Mountains of Dawn

"Mr. Ismeen speaks very highly of you. He admires the way you conduct yourself in your…missions." Caltabieni's mouth twisted. "Um…rather, perhaps, your delicate assignments?"

"Go on," Luigi Amedeo said, his face expressionless.

"I was told you're an expert in horizontal helicopter flying? A rare talent, that."

"Yes. I learned to fly at low altitudes following the terrain's reliefs. Along the glades, mostly. It is quite exciting."

"And you're also an expert in tracking motion using infrared cameras?"

"No. No, I would not say that," Luigi Amedeo said with a negative shake of his head. "I would not say expert. I have an understanding of how it works and of its potential." He smiled slightly. "I find it fascinating to track an animal on a hunt, sometimes in the most complete obscurity." He smiled again, remembering two very spectacular enterprises he had conducted, one in Bolivia, the other in Corsica. Each made clever use of infrared technology. Neither had anything to do with tracking animals.

"Conte, I'll get right to the point. I have a problem I can't solve. I need your help."

"I do not work with the police," Luigi Amedeo said. He turned away from the other man and looked out to sea.

"You wouldn't work for the police. You would work for me." The Commissario rose from his chair and stood beside Luigi Amedeo. "Just for me."

Luigi Amedeo turned to him and raised one eyebrow. He waited in silence for Caltabieni to continue.

"Three men have kidnapped Don Alfonso Olfrandi's grandson, Gianci. They probably have taken him out of the country. Gianci is the carrier of a most powerful name. Don Alfonso wants the boy back. Now." He crossed to the serving tray and helped himself to a quichette with mushrooms, then another.

"Interpol," Luigi Amedeo said, brushing at the air as if to brush aside Caltabieni's request. "You need Interpol. Kidnapping is a serious crime anywhere in the world." He shrugged and turned once more toward the sea.

"No. The Olfrandis do not want publicity. They want this handled in a quiet manner, let us say, in a private fashion."

Luigi Amedeo turned toward Caltabieni again and considered the man. "I don't believe my talents would be of any particular service."

Caltabieni sipped his Cinzano. "Please, my dear Conte. Please consider the possibility of at least a coordination of a rescue operation."

"I work alone. Such an operation would require more than a few people."