know, I just want a nice sipping wine. I’m sure you have one of those.”
“Very good.” With a frown and a curt nod, he strolled away.
Attempting to relax, Kathleen took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and then let it out. Her shoulders were still up around her ears. She had never met members of law enforcement who were so unhelpful, and she’d dealt with a lot in her time. It was probably just a cultural thing. They didn’t speak English well, and she didn’t speak Italian. It was harder for them to communicate. She was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.
She rolled her shoulders and tried to shake the day off. The twinge in her back, from the bruise she’d acquired when the mugger shoved her, continued to nag her, making her attempts at relaxing almost moot. She shook her head. It didn’t matter now. Jamie had canceled her two credit cards; he’d texted her the tracking information, and the new ones were on their way, along with a replacement bank card. The hotel had offered her some cash, which she declined. She just couldn’t fathom taking it. She hated owing anyone anything, even if it was her brother’s hotel.
Antonio refilled her water glass, offering her a smile. “Your wine will be out shortly,” he commented and smiled again. Unfortunately, it was somewhat of a pitying smile. So, the wholeworld knew that she’d been mugged. Nothing like cementing that embarrassment.
Kathleen let out another sigh and glanced down at the menu. She really should choose something to eat, but it just seemed like another decision, another effort she didn’t have the energy for. She closed the menu and looked around at the people in the dining room instead.
It was shoulder season, which meant there weren’t as many tourists, something she was profoundly grateful for, although she supposed it made her more of a target. Still, she was happier that there weren’t as many people around.
The dining room was about half full, but starting to pick up now, with new diners arriving. She’d come early, so she wasn’t surprised at the level of emptiness. It was obvious most of the guests were tourists: husbands and wives on trips together, a couple of families scattered throughout. Of course, Jamie’s hotels were not cheap, so she wasn’t surprised that it was mostly elegant older couples.
She had always thought she would be part of an elegant older couple one day, but life had just not treated her that way. Fair enough. Maybe some people didn’t deserve to be part of a couple. Now that she was free to date, she’d found she didn’t enjoy the experience.
She’d gone on a couple of dates with Dragan, but she’d found that a little too close to home for her. He was around quite a bit since he worked security for her brother more often than not, and if she was honest, the main reason she’d called it off was that he was so much younger. Despite the years she had on him, he intimidated her.
She’d tried a couple of dating apps, but that had been a nightmare. She’d met a flat-earther, an avid spelunker, and several married men. None of those matches were remotely appealing. No. Dating was not for her. Men were just not goingto be part of her life in that way, and she realized she was quite fine with that.
Antonio arrived at her table with a glass of red wine. “Here you go, Signora Drake.”
“Thank you,” Kathleen said. “What is it, if I may ask?”
“It’s a Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany.”
