The four remained silent on the drive to the abandoned warehouses; the actual drive took longer than if they had walked from the Basile residence, but the sun had fully set and the trail would be difficult to follow at night. There were no signs of life from the buildings, but Harry, well-trained for an operation dealing with criminal elements, still approached cautiously.
"Here, I have torches for us," Rico's father said as he pulled a pair of lights from his van. Harry entered first, with Sirius behind him; then Rico's father and Fred came up behind them, acting as a rear defense.
They cautiously climbed the stairs to the office, noting a fresh blood trail.
"Someone was here, and left hurt," Sirius commented, pointing to the wet blood.
The door at the top of the stairs swung open on its own, further adding to their wariness. The wizards held their wands to the ready; Mr. Basile remained at the rear, unarmed, but ready to aid.
Harry was first at the door, and then waited for his godfather to position himself at the other side. He held three fingers, counted back to two, then one.
Sirius pushed the door open with his foot, and he and Harry peered inside. Harry motioned to Sirius to the left side while he slipped to the right. Fred pointed his wand in the door and called out, "Lumos!" illuminating the room.
Mr. Basile looked at Fred's lit wand, and turned on his torch, which spread just as much light. Fred looked at the Muggle device, shook his head, and uttered, "Nox." Harry switched on his torch as well.
Noting the small room did not have any other doors, and that there was no activity, the group entered, hoping to find some reassuring sign. One man was searching for his son, the others hoping to find a clue to the whereabouts of Harry's double.
"Looks as if they had a rough time," Sirius commented. "There's a boy over here. From the looks of it, he's dead."
Mr. Basile turned to the spot, several shades of pale as he rushed to Sirius' side. "Franco," he finally managed to say. "But what could do this to him?"
"Hard to say, it could have been anything, a poison maybe," Fred offered.
"But where is Rico, and Nickie? They were inseparable; the three were always into mischief."
Sirius looked to the floor near a large wing-backed chair on the other side of the room. "Here's something, some bones and this goo. Harry, what could have done this?"
"I have no idea; looks like some strong acid," Harry replied.
"Are they human?" Fred asked, looking across the room from Franco's body.
"Yes, from the looks of it, it was a person, not terribly large," Harry added as he inspected the remains.
Mr. Basile turned and flashed his light to the spot; the grizzly bloodied skull stared back through empty eye sockets, the initial shock catching him as he turned and retched on the floor near Franco.
Fred stepped over to aid the Muggle, who was obviously not accustomed to this type of gore.
"How can you stand there so calmly," Mr. Basile screamed in mid-heave. "Please tell me it isn't my Rico!" He had to look again, and turned to the skull, staring at the dead face.
"The bones are scattered," Harry commented. He looked at the pattern, and noticed a trail of steps through the goo. Matted in the puddle were bits of flesh and hair, not melted. Tucked against the chair, the bottom half of the skeleton remained fairly intact, the legs still had much of their flesh.
"Here's the largest part of whoever this was," Sirius called out, and moved the chair to one side. "Mr. Basile, was Rico taken to wearing skirts?"
"S-S-Skirts?" he stammered. "Nickie always wore short skirts too short to cover even her underwear, to provoke the boys."
"Was she cute?" Fred asked as he poked around the carcass with Harry.
"Yes, she was, but she was also only fifteen. She made games of tempting any man she encountered. She tried with me once, then lied to her father when I refused to show interest. If Caterina hadn't seen the exchange…"
"So her father would have been upset if she had succeeded in seducing you?" Harry interrogated as he continued to investigate Nickie's remains.
Finding no other clues, he stopped looking over her bones and scanned the floor in the immediate area instead. Near the chair he picked up the unburned end of their 'cigarette' and tore the paper. He examined the substance and a bag caught his eye. "Comfrey," he said softly to himself. "Those idiots smoked this stuff."
"No, that is not the point; her papa is a powerful man, a camorra boss. What you would call organized syndicate."
"Come on, mate, the mafia is only in books," Fred chirped.
"No, this is serious," Harry added, dropping the Comfrey cigarette and bag. "I tracked a group of dark wizards once to Naples where there was supposed to be a meeting with a crime lord. That was a couple years ago, but in my reality."
"Sì, this is a big organization and Nickie's father is one of the leaders. There was a story of one man that she flirted with, and after her father had a chat with that man, he never again was able to be with a woman, and his legs took six months to heal. And he has never afterwards touched the girl."
Mr. Basile looked at the chair and spotted Rico's pack, stained red. "There, that is Rico's bag, I would know it anywhere. He was here, but he would never leave that bag; it was his most special possession."
"The obvious result is he was taken, and we can only assume Nickie's father has him," Sirius surmised.
"Dio santo, no! He's as good as dead," the older man screamed as he fell to his knees and sobbed. "He took my daughter and now my son."
"Nickie's father took your daughter?" Harry asked.
"Sì, to work in his home; she was to be Nickie's nanny. He said she could come home for holidays, but she disappeared five years ago."
Harry he crossed the room to examine Franco, but pulled the man to his feet, "Why would you allow her to go? It doesn't make sense."
"We had a debt to him; I went to him for the money to pay for Caterina's special schools. She does not know, and I pray you don't tell her."
"For money?" Harry said with some disgust.
"Not just money, for the chance to leave this life. He promised Chiara a chance to learn a trade, to be a governess. He would forgive the debt if Chiara stayed with Nickie until she was to be married."
"Is there a chance she's still there? Have you seen her recently?" Fred asked.
"No, I tried once to see her," he said, holding his head, "that first year; they threatened her life if I ever attempted to see her again. I heard she was sent to one of the houses for prostitution he owns. Is she still alive? No, I gave up hope for that miracle."
"If there's a chance to find them both, we will do our best, but for now we have a task to begin." Harry turned to Franco to examine the corpse, and froze in his spot, "He used Avada Kedavra..." he almost whispered.
Sirius and Fred grew stone silent at the announcement.
Mr. Basile opened his mouth to ask its meaning.
"He was murdered by magic, using one of the worst charms in our world, an Unforgivable curse, Avada Kedavra," Harry commented before asked.
Mr. Basile replied, "I thought 'abracadabra' was only fiction for people who knew nothing about real magic. Poor boy, who--what--could do such a thing to him? How?"
Harry corrected him, "Not abracadabra, Avada Kedavra. It's an Unforgivable curse, the spell that kills. It kills without leaving a trace; so, Franco was tortured before he died."
Harry stood and, still holding Rico's pack, turned and headed for the exit.
"Harry's right," Sirius added and turned to follow, leaving Fred to help Mr. Basile.
Sirius caught Harry before he started down the stairs, "So, what's the plan? We storm the gates and free Rico?"
Harry paused on the steel staircase, "No, it's the other 'Harry;' he's got Rico. He's looking for…" The realization hit him hard, and he sprang down the stairs. "We have to get back to the villa, fast. Everyone get down here now!" he commanded.
Sirius came first, followed by Fred and Mr. Basile, the two wizards now realizing what was to happen.
"No time to wait; Fred you bring him, Sirius, with me now!" Harry almost screamed. He and Sirius disappeared with a loud pop; Fred and Mr. Basile followed seconds behind.
" Ennervate! " the man said, reanimating the body. Rico's eyes blinked in confusion from the carpeted floor of the car in time to see the heel of an Oxford slam into his face.
"Just a little memento of the day, by. I'm taking you home, where you belong. I'm quite anxious to have a chat with your parents," Harry said with a glint in his eye.
"H-H-Home?" Rico asked, his cheek stung from the blow, though the tears streaming down his cheeks were from the terror he had witnessed and was himself experiencing.
"Yes, or more correctly, to your uncle's villa. I hope, for your sake and your family's sake, that those 'house guests' are still there, or it will be most unpleasant for you."
"W-who are -"
"How soon you forget." He shook his head at Rico's ignorance.
"You said, 'Harry Potter'?"
"Clever boy, so you do remember. Now about those visitors at the villa; you said 'three men and two women.' Are you certain? Describe them."
"Sì, one man was older than papa but with dark hair; the two other men looked the same, like brothers. The women also looked the same, like sisters, but not like the men."
"There was no one else? Are you certain?"
"Sì, no one else, just you," Rico added.
"So you lied? There were four men?" the anger in his voice flared and terrified Rico further.
"No, I did not lie. I thought you meant besides yourself."
"Where in the villa are they staying? And what is their daily schedule?"
"Y-you and one woman stay in the first suite, the other woman in the second room of that suite. The three men are in the second suite."
"Good. And their schedules?"
Rico stopped to try to think. He had avoided all contact with Caterina's guests, but had kept an eye on their actions. "The women spend their time together, sometimes with you; the others stay on the beach. The older man seems to disappear when you go for a walk with your dog."
Harry leaned back to form his attack; his fingers began tapping on the arm rest of the car door as he stared at the passing terrain. The sun was almost gone as the car arrived at the entrance to the villa, stopping while the driver opened the iron gate.
" Signore? Why?"
Harry looked at the boy, and pondered that one question. "You truly have no idea who I am? Or for that matter, what you are?"
Rico reluctantly shook his head.
"I am a wizard, but not just any wizard. I am the sovereign ruler of all wizards. Do you understand so far?"
Rico nodded.
Another car approached as the driver was returning to the car.
"Good. Driver, wait outside for a moment; I need a private word." The driver closed the door and greeted the other car, informing its occupants of the minor delay.
"Now, boy, you understand who I am. Do you know what you are?"
Rico shook his head.
Harry leaned in close to him, "You are a wizard, a Muggle-born one at that. No magical parents or family. Now, the local authorities here are little more than a nuisance; there's precious little they can or will do to me." Harry leaned back before continuing, "So, is there anything else you want to say?"
"W-wizard?"
"How very articulate." He pointed his wand at Rico, and the boy's hands and feet were bound, his voice gone.
"Driver! Let's continue to the villa," Harry barked.
The procession of cars passed through the gate and down the long drive lined with cypress trees; both pulled to the left side of the main building into the detached garage.
Harry lowered the window on the side nearer the villa and peered out. "Strange, no one's about." He looked back to his captive, "Have you left anything out? It seems the villa's deserted."
Rico looked back through wide eyes and shook his head, unable to speak.
Harry chuckled at the over-sight and tapped his wand on the boy's throat. He then pointed his wand at Rico and levitated him and pushed the boy from the car. He grabbed Rico by his hair dragging him towards the house.
Rico screamed at the pain, for, even though floating, it still hurt.
"Show some backbone, boy, and maybe I'll let you die like a man instead of a dog." Harry pushed Rico through the doorway into the villa. The dining room table seemed appropriate, and Rico's body hit the hard surface with a thud.
Harry had a gleam in his eye as he pointed his wand at his own throat, and called, "Come out, daddy's home!"
His amplified voice echoed through the building, but yielded no reply. He cracked half a smile, "Didn't really expect them to come running. Now, boy, you will help me here. I need to find my friends."
Harry pointed his wand to the chandelier and the crystal ornaments that hung down grew into razor-sharp spikes, positioned over Rico's body. He narrowed his eyes at the table, noticing the room had darkened. He looked at his intended prey, and shook his head.
"Sorry, lad, there's not enough light to see what I'm doing. Pity the sun's going down, but that should be just enough for this."
" Bombarda!" he shouted, pointing his wand at the wall, which then exploded, leaving a huge, gaping hole in the building, the remaining rays of the sun filtering in, past its ruins. Then, pointing his wand to his throat again, he shouted, "I have the boy." He paused for a moment, waiting for a reply.
"I have the boy and you have five minutes before he dies." Harry looked at his captive and held his wand to his young throat. "Scream," he commanded.
Rico screamed, the wand amplifying his terror to fill the house as well as the grounds. After he had watched Franco being tortured and then die at this madman's hand, he expected worse for himself.
"Good job. At least you have learned to follow directions in the past few minutes."
Harry pulled a chair from the rubble of the wall and sat. Callously, he pointed his wand to the chandelier and flicked it, releasing the first spike.
"AAaaahh!" Rico screamed as the spike struck his elbow, shattering the joint while pinning him further to the table.
Harry held his wand to his throat again, "Another spike will fall every ten seconds until you show yourselves. Each new spike will find a different mark." He pulled his wand from his throat and addressed Rico, "Now all that's left is to watch and enjoy the show. Oh, and I wouldn't be so concerned about that elbow, who knows where the next will hit? I hope for your sake they haven't abandoned this villa completely."
He thought for a moment and held his wand to his throat again, "Oh, and I promise he won't die, yet. He has four minutes and fifty seconds left."
Rico looked at his arm, unable to move it, the pain from the shattered joint nearly more than he could stand.
"Tick… Tick… Tick…" Harry taunted until another spike fell, this one hitting Rico's right knee and causing equal damage to that joint while also pinning his leg to the table.
Rico's screams were louder than the sinister laughter coming from Harry; his blood leaked from the wounds and dripped onto the white carpet under the table. His arm began to twitch from the pain, as did his leg, each movement rubbing the shattered bones together.
Seconds ticked past as another spike struck him, the pattern random, though each found its mark accurately. After more than a minute, each limb had at least one wound: a spike had severed a thumb while impaling his hand, another cut through his ankle, leaving his foot limp. Each fresh wound brought new levels of pain to the youth.
In the second minute the spikes began falling closer to his torso, landing in his thighs and shoulders. The pain began to subside, but only because he was losing feeling in his limbs. Still, no one showed.
A curtain waved from its hanger over the French doors to the terrace, the doors creaked slightly from the light breeze.
Harry smiled and reached to a spike nearest him, impaling Rico's arm. He gently caressed the crystal in the boy's arm, as if he were seducing the pain in the youth. He gingerly stroked the protrusion in Rico's arm, and caught the boy's eyes pleading for mercy. Harry grasped the stake as if he were about to pull it free, and twisted it in the boy's flesh.
Rico screamed from the added pain. The spike twisted in his young muscles, the splinter of bone caught by the crystal ground against the shaft of bone where it originated.
"Three minutes left, that make twelve so far. I wonder if you'll bleed to death before the last spikes find their marks. The suspense is killing me; I hope you last the full five minutes."
Another spike fell, spearing him through the groin.
"Oh, that's gotta hurt," Harry taunted.
That last wound hit an artery, evident by the pulsating of the spike in rhyme with Rico's heart. Harry reached over and poked it, causing an additional surge of pain through the boy. Rico's blood now spread rapidly from the table.
The leaves of the fica tree in the corner rustled slightly.
Harry stood and turned around, facing the tree. "Thinking an invisibility cloak would do much good? Show yourself," he demanded as his wand pointed at the emptiness in front of him.
The air began to shimmer as the cloak slid to the floor, exposing a single figure standing before him.
"Where are the others?" Harry demanded as he aimed his wand at the intruder.
"Dead. I killed them this morning. I knew you were coming back for me."