Chapter 88
88
Silvia pled guilty on my behalf. Two days later, I appeared in court in shackles to hear my sentence: five years in San Vittore, a prison in Milan.
Silvia looked unhappy after the sentence was handed down.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered before the bailiff came to take me away.
“San Vittore is a very bad place,” she said. “Many mafiosos p>
“It’s alright. You did your best, and I’m grateful. But I need one more thing p>
“What?” she asked, probably wondering if I would ask her to bribe a prison official.
“I need one last phone call before I go to prison p>
“That I can do,” she replied.
As far as I was concerned, Gunnar had really come through for me. Hiring Silvia had allowed me to sidestep the worst of the charges and turn a 15-year sentence into five. Not the best situation possible, but it was one I could live with.
Unfortunately, there was one place where Gunnar hadn’t come through for me: finding Rachel.
“I’m sorry, man,” he said miserably. “I’ve hacked everything I could think of – property records, traffic court, marriage and divorce records, the postal service… there’s no mention of her anywhere. I’ve done scans on the deep web – ”
“It’s okay,” I said. “Just keep looking. Please. I need her to know that I didn’t just disappear. I need her to know what happened to me p>
“I’ll try, but p>
“Don’t worry about that right now. I want you to know you’re the best friend I ever had. You really came through for me with that lawyer. I’ll pay you back the money someday, I swear p>
“Bro, don’t even worry about the money. I’d pay a whole lot more if I could get you out – ”
“It’s okay, Gunnar. I’ll be fine p>
“But you’re going in there with some real sharks, bro p>
“Yeah, but I’m the Great White. You and me, we fought the Taliban. These mafia motherfuckers? They better be frightened of me p>
Gunnar laughed, then turned somber. “Give ‘em hell, my brother p>
“I will p>
“While you’re in there, call me collect if you need ANYTHING. Money for the commissary – if I need to pay somebody off to keep you safe – ”
“I’ll be fine,” I promised him. “I can do the time standing on my head. Just… find Rachel. That’s all I care about: find Rachel p>
“I will.” He was silent for a second, then said, “You take care of yourself, brother p>
“You, too, man. And thanks again p>
When I hung up the phone, it felt like a huge stone slab had slammed down…
Severing my only connection to the outside world…
Cutting off all light…
And hope.