Chapter 164
I looked at Nancy, still sitting with the plate in front of me. Or rather… the plates. I'd lost count of how many times she'd asked for more. I tilted my head in surprise.
"You… are you still eating?" I asked, blinking a few times.
She chewed calmly and replied with her mouth half full:
"No, imagine. I'm not that greedy."
Vincenzo crossed his arms, impatient, but with that slight touch of sarcasm that only he possessed.
"We have to go. Now."
He turned to the lady at the counter and asked for the bill. She handed it to him with a kind smile. Vincenzo took a few bills from his wallet and handed them over. I was already grabbing my backpack when he turned, ready to leave, but the lady called out again with a polite "Sumimasen!"
Vincenzo frowned and returned to her. They exchanged a few quick words in Japanese, and he slowly turned to look directly... at Nancy. He looked incredulous, as if he'd just heard that the sun rose square.
Nancy and I looked at each other. I was already suspicious.
"What did she say?" I asked.
Vincenzo sighed, looked at me, and answered bluntly:
"That I didn't give her enough money."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought I gave her a hundred dollars... but she gave her a thousand."
I raised my eyebrows, my mouth hanging open.
"A THOUSAND DOLLARS?! ON FOOD?!"
Vincenzo took a deep breath, turning his face slightly toward Nancy.
"Nancy... where did all that go?"
Nancy shrugged, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Oh, Vincenzo... don't be stingy. You're a billionaire."
He shook his head, took out more money, and handed it over, still a little shocked by the idea. I, on the other hand, was starting to get worried.
I approached Nancy and observed her carefully.
"Aren't you feeling sick?"
She smiled, wiping her mouth with her napkin.
"I'm fine! I was just hungry."
Before I could say anything else, Nancy stood up with an excited gleam in her eyes. She pointed to a small shop across the neon-lit street.
"I found something that might help us."
"Please don't say it has to do with food," Vincenzo grumbled.
"No!" she laughed. "They're kimonos! Over there in that shop. If we're going to walk around without attracting attention again... we need to blend in with the locals. Camouflage, baby."
I looked where she was pointing and, to my surprise, it made sense. It was a small shop, full of colorful, understated fabrics. We were soaking wet, and wearing something dry and culturally common there... wasn't a bad idea.
Vincenzo crossed his arms, surveying the outfits, and then looked at me. I nodded. He gave a tight smile and murmured,
"Disguise approved."
The mission would continue. The storm had passed... and we were about to resume our search.
The little shop was cramped but cozy, smelling of wood, incense, and new fabric. A short, friendly gentleman served us and showed us some kimono options. Vincenzo stood in the corner, arms crossed, his brow still furrowed. I'd learned to tell his mood just by the way he stood. He was tense. It wasn't just because of Nancy's outrageous bill... it was Rafael. Always Rafael.
"Take your pick, Rachel," he said, his tone firm but calm. "Something that makes you comfortable. And discreet."
I went to the rack where some more neutral styles were and pulled out a navy blue one with subtle flowers. Nancy, of course, chose an all-red dress, covered in prints and gold butterflies.
"Discreet, Nancy!" I said, stifling a laugh.
"What's up? I'm a rare flower! There's no hiding it, my friend!" she replied excitedly, already twirling with the kimono in her hands as if it were a fashion show in the middle of Japan.
Vincenzo sighed, hand to his face, muttering something in Italian that I could only understand as "God, give me patience."
We changed right there, behind a makeshift curtain in the corner of the store. The Japanese man lent us towels to dry off first. Nancy was so excited she wanted to take the kimono as a souvenir.
Nancy, of course, even made her grand entrance in this. While trying to put on the embroidered kimono, she got her arm tangled in the fabric and tripped on a rolled-up rug on the store floor. She fell to the side with a dramatic cry, sprawled like a defeated starfish. "I'm fine!" — she said from the floor, with a wry smile. — I was just testing the tatami's strength. The old man at the shop was startled, but soon relaxed when she started laughing. I almost choked on it too. Vincenzo just sighed deeply, as if he'd lost faith in the entire group's sanity.
Vincenzo, still in disbelief at how excited she was, simply paid without complaint. Not that he didn't care about money, but I think at that moment, if spending a few more yen would help lighten the mood slightly, he would.
We left the shop already wearing our kimonos. It was strange to be in
Another country, another culture, living in such a tense situation... but at the same time, there was a beauty in it all. We walked through the now calmer streets, with the sound of the rain slowly subsiding. Water ran down the stone sidewalks, the colorful signs flickered softly, and the air was fresher.
Vincenzo walked ahead, checking his phone from time to time. Nancy walked beside me, silent, which was rare. I think she, too, was feeling the weight of the mission now.
I approached Vincenzo and touched his arm.
"Is it almost time to meet the agent?"
"Yes," he replied, without taking his eyes off the screen. "Twenty minutes left. We'll make it on time."
"And then?"
He looked at me.
"Then... we'll get my son back."
The way he said "my son" touched me. It was painful, but also hopeful. Strengthful. As if he were clinging to the idea that there was still time to save Rafael… and maybe save himself along with him.
We walked a few more minutes until we approached a busy intersection.
Vincenzo stopped, looked around, and said:
"We're close. Stay alert. From here on… anything could happen."
And at that moment, a black car turned the corner, too slowly to be just a coincidence.
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