Rendezvous in Rome by Carolyn Keene Page A

behind them. An angry pack of Turin fans wearing black and white were on his heels.
    Nancy yelled out a warning as Massimo dodged seats and fans, pushing people out of the way. He was headed straight for them—and going too fast to stop!

Chapter

Eleven
    S ANDRO LEAPT OVER N ANCY and grabbed Massimo, breaking his fall. The group chasing Massimo launched themselves into the seated Roman fans, and a brawl began.
    Bess screamed and scrambled after Claudia to one side, away from the flying fists. Nancy and Karine grabbed their things in a rush and followed them.
    Several police officers appeared out of nowhere, swarming over the spectators to separate them. They pulled Massimo and three Turin fans apart as everyone shouted his own version of what had happened. Italian phrases flew too quickly for Nancy to keep up. The police released Massimo and Sandro but kept the Turin fans firmly between them.
    Finally Massimo and Sandro came back to the group. Massimo put his hand to his mouth, nursinga split lip, but otherwise he was fine. Both he and Sandro were glowing with victory.
    â€œThey were screaming insults when I walked by,” Massimo explained as they all sat back down again, “so I said a few things about their team. I guess they could make insults but not take them.”
    â€œWe should put some ice on that,” Karine said, touching Massimo’s lip.
    â€œThe game is starting again,” he objected. “I want to see us win!”
    Claudia leaned over Sandro to talk to Bess and Nancy. “I told you it gets serious sometimes,” she said as the soccer teams spilled back out onto the field. “These fans are so competitive!”
    Nancy enjoyed the rest of the game. Rome won, three to one. When it was over the group dispersed, planning to meet at the art gala that evening. As Massimo and Karine walked off Nancy saw Karine slip her arm around Massimo’s waist and give him a hug.
    Bess was watching, too. “When we were walking to the catacombs, I told him not to worry about dating Karine,” she said. “After all, I am going off to Greece, then back home.”
    When Nancy and Bess got back to the hotel, there was a message from Officer Franchi informing Nancy that her shoulder bag had been found in a trash can right near the catacombs. Her wallet, money, and passport were all still there, but the necklace was missing.
    â€œI guess it’s official,” Nancy said ruefully after she hung up. “It was our necklace thief, all right. A regular thief would have taken my money.”
    Bess bit her lip as she and Nancy went to their room. “Maybe if he’s got your necklace, he won’t want another one,” she said thoughtfully. “What if he doesn’t take the bait tonight?”
    â€œHe will,” Nancy said confidently. “Signor Andreotti said he’ll use his most expensive necklace. Our thief won’t be able to resist.”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    â€œI can’t believe we didn’t ruin our dresses,” Bess said, smoothing the skirt of her purple silk minidress after she and Nancy had parked their Vespas outside the entrance to the building where the gala was being held. The spaghetti straps exposed Bess’s shoulders and showed off her tan.
    â€œI can’t believe we made it on time, considering all I had to do,” Nancy added.
    Before leaving for the gala Nancy had claimed her purse at the police station and then taken the clothes she and Bess would need later that night to the Belvedere Hotel. She had really had to rush in order to get dressed on time, but she was pleased with the result. Her pale aqua dress set off her reddish blond hair perfectly. It clung flatteringly to her waist and flowed into a silk swirl around her ankles.
    The two girls entered the building through a carved stone entranceway, then paused to look around at the large, airy main room. The abstract paintings on the walls provided a pleasant