Valeria pouted when Alex suggested that she nix the coffee. Finally, he gave in and poured her a small cup. “But we’ll have to find some natural decaf once we get settled,” he said. Then they finished packing up their honeymoon home and took off for Puerto Rico, where they would transfer planes and head to Italy. With their brown contacts, and Valeria’s darkly tanned skin, she easily fit in with the locals. Instead of transferring to the large international airport, as they had four months before, they were shuttled in the beat-up Ford Escort to a mid-sized jet. Camille, Lars, and Mani were already aboard. Lars reported that the rest of them had headed out the day before to prepare the equipment. Daphne was keeping Paolo distracted, although Camille and Lars insisted that no one believed that Paolo was a danger. But he was still a member of the council, and would certainly be interrogated.
