Rules of Vengeance

“Not who you expected,” said Jonathan.

Lazio wrinkled the note between his fingers. “‘An old friend’ is not exactly what I would have called you.”

“You’re still practicing.” It was a statement, a reminder of a service rendered.

Lazio shrugged, acknowledging the debt. “I haven’t had a drink since we saw each other last. I thank you. Again.” Lazio reached out to give Jonathan a belated hug and a kiss on each cheek.

Lazio was one of the corps of doctors who revolved in and out of the missions run by Doctors Without Borders around the world. Six years earlier he’d worked under Jonathan’s supervision at a camp in Eritrea. When several of Lazio’s patients died of suspicious causes, Jonathan discovered that the Italian doctor had been operating while drunk. He had suspended the doctor pending an investigation. In the meantime, word leaked to the local tribespeople. A mob got up, captured Lazio, and was very nearly successful in administering a punishment of its own. Jonathan had intervened and personally shepherded Lazio onto a plane back to Rome. Grateful for his life, the Italian had promised never to drink again. Given all the circumstances, it was the best outcome Jonathan could expect.

“I’m glad to see you’re recovering,” said Jonathan.

“What are you doing in Rome?” Lazio searched up and down the bar. “And where is Emma? I thought you two only took vacations in the mountains.”

“We make an exception now and then,” said Jonathan. He didn’t add anything about Emma.

“If you don’t mind my saying, you look like you could use some mountain air yourself.”

Jonathan glanced at himself in the mirror behind the bar. He’d been driving for hours and his eyes were sunken, rimmed with circles. “I’m fine.”

“And so,” said Lazio, “tell me, is this a coincidence?”

Jonathan finished his beer, then shook his head. “I called your wife and told her it was an emergency. She told me where I could find you. Apparently she thinks you’re with some fellow doctors from the hospital.”

Lazio glanced back at his friends. “I am.” He shrugged. “What about you? Still working for peanuts?”

“I’m back in East Africa. Kenya this time.”

“Is that why you’re here? To remind me of what happened?”

“I’m here to ask a favor.”

Lazio found this amusing. “What can I do for the great Dr. Jonathan Ransom?”

Jonathan moved closer to Lazio, close enough to smell his cologne and see the roots of gray begi

“What happened?”

“She was mugged and stabbed.”

“Emma? I’d thought of her as someone who can take care of herself.”

“She can. Usually.”

Lazio fingered the chains at his neck. “So why are you asking me this? Surely she remembers where she was treated.”

“Emma and I aren’t together.”

Lazio considered the request. “Fine,” he said at length. “I’ll help you find the hospital that took care of your wife. It shouldn’t be difficult. I’ll make some calls in the morning.” He motioned toward his table. “Why don’t you join us? The sole is fabulous.”

“I need to find out where she was treated now,” said Jonathan. “Tell your friends you have an emergency. They’re doctors, right? They’ll understand.”

“You’re asking a lot.”

“We’re just begi

Lazio exhaled loudly. “All right, then, but I have to use the men’s room.”

“Sure,” said Jonathan, putting a hand on Lazio’s shoulder. “But give me your wallet before you go.”

“My wallet?” protested Lazio. “I don’t think so.”

Jonathan dug his fingers into the soft flesh, allowing a measure of his hate for the man to slip through. Lazio grimaced and handed Jonathan his alligator billfold.

“Two minutes,” said Jonathan. “Be at the front door.” He watched Lazio slide through the crowd, the picture of elegance and good ma

He opened the wallet and studied the image on the driver’s license. He looked at the dancing eyes, the easy smile, the facile expression. He was looking at a fraud.

Jonathan jumped off his stool and elbowed his way through the crowd in a rush toward the bathroom. He paused at the entry and gently opened the door.

“He’s here, I tell you,” came Lazio’s voice from inside a stall. “That Dr. Ransom. The man wanted for the bombings in London. No, I am not crazy. I know him. I am a doctor, too. We worked together. He is the same man I saw on the news.”

Jonathan kicked open the stall, grabbed the phone out of Lazio’s hands, and severed the co

“Leave me alone,” shouted Lazio. “You have nothing on me. You can’t make me help you. What have you done? You are a terrorist.”

Jonathan shoved him against the wall. Lazio’s head snapped against the tile and a stu

“That was years ago,” retorted Lazio. “Ancient history. I’ve been sober ever since. No one pressed charges then, and they won’t now. Are you going to bring a bunch of Africans to the stand? Where’s your proof? I’ll deny it, and that will be that. And who are you to be telling me what to do? I saw your picture on the television. You’re a wanted man.”

Jonathan released his grip and Lazio fell back against the wall. He was right, of course. No one would help. It was only then that Jonathan realized that he could never go back to work, for DWB or anyone else. This wasn’t a case of malpractice in a forgotten corner of a Third World country. It was a terrorist act against a ranking government dignitary, an act that had taken seven lives. I

He decided then that if he were a criminal, he’d better start acting like one. Slipping a hand behind his back, he freed the pistol he’d taken from Prudence Meadows and jabbed it into Lazio’s gut. “Last chance.”

For the first time Lazio appeared genuinely frightened. “Okay, okay, I’ll help,” he said.

Jonathan rammed the pistol further into the man’s belly. “Did you tell the police where you were?”

Lazio shook his head. “I didn’t have time.”

“Is that the truth?”

Lazio nodded violently.

“Okay, then, we’re going to walk out of here,” said Jonathan. “You’re going to take me to your car, and from there we’re going to drive to your office. If you help me out, we’ll be finished by morning. I’ll disappear from your life and you’ll never see me again. Do we have a deal?”

“Yes. Deal.”

Keeping a hand on Lazio’s arm, Jonathan led the doctor out of the restaurant. Clusters of youths stood on the sidewalk, smoking, laughing, arguing. Mopeds zipped by. “Which way is your car?”

Lazio looked in both directions, hesitating.

“Which way?” asked Jonathan.

Lazio pointed to a silver Ferrari parked illegally 10 meters up the street. “That’s it.”

“Of course it is.” Just then Jonathan heard the siren. He looked over his shoulder. Across the piazza, a Fiat belonging to the Italian carabinieri pulled into the square, slowing to a crawl as pedestrians scattered. He looked at Lazio. Of course the man had lied.

Lazio yanked his arm free and began to run down the street. Jonathan slipped on a cobblestone, regained his balance, and started after him. He caught him after ten strides and threw him against the wall of the basilica. “Go ahead, then. Shout. This is your chance. If you’re so sure no one will care about what you’ve done, yell for the police.”