Rendezvous in Rome Read Online Free PDF Page A

He, too, spoke in Italian, but again, Nancy was able to understand what he said.
    â€œWe can make some discreet inquiries,” the officer told Claudia. “And we’ll check with some of the museums. Will you leave the necklace here?”
    Nancy spoke up quickly, trying out her Italian. She told Officer Franchi that she would rather keep the necklace, if it wasn’t stolen. “After all, we did buy it,” she finished.
    Officer Franchi’s heavy eyebrows drew together. He gave her a calculating stare, then spoke again toClaudia. Obviously he didn’t like Nancy’s idea, even after Claudia assured him that Nancy was a detective. But Nancy didn’t think he had the right to take the necklace from them, either.
    Officer Franchi broke off as his partner returned. Shrugging his shoulders, the older officer reported that there were no thefts that the carabinieri knew of.
    Before the girls left, the police officers took Claudia’s name and address, as well as passport numbers from Nancy, Bess, and George. As an afterthought, Nancy wrote down the name and phone number of the chief of police back in River Heights, the girls’ hometown. “Perhaps you could use some kind of reference,” she told Officer Franchi. She knew how much Chief McGinnis respected her. Perhaps talking to him would help Officer Franchi to trust her more.
    â€œWhat was that all about?” George asked Nancy and Claudia as the girls left the building. “I didn’t understand much, but it didn’t exactly look like you made a best friend in there.”
    Nancy filled in the details of the meeting for Bess and George. Claudia let out a sigh when Nancy was done. “Officer Franchi doesn’t trust us, that’s for sure,” she added.
    â€œSo we’re back to square one. We have no idea where this necklace came from,” Bess said. “How are we going to keep it safe?”
    As the girls reached the bottom of the steps outside the police station, Claudia bent down to unlock the Vespa she and Bess had been riding. “Bring it to Sandro’s tonight,” she suggested. “Hismother has a large collection of jewelry that she keeps in a safe. I am sure she would hold it for you if you asked her.”
    â€œGreat,” said Bess, looking relieved. “I’ll definitely talk to her.”
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    Sandro and his mother lived in a magnificent old building called the Theater of Marcellus. When Claudia had given the girls directions, she told them it had been built in ancient times by two emperors, Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus.
    â€œIt looks like a small version of the Colosseum,” Nancy called out to Bess and George as they drove up on their Vespas. She pointed out the two rows of crumbling archways in the front of the building. The girls rode up the ramp to the back of the building, where they parked. Then they walked into the lobby.
    â€œIt’s like a ruin on the outside, but look at the inside!” Bess said in awe.
    The lobby was impressive, Nancy had to agree. The floors were made of beautiful inlaid marble in intricate geometric patterns. The high ceilings were painted with flying cherubs.
    â€œMaybe we should have dressed up more for dinner,” George said, smoothing the skirt of her red cotton sundress.
    Nancy looked down at her jeans skirt and flowered blouse, then at Bess’s white pantsuit. “I’m sure Claudia would have told us if we should.”
    A pleasant doorman announced their arrivalover the intercom, and the girls stepped into the wrought-iron cage elevator. Claudia had said the Fiorellos lived on the top floor, so Nancy pressed the button. With a rattle they eased upward.
    The elevator opened directly into a large, airy apartment. The living room was visible just beyond the foyer, and Nancy saw Claudia sitting on an elegant leather couch. She was talking to a half-dozen other young people who were