Today is a big research day. I have papers spread out all over my floor—a mistake since I won’t be able to get up—and my computer on with a million tabs open. I’ve followed the German 305thDivision’s footprint throughout the next couple of years,but there’s nothing really connecting the sculpture to anything along the line. That leads to me their stop in Forli, Italy. It was the first stop after they initially stole it, so it’s likely that they hid it there, maybe buried it, and no one has found it since.
It’s a stretch, but so far, it’s all I’ve got.
I grab my phone and dial Masie.
“Hey, I was just going to call you.”
“Great minds. I’m at a dead end.” I sigh.
“Nothing on the 305th’s movements?” she asks.
“Nothing. All signs point to their stop in Forli. In my mind, they wanted to hide it. If they took it back to a base camp, someone would have taken it from them, so I can’t imagine they wanted that. Maybe they expected to go back at some point and they didn’t?”
“Maybe. It makes sense they would hide it or bury it. Lots of soldiers did that during World War II, thinking they would be able to go back for it but never got the chance. Once they all died, the location was forever lost,” she muses.
“So how do we find it?”
“Let me sit on it.”
I sigh, annoyed that we don’t have a better path forward, but she did warn me that actually finding artifacts was going to be very difficult.
“Oh! Before I forget,” she says. “There was someone here asking for you earlier. The front desk called me because they know we work together.”
“Who was it?”
“They wouldn’t say. It was a gentleman who looked a little … out of sorts.”
What the hell? No one knows I’m in New York, let alone that I work with Masie.Outside of Adam and his co-workers, I should be non-existent. And who the hell would even care to look for me?
Someone from Cano’s crew?
That seems unlikely since most were killed or brought in and are now in jail cells.
“Weird. You didn’t tell him where I was, right?”
“Oh, hell no.” Maise’s tone is offended, and it makes me smile.
“Just had to check. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll keep looking in Italy for the mask.”
“Sounds good. I’ll check with contacts over there too.”
“You’re the best. Talk to you soon.”
I hang up and stare at my computer screen. I think I need a break, and a boyfriend who can help me up off the floor.
Me:
I’m stuck on the floor again.
Adam:
Stop sitting on the floor to do research. Just come to my place and use the dining room table.
His idea has been on my mind more and more. Not just working over there but living over there too. We’re about to have a baby in a couple of weeks, and it makes no sense to have two places when I’m going to need all the help I can get.
Me:
I’ll think about it. Until then, can I get a hand?
