chapter 51: what can i tell her that she'll believe

Naples, Italy

In the morning, as the pale light was coming through the window, Robert awakened. He held Pier close in his arms and whispered, “Thank you.”

Pier smiled mischievously. “How do you feel?”

“Wonderful,” Robert said. And he did.

Pier snuggled against him. “You are an animal!”

Robert grinned. “You’re good for my ego,” he said.

Pier sat up and said seriously, “You are not a drug smuggler, are you?”

It was a naive question. “No.”

“But Interpol is after you.”

That hit closer to home. “Yes.”

Her face lit up. “I know! You’re a spy!” She was as excited as a child.

Robert had to laugh. “Am I?” And he thought, Out of the mouths of babes.

“Admit it,” Pier insisted. “You’re a spy, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Robert said gravely. “I’m a spy.”

“I knew it!” Pier’s eyes were glowing. “Can you tell me some secrets?”

“What kind of secrets?”

“You know, spy secrets … codes and things like that. I love to read spy novels. I read them all the time.”

“Do you?”

“Oh, yes! But they’re just made-up stories.