The shop security had already rounded up on them, alerted by the customers. Some of them were explaining what had happened and the other security guard was stepping to Crawford telling him to get away from the unconscious man whose face was drenched in olive oil and his forehead now branded with a cross.

Luca gave a troubled frown as he stood up, reaching over to lay his bony hand gently on Crawford's shoulder. Just a brief touch then he was turning away. "I'll explain all this to them," he said in his accented English and smiled to one of the security guards, approaching him carefully.

A half an hour long episode full of animated explanations, phone calls and sometimes exasperated Italian spilling from Luca's mouth; they were forbidden to leave, police came, an ambulance, taking away the "victim" and several threats to put handcuffs on them and walk them out of the shop. In the end the police received a brief phone call that resulted with them releasing both Luca and Crawford, post-haste. Luca had been right, brother Will would know which string to nudge. Most likely the string had been his sister, the queen.

Exhausted from all the commotion, still hungry and his shopping undone, Luca finally picked up his basket and approached Crawford with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about all this. Thank you for all you did. I'm father Luca Gabrielli." He offered a hand in greeting. "Could I possibly repay your help somehow? Perhaps a dinner?"