Palmero

Spencer and Elsie Charals had started their trip around the world six months ago, when they had quit their jobs, sold their home and bought a 30-foot sailing yacht. The fast pace of working upwards of 70 hours a week had got to both of them. They knew that it was a risky move, but they were confident that they’d never regret taking the time while they were young enough to do it. There fully stocked yacht had enough supplies to last 3 months at a time. As they were heading to Greece, they had hit bad weather in the Mediterranean Sea and had to divert to the closest port of entry in Palermo, Sicily, known for its history with corrupt mafia.

Elsie was nervous and Spencer caught on to her mood as he grabbed his small black notebook full of coordinates and travel blog notes. He popped the elastic off and put the passports, and other documents in the back pocket of the notebook. He listed them off as he checked that they had everything they needed to be allowed to enter Italy. He looked up at Elsie, “Don’t worry it’ll all be fine.” Elsie grabbed his travel bag that she was packing with clothes and the supplies list and handed it to him. Between the two of us, we have everything we need now,” he said, patting it as he came up and hugged her. Elsie sighed, “I know, but we didn’t plan this Spencer, and I’ve read that security can be rather sketchy here.” “It’s nothing a little extra caution won’t take care of,” said Spencer. They were at the marina now, having called ahead for clearance with their estimated time of arrival. As they disembarked, they were met by an officer who led them to the customs office. They needed to get their entry declaration and then they would get on their way to get supplies, take a look around Palermo and head to the Greek Islands.

As they walked to the customs office, Elsie and Spencer couldn’t help but be in awe of the range of architectural styles reaching up the skyline to rest at the midst of the mountain range behind. Old style buildings started immediately after the marina and the bustle of shoppers could be seen in the market on the street. Elsie was almost immune to the beauty of the colour of the sea, as the port itself was busy and hustling. She clutched her purse closer to her body as the customs officer was directing them. She couldn’t help but worry about security after everything she had read about the mafia and crime in Palermo. She hadn’t said much about it to Spencer, thinking he would think she was being too anxious. They got to the office and went inside to a grey room with officers taking documents behind a counter. There were two long lines, one beside the other where either happy or harried Captains waited with their entry documents. “Maritime Declaration of Health please,” said one officer. “Next, maritime Declaration of Health,” said the second officer. Spencer looked at Elsie with a pained expression. “That is what I forgot on the boat. I went over and over the checklist. How could I have missed it?” muttered Spencer as he was rummaging through the pages of the notebook. “Well, we’ll have to go back to the boat,” whispered Elsie. “No, I don’t want to lose our place in this line. You stay, I’ll run and get it.” Spencer put his travel bag down beside Elsie and left the office with notebook and passports still in hand. “Keep an eye on the bag, I’ll be back in no time.” Elsie did not want to deal with customs on her own. Spencer had made it his job to know all about the ports of entry rules while Elsie dealt with supplies lists. The line started to move a little faster. “Great, thought Elsie, I’m going to have to be at the counter without what I need. Spencer, in his hurried state, had ran out with the notebook in hand. She moved forward a few spaces as she was lost in thought on what the process would be. Surely Spencer would be back quickly. She had moved at least 3 feet, as had the man in the line to the right of her, which was only divided by a retractable stanchion. Behind her she heard a voice softly trying to get her attention “Madam, madam, your bag.” Elsie turned around quickly. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I forgot it was at my feet,” she stammered as a man in the line behind her handed her Spencer’s travel bag. Thank you so much!” Elsie exclaimed as she took the bag. Elsie was stunned at how she could have got so lost in thought as to forget the bag at her feet. “The one job I had to do,” she thought, as a man in the line up beside her turned and seemed to deliberately pick up his very similar black bag off the floor in front of Elsie, while keeping uncomfortable eye contact the entire time he did so. He was a tall man with a large frame wearing black clothes that looked too warm for the weather. He looked a bit out of place to Elsie as she tried to smile at him while she heaved the bag a little more on to her shoulders. The bag seemed heavier than usual. The man slowly turned around and stood with his back to her.

Spencer returned to the lineup. “I’ve got it. Sorry, I realize that I ran out with the documents in my hands,” said Spencer as he wondered how he could have missed the one thing they were sure to be asked for. They were next in line. The serious faced officer at the desk summoned to them, “Next. Maritime Health Declaration please.” Spencer went forward and Elsie followed at his side. They presented the declaration along with their other documents. “Are you declaring any currency over $10,000.00 Mr. Charals?” the officer asked. “No, we just have our credit and about $1000 with us for restocking supplies.” answered Spencer. The officer then asked “Are you bringing any luggage on shore”. “No, I’ve just got my travel bag sir.” Elsie handed it to him. The officer looked up from writing as Spencer opened the bag to put the small black notebook and other documentation back. Spencer almost froze. He was looking at a very large sum of money in the bottom of the bag, which was obviously not his. He coughed a little and tried to keep his eyes very steady as he slowly put his notebook on top of the stack of cash. The officer was finishing stamping some documents for them as Spencer looked to his left then his right. A large framed man with the exact same travel bag was standing in the line beside him talking to a customs officer. He hadn’t noticed the man before, but he noticed him now. He was not the usual Captain of the boat type that they were used to standing in line with. As Spencer looked at him, he held a steady stare and nodded in what Spencer thought was a sinister manner. Spencer looked away. The officer handed Spencer his documents and said “You are free to go”. At that moment, the officer asked the man in the other line up if he had any large sums to declare and he simply said “No.” Spencer’s heart was pounding in his chest, as all of a sudden, a flurry of officers arrived behind the man and detained him. Spencer took Elsie’s hand and headed outside.

“Elsie, what happened to the bag?” he said quietly as they walked towards the market place. “Nothing,” said Elsie. “Well, something happened because this is not our bag,” said Spencer. It has a ton of cash in it and all of our stuff is missing.” Elsie gasped, “I left it on the floor by mistake and this guy came up and gave it to me because I’d left it a few feet behind me.” “Something is off here Elsie. We could be in danger”. Elsie laughed and said “Now who is anxious?” Spencer pulled Elsie by the arm as they ducked off the street into a narrow corridor. They got at least six feet inside the alcove and opened the travel bag. Spencer took out four piles of cash wrapped in thick elastic. He started to count the first pile of one-hundred-dollar bills, one, two, three, four… fifty. “Elsie, these are four piles of $5000.00 each. There is $20,000.00 in this bag. “Is it finders keepers Elsie?” Spencer joked. “I believe it belongs to that guy at customs. He stared me down just before he was detained Elsie, and he had the same bag as me. We’ve both been used to get the money into the country illegally. It was planted,” said Spencer. Elsie was thinking. “But Spence, there are only clothes and the supplies list in the bag. All our documents were in the notebook and you still have it. They have no way of knowing who we are and whose bag they have,” said Elsie, “unless they recognize and find us.” Spencer sighed, “The man is detained Elsie, but once that is over, he’ll be looking for the money.”

Spencer and Elsie decided to leave the alcove and walk up the main street of town. It was busy and they could lose themselves in the small crowds of the end of summer season. As they walked hand in hand, they bought fresh produce with a big enough shopping bag that they could hide the travel bag inside it. They walked along admiring the market and taking in the scents created by the market merchants. Music was playing as they moved through the street. They had not seen anyone follow them, as they came across a building with a plaque that read “The Sicilian Project”. Spencer was less jittery and stood reading the plaque. Elsie looked back and spotted the young man who had handed her the bag approaching quickly from the bottom of the street. Spencer was saying “Look Elsie, it says “Palermo Mafia Recovery Program.” Elsie grabbed Spencer’s arm and lead him through the open doors. Madam, can I help you” asked a short statured Italian man with a thick accent. The center was busy with a mish mosh of tables where children were being provided meals and taught English lessons. Elsie smiled, “We bought some produce and food donation for the kids,” she said, as she pulled their small black notebook out of the bag and Spencer put the bag on the desk. “We’re donating it honey,” Elsie smiled at Spencer. “Sir, can I bother you. I’m pregnant and I really need to use a washroom. Is there one in the back?” The older gentleman looked in the large bag of fresh fruits and vegetables and beamed as he thanked them for thinking of the center. “Of course,” he said as he directed them to the washroom down a back hallway. Spencer followed Elsie along “What are you doing?” he whispered urgently. “Don’t look back now Spence but the guy who gave me the bag is coming up the street.” They quickened their pace through the old stone hallway where they found a window with a rickety staircase leading down into a back alley. Spencer and Elsie climbed out the window and descended the staircase. They walked quickly back to the marina. As they got to the open boardwalk, they slowed and walked hand in hand, carrying only the small black notebook. Elsie looked behind her. No one was following that she could see. They got to the yacht and prepared to depart as Spencer saw the man in black in the distance watching him sail away.