Page 79 of Once Upon a Time in Venice

Marco and Daniela had made it onto the jetty and were lying there, soaking and exhausted. Marco’s eyes widened in alarm as he saw Gina and realized what she was planning to do.

‘No,’ he yelled. ‘You can’t. It’s too dangerous.’

‘There’s no time!’

Gina hesitated for a fraction of a second as she reached the end of the splintered jetty, almost within touching distance of the helicopter, bracing herself for the icy waters. And then she dived.

I won’t let someone die again …

The lagoon was freezing, like a sharp slap to the face, her skin tingling, her breathing coming rapidly. She knew she had to remain calm or neither of them would make it out alive. It was easier to swim beneath the churning waves and Gina dived down, her clothes clinging to her body as she kicked out with her legs, her arms pulling her through the water. She tried to tell herself that she was in the White Palace pool, training before work, the water warm and the situation serene.

She didn’t hear the cries from the hotel guests on the island, and she was unaware of the rescue boats trying to close the distance across the lagoon; her focus was entirely on the helicopter as she pulled herself through the murky waters. Her hands collided with the half-submerged roof, and she groped to find an entrance, pulling herself through the half-open door that had facilitated Marco and Daniela’s escape.

In the back, Lucia’s body was almost entirely sub-merged, only her neck and head above the sea as the helicopter tilted. Her eyes were closed, and she was still strapped in.

‘Lucia,’ Gina shouted, as she fought to unbuckle her, her hands working frantically. ‘Wake up, Lucia. You must stay awake, you have to help me …’

Lucia’s eyelids fluttered open, her eyes rolling in her head. A flicker of recognition crossed her face as she saw Gina. ‘Where am I …? I can’t … Help me! I can’t swim …’

‘I’ll help you, Lucia, but you have to try too. Look at me, Lucia, it’s me, Maria. Look at me!’

The two women’s eyes met, and suddenly Gina was transported back a decade.

Maria opened her mouth to scream as Lorenzo fell, but no sound came out. It was as though she was too shocked. Her body reacted instinctively, scrambling back from the edge, unable to stand up but wanting to get as far away as possible.

She clambered unsteadily to her feet, her legs shaking, and whirled round in terror, ready to run. But something stopped her. A sudden sense that, once again, she wasn’t alone. Through her daze, Maria heard a noise behind her.

A pair of eyes, amongst the trees, watching her. Lucia stepped out, her expression one of complete shock, her mouth falling open.

Maria’s adrenaline was pumping, her heart racing. Lucia Santi – was that her name? She was a younger girl whom Maria vaguely recognized from school. She had seen what had happened, and who knew what she might tell people?

A fresh fear flashed through Maria’s mind – police, a trial, a prison cell. She would bring shame upon her family; they’d be outcasts in the village. She’d done nothing wrong, but what if Lucia didn’t believe her? Had she witnessed the whole thing, or had she only seen Lorenzo’s final few moments, imagining that Maria had pushed him or—

‘It wasn’t my fault,’ Maria burst out. She hardly knew what she was saying. ‘You saw what happened, didn’t you?’ she implored, her tone almost pleading. ‘He fell, he was going to … I tried to save him but …’

Lucia swallowed, shaking her head. ‘I don’t know,’ she whispered, her eyes wide in shock. ‘I don’t know …’

‘He fell,’ Maria insisted, taking a step towards her.

Lucia jumped backwards, fear written across her face. ‘You pushed him,’ she said accusingly.

‘I didn’t! He was going to … I didn’t mean it …’ Hot tears streaked her face, dirty from where she’d lain down on the muddy ground, trying to reach Lorenzo. ‘You must never tell anyone, Lucia. Promise me.’

‘Why should I?’ Lucia couldn’t get the sight of the boy’s fall out of her mind, his horrible scream as he fell.

Maria’s face was a mask of anguish. ‘Don’t you see, we could both be in trouble now, if the police find out.’

‘But I had nothing to do with it, it was you, I’ll tell them it was.’

Maria shook her head, panicked tears in her eyes, ‘No! I’ll say it was you who pushed him!’

Lucia opened her mouth, but no words came out.

‘It would kill my father if I went to prison. Please promise you’ll never tell.’ Maria begged.

‘No, no!’ Lucia cried, finding her voice, ‘No!’ Then she turned on her heel and ran.

‘Come on, Lucia,’ Gina begged. Lucia was moaning and murmuring, slipping in and out of consciousness as the helicopter sank lower. Gina had to tilt her head backwards to keep it above water. ‘I need you to hold your breath. We’re nearly out, but we have to go now. OK?’