CHAPTER 4: Garden City

 

Venice

 

Kevin and Delta arrived in Padova by private jet two days before the Italiano de Art auction. The pilot, Lars Viklund, taxied to the rented hanger.

"How long you want me to stay?" He asked.

"You don't have to. I have no idea how long we'll be here, so you can leave whenever you like. I'll call when we're ready."

"Very well, Mrs. Chancellor."

"And stop calling me that!"

"Yes Mrs--I mean, Delta."

It was several days after the beginning of autumn and the weather was mildly balmy with only puffs of clouds in the clear sky. Delta wore black biker shorts and a black lace bra, over which she had a gray jacket belted at the waist. Kevin wore faded jeans, a rugby shirt, and Topsiders. Both of them wore their guns clip-holstered at their back, Delta carried her Smith & Wesson 5904 9mm and Kevin had his Browning 9mm Hi-Power.

Kevin retrieved the Indy from the cargo bay, and once goodbyes were said, Lars was airborn again.

"Ready, Luv?" Delta said getting behind the wheel. She put on shades, a pair of fingerless driving gloves, and started the Indy.

"Just don't be smearing us all over th' pavement, Lass."

Delta laughed and took off with a short screech of tires.

The drive from Padova to Venice wound through low hills and urban areas, a touch of contemporary landscaping mingling with the old. Delta's average speed hovered around 90 miles per hour, her 'bat-out-of-hell' driving mode.

"Danielle says our apartment is just north of the San Marco Plaza, on Rio Dei," Delta said. She drove across the causeway connecting Venice with the rest of the Italy, located the boathouse Danielle had bought for them, and they continued on by hydrofoil.

This time, Kevin drove, with Delta content with taking in the scenery. She had never been to Venice before and being in the midst of so much history humbled her. Kevin smiled at her sense of wonder, which fueled his own enjoyment.

He took the Grand Canal, which was filled with boats, water buses, powerboats, and plenty of gondolas. The sleek black hydroplane caught the attention of tourists and natives alike as they moved deeper into the labyrinthine confines of a city steeped in antiquity. Venice was like a jewel afloat on its own image. The hydroplane glided under bridges, past tethered gondolas, traversing a watery world of soft shadows and ancient brick canyons.

Kevin found the apartment building and drifted into the parking alcove where he tethered the hydroplane to the docking quay.

The 'apartment' was actually the entire building, and was completely furnished in a combination of gothic and baroque, detailed in dark lacquered woods. Balconies overlooked some of the rooms and Delta saw that great care had gone into renovating the building, blending ancient and contemporay styles in a seamless, cohesive whole. There was a lot of detailing, but an overall theme of simplicity pervaded the place.

"I think I want to buy it," Delta said, gazing around at the ceiling.

"Thought ye might. I told Danielle to go ahead and buy it."

Delta whirled and hugged Kevin around the waist. "You are so sweet."

"That's why ye pay me the big kisses."