Day Sixteen

Rome, Italy

Robert placed a call to Colonel Cesar from a phone booth in the Piazza del Duomo. “Whatever happened to friendship?” Robert asked.

“Don’t be naive, my friend. I’m under orders, just as you are. I can assure you, there is no use in your running. You’re at the head of every

intelligence agency’s most wanted list. Half the governments of the world are looking for you.”

“Do you believe I’m a traitor?”

Cesar sighed. “It doesn’t matter what I believe, Robert. This is nothing personal. I have my orders.”

“To take me out.”

“You can make it easier by turning yourself in.”

“Thanks, paesano. If I need more advice, I’ll call Dear Abby.” He slammed down the receiver.

Robert was aware that the longer he was at large, the greater the danger he was in. There would be security agents closing in on him from half a

dozen countries.

There has to be a tree, Robert thought. The line came from a legend about a hunter who was relating an experience he had on safari. “This huge

lion wa