Chapter 19

19

After checking into his hotel suite, Billy turned himself into Mark Weldon, then went down to the lobby, where everyone was to meet for their next event.

“Mark!” Adriene ran over and gave him a hug. “When did you get in?”

“Arrived this morning,” he said.

“We missed you in Rome.”

“You’ll have to tell me all about it.”

Tessa, Peter, and Hattie came over.

“There he is,” Peter said. “Glad you could find room in your busy schedule for us.”

“Oh, you know, I was in the area, so I thought, why not?”

“How was the flight?” Tessa asked.

“Smooth and drama free.”

“Sounds like our train ride,” Adriene said. “I slept most of the way.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Lizzie and Stacy joined them.

“Hey, Mark,” Lizzie said. “You ready to join our circus?”

“I’ve been told by Ben Bacchetti that I don’t have a choice.”

“My husband can be a taskmaster,” Tessa said.

Lizzie looked around. “Where’s Billy?”

Stacy had been hanging back, studying Mark, so it took her a moment to register the question. “Oh, he said that since he wasn’t really needed for this, he was going to stay here and get some work done.”

“Too bad,” Lizzie said. “I hear the location is beautiful.”

“His loss,” Mark said.

“All right,” Lizzie said. “Everyone, follow me.”

A boat took them to a four-century-old house where the actors of Storm’s Eye would be doing a photo shoot for Vogue Italia . The photographer was the world-renowned Flavio Cee, and the pictures would accompany an article about the movie .

Mark and Peter were photographed individually in a variety of suits, while Tessa, Hattie, and Adriene changed into and out of at least a dozen dresses each for their time in front of the lens. The shoot finished up with several group shots on the roof, with the city in the background.

After Flavio clicked his camera for the final time, he said, “I think I have everything I need. Thank you, everyone.”

“Can we see?” Adriene asked.

“Of course. Come, come.”

They gathered around the monitor, and Flavio flipped through the shots.

“These are fantastic,” Tessa said.

“They make me look like a fashion model,” Adriene said.

“Adriene,” Peter said. “These will be in Vogue Italia , so you are a fashion model.”

“Huh. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“Thank you, Flavio,” Mark said. “These are marvelous. Your reputation is well deserved.”

Flavio put a hand over his heart and gave a slight bow. “If I may ask, what are your plans this evening?”

Mark looked around until he spotted Lizzie and then waved her over. “What’s on tap for tonight?”

“We don’t have anything on the schedule until the morning,” she said. “Tonight, you’re free.”

“In that case,” Flavio said, “it would be my pleasure to treat you all to dinner at Kampa’s.”

“I read about Kampa’s on the train,” Tessa said. “It sounds wonderful. But can you get a reservation this late?”

Flavio smirked. “If I cannot, no one can. I am one of the owners.”

“In that case, you can count me in,” Tessa said.

Hattie put her arm through Peter’s. “Us, too.”

“ Signorina Adele?” Flavio asked.

“Call me Adriene, and are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“If Lizzie and Stacy can join us, too, I’ll make it unanimous,” Mark said.

Flavio clapped his hands together in delight. “ Bene, bene . Shall we say eight p.m.?”

When the group returned to the hotel, one of the desk clerks called Stacy over and handed her an envelope.

“Do you have a secret admirer we don’t know about?” Tessa asked when Stacy caught up to everyone at the elevators.

“If only. It’s for Billy.” She started to hold the envelope out to Mark, then realized what she was doing and yanked it back. “Sorry. Too much sun today.”

“Quite all right,” he said.

An elevator car arrived, and they stepped inside. Lizzie exited on the floor where she and Stacy were sharing a room, while Stacy stayed on until they reached the floor where everyone else’s suites were located.

As was normal when both Mark and Billy were staying at the same hotel, adjacent rooms had been procured. Tessa, Hattie, Peter, and Adriene went down the hall, toward their rooms, while Stacy followed Mark in the opposite direction.

Mark reached his room first and pulled out his key. Stacy continued to the door to Billy’s suite, then looked at it, confused.

“What am I supposed to do now?” she whispered.

“I believe knocking would be appropriate in this situation,” he said.

“Well, yeah. But Billy’s not home.”

“And how would you know that?”

“Because—” She stopped herself. “Oh, right. I wouldn’t.”

He entered his room as she rapped on Billy’s door. He waited several seconds, then stepped back into the hall and checked to make sure Adriene had gone into her room. “You can relax. We’re alone now.”

Stacy expelled a breath and let her shoulders sag. “Oh, thank God.”

He opened Billy’s door. “After you.”

She hurried inside and he followed.

As she dropped onto the couch, he said, “You look like you could use a drink.”

“Is it that obvious?”

He poured her a glass of Castello Monaci Artas Primitivo zinfandel and handed her the glass.

“Thank you,” she said and took a drink.

“Better?”

“Too early to tell.” She lolled her head back against the cushion. “This multiple ID thing is exhausting, and I’ve only been dealing with it for less than a day. I can’t imagine how tiring it is for you to change who you are all the time.”

“Not exhausting at all. Remember, I’ve been doing it for years.”

“And you’ve never tripped up? Acted like one person while looking like another?”

“Not once.”

“No wonder you won an Oscar.”

Mark returned to the bar and poured himself a glass of wine, then took the seat across from her.

She studied him for a moment. “Is it difficult to live like this?”

“Like what?”

“Leading a double life. Wait. Triple life?”

“I lead it very well, thank you very much.”

She snorted. “Sorry. It’s just all so…weird.”

“It’ll take some getting used to, but I have every faith in you.”

“Thanks, but I’m not sure how I’m going to keep everything straight.”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you Mark? Are you Billy? Are you Teddy Fay?”

“That part’s easy. When I look like this, I’m Mark Weldon. When I look like Billy, I’m Billy Barnett. And when I look like Teddy, I’m Teddy Fay.”

“I don’t even know what Teddy Fay looks like.”

“I’ll introduce you to him someday.”

She huffed again and took another drink.

“Simple rule of thumb,” he said. “Act like you always have.”

“Easy for you to say, Mr. Man of a Thousand Faces.”

“That was Lon Chaney.”

“Who?”

“Never mind. I believe you have a message for me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have a message for Billy , not Mark.”

“See, you’re getting the hang of it already.” He held out his hand. “Hand it over.”

She gave him the envelope.

Written on the note inside was 10:00 p.m., an address, and instructions for a meeting with Rick La Rose, the CIA’s Paris station chief.

“Spy stuff?” Stacy asked.

“Spy stuff.”

She finished her wine and stood. “I think I’ll take a walk around and clear my head. Don’t forget. Meet in the lobby at eight, for dinner.”

“Actually, I need you to make excuses for me.”

“You’re not coming?”

He waved the envelope she’d given him.

“Ah,” she said. “ Urgent spy stuff.”

“The world of secrets never sleeps.”

“I assume I’m making excuses for Mark and Billy.”

“You assume correctly.”

“I’m really going to hate this, aren’t I?”

“You might, but honestly, I’m starting to wonder why I didn’t tell you long ago. It’s so much easier for me.”

She rolled her eyes and left without another word.

He then called Lance.

“Good afternoon.” In the background of the CIA director’s voice was the muffled drone of helicopter rotors.

“Not catching you at a bad time, am I?”

“Perfect, actually. I’m on my way to New York for brunch with my Japanese counterpart. How can I help you?”

“By not setting up meetings for me without checking with me ahead of time.”

“I take it you’ve heard from Rick La Rose.”

“I have.”

“I thought it best he touch base with you after today’s unpleasantness. He’s also the one who’s been overseeing the investigation into Owen Pace’s death, so he might have information that could be useful to you.”

“Which brings us back to why I called.”

“Yes, yes. Clear it with you first. I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

“Does La Rose know about Golden Hour?”

“He does. He’s been assisting me since I first started suspecting something was up.”

“He left his note for Billy Barnett. Is that who he’s expecting to see?”

“No. I told him Billy is just an intermediary and would pass the message on.”

“Then who does he think he’s going to meet?”

“I haven’t told him your secret, if that’s what you’re asking. I used the same cover story I did with Rogers, that you’re a freelancer with knowledge of Golden Hour.”

“And if he does figure it out?”

“Handle it however you think appropriate, short of killing him, of course. I’d rather not have to replace him.”

“How trustworthy is he?”

“There are few I trust more.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you don’t trust anyone.”

“True. Like I said, handle it how you want.”

“What I want is not to be dealing with any of this and just enjoy the PR tour.”

“Please, we both know no one enjoys those tours. Besides, your conscience wouldn’t let you do nothing.”

That was true, though it didn’t help him feel any less annoyed. “It’s always a pleasure, Lance.”