“I’m here, fill me in.”
“I just completed the last of the arrangements,” said Mattithyahu, “everything’s been arranged. I will pick you up at eight o’clock and bring you to a building owned by a friend of the family’s. I’ve invited a small group of friends for drinks and dessert. Anyone watching will assume you are attending my little get-together for the evening.”
“Then we will see you at eight.” Anthony put the phone in his pocket and headed towards the loggia for what he was sure would be an adventure for his taste buds.
Nelli was already downstairs and talking with Franco. She saw Anthony pass by the kitchen window and ran over and yelled out to him.
“Anthony come inside. I’m in the kitchen helping Franco.”
As he entered the room Nelli was wearing an apron and stirring a pot of sauce on the stove.
“Let’s eat in here Anthony, it reminds me of when we were young, and we would go to Grandmother Andruccioli’s house for Sunday dinner, remember? She’d be in the kitchen watching over all the pots on the stove and the freshly made pasta would be drying on the wooden rack on the counter. Then Grandfather would go downstairs and get a jug of his homemade wine.”
Anthony had to smile; it did bring back good memories.
“Nelli, do you remember when we were little, we were allowed two fingers of wine in a juice glass on special occasions?” Nelli started to laugh and so did Franco.
“Ah, the two fingers of wine, an old Italian custom. Remember my new friends, to pass on the traditions to your own children.”
Anthony thought to himself, “I hope we can, Franco. I truly hope we can.”
Franco had spent the entire day preparing and cooking the food for his two new friends from America.
“Now you must sit here at the counter and I will serve you. I’ve made some of the specialties of our region for you to sample. The great composer Rossini created more than operas. He was also famous in culinary circles. There is actually a Rossinian cuisine. He loved to cook with mushrooms, goose livers, beef fillet, oysters, and above all, truffles. I’ve made two of his specialties: one is a woodcock soup and the other his Tournedos alla Rossini, a beef fillet browned in butter and garnished with foie gras and truffles.”
While the three of them ate and talked, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville played in the background. Glancing at his watch, Anthony realized Mattithyahu would be arriving at the villa soon. He caught Nelli’s eye and tapped his watch. She instantly understood the message.
“Franco, the dinner was superb!” Nelli exclaimed. “Thank you, you have made us feel like family.”
“Please signorina Nelli, your father was one of us, am I not correct? You are family!”
“Grazie Franco, but now you must excuse me. I would like to change before Matthew picks us up.”
“Si, avanti, avanti,” Franco waved his arms at her. Nelli smiled and headed upstairs.
“You must excuse me also, Franco,” said Anthony as he pushed his chair back from the counter.
“Si, avanti signore Anthony. It’s time anyway for me to change the CD. I like to listen to someone you know well in America when I clean up after cooking.” His father was actually from the Abruzzo region that borders Marche.
Looking like the cat that had just swallowed the canary, he had baited the hook and waited for Anthony to ask the question.
“Okay Franco, give me a clue.”
With a mischievous grin he said, “His birth name was Dino Paul Crocetti.”
It took Anthony a minute but then it registered.
“The lustrous Dean Martin, am I right?”
“Si signore Anthony eccellentissimo!”
Anthony went to wait for Mattithyahu, and from the other room he could hear Franco singing along with Dino to Volare.
CHAPTER 57
Matthew had arrived exactly at eight. The offices he was taking them to weren’t far from the library. They pulled in front of what looked like a series of townhomes that had been converted to businesses. A valet was waiting to park the car.
Standing in the small foyer they could hear voices coming from a room off to the left. Matthew put his finger up to his lips and motioned for Anthony and Nelli to follow. He turned right and led them to a closed door at the end of the hallway. Pulling out a key, he unlocked the door and waited until everyone was in the room, then locked the door behind him.
He flipped on the wall switch and a soft light from a floor lamp filled the room. All the walls were covered with built-in bookcases made of mahogany. There were no windows, but the ceiling was one large skylight with an exquisite stained glass panel suspended beneath it. Since it was late evening, there was no natural light to illuminate it but slowly it came alive with color. Recessed lights had been installed all around the edges to create the same effect as daylight, illuminating the rich colors in the stained glass panel.
In one corner was a leather chair and side table. On the other side of the room were two wingback chairs on either side of a burgundy suede sofa. Covering the floor was a magnificent Persian Oriental rug that sat on top of a wood parquet floor.
It was an impressive room but Matthew had something else on his mind. Upon entering he turned immediately to his left, walking to the second set of bookcases. Running his hand along some books, he stopped at one titled Does Evil Exist in Today’s World.
Pulling out the book he stuck his hand into the bookcase feeling around for something. Then Anthony thought he heard a soft click. Matthew stepped back as one side of the bookcase moved away from the wall a few inches. Grabbing the edge he pulled on what turned out to be a door into another room.
Motioning Anthony and Nelli to follow him, they stepped into a passageway that must have been there for centuries. Switching on a lantern as he closed the door behind them, he finally spoke.
“This will lead us to an exit behind the offices where I have a van waiting to take you to the library,” said Matthew.
As they walked, Mathew explained the plan.
“My cousin has arranged to get you into the library’s archives through an underground delivery entrance. You will have four hours to find what you are looking for. You must be back here by one o’clock exactly. That’s when my guests will begin to depart.
“For anyone that might be watching, it will look like you spent the evening here with me. After you have returned, I will drive you back to the villa.”
It was approximately a ten-minute ride and the next thing Anthony and Nelli knew they were inside the library.
“Well, Nelli” said Anthony, “let’s see if we can find a connection between Saint Anthony and Gradara Castle.”
After about thirty minutes trying to figure out the cataloging system and the layout of the room, Anthony was ready to go hunting.
“We need to look for section fourteen, row seven and any books numbered 245.00 through 245.87.”
Anthony was already headed down an aisle he hoped would take him to section fourteen. Nelli followed Anthony as they passed endless shelves filled with countless volumes of books and documents.
“Anthony look to your left, down two aisles, section fourteen,” she said pointing with her finger.
Reaching the end of the aisle of shelving, they took a right and found row seven about a third of the way down. They started looking for books with the number 200 and there in the middle, on the edge of one of the shelves was a label with the words “Fortress of Gradara.” At the far end of the aisle was a table with chairs. They each grabbed an armful of books and headed to the table.
The time was going by quickly. A couple of hours had already elapsed, and they were getting concerned about the time they had left before they would have to leave.
Anthony was the first to speak. “Have you found anything, Nelli?”
“Not sure, could be nothing,” she said.
“What is it? We’re running out of time.”
“Okay. I’ll read you something I found written in Lord Sforza’s di
ary, he was laid to rest beside the Holy Ones in a private chamber few had access to. If the Bellini painting holds a clue, what seems out of place when you look at it? It is a religious painting of Jesus crowning the Blessed Virgin Mary. They are surrounded by saints on each side of the throne and in the left and right-hand pilasters of the altarpiece. After that, what do you notice?” she continued. “There is a painting within a painting and the second painting is of the fortress of Gradara and may I add—it is smack dab in the center of the piece. It almost seems to dominate it. I also remember reading one of the eight saints in the altarpiece, the one of Saint Lawrence is said to resemble Lord Sforza’s one and only son who died in battle. Do you think it could mean his son was buried next to the seven saints in the painting and he’s showing us where by having Gradara painted into the altarpiece?”
Anthony grabbed a book on the architecture of Gradara Castle.
“What is it Anthony?” said Nelli.
“In those times cemeteries were often underground. A perfect example is the Vatican. In 1939, excavators uncovered a second century cemetery beneath the basilica where they found bones now displayed in a wall next to a shrine to Saint Peter, which many believe to be the apostle’s. Saint Anthony is one of the eight saints in the painting, right? If he’s buried under Gradara Castle perhaps the book we are looking for could be buried with him.”
Nelli couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Do you really think we might have found the location of where the book is buried?”
Anthony didn’t hear what she said; he was trying to find the most recent floor plan of Gradara Castle and what were believed to be the drawings of the original plans for the castle.
“Scusi signore Anthony and signorina Nelli,” said Matthew’s cousin, “we must think about departing soon if you are to get back to Matthew’s office on time.”
Without looking at the man Anthony replied, “Si, grazie, a couple more minutes and we’ll be ready,” as he continued to rifle through prints of floor plans in front of him.
Anthony found the ones he wanted but there wasn’t time to study any of the drawings.
“Help me replace the books Nelli, then we need to get back.”
“But Anthony, we need more time to study the maps!”
“Don’t worry, just grab some books.”
They replaced the books quickly except for two that Anthony concealed under his coat. “They’ll never miss them, at least for a little while anyway,” he said winking at Nelli.
They were back at the villa by two. It was already Friday and Mary Ellen would be there in twelve hours. Exhaustion finally hit both of them; they decided to try and get some sleep but Anthony knew sleep was still hours away for him. He wanted to study the architectural drawings of the fortress. Was it possible they could have found the location of the book?
CHAPTER 58
Awakened by the pigeons flapping their wings outside the window, McKenna was shocked to see the sun. Looking at the clock, it read six forty-five. It was a little after midnight when he had gotten back to the apartment, and he remembered sitting on the edge of the bed, removing his shoes and after that it was a complete blank.
Sitting up he realized he was still wearing his clothes from yesterday. If it was really almost seven he needed to take a quick shower, get into some fresh clothes and make copies of the documents before Mary Ellen left to see her friends for the weekend.
As the water from the shower engulfed him into a world of silence, he tried to process what he had uncovered last night. The sense of fear returned and with it the ominous feeling that evil was all around him. He felt like he couldn’t breathe.
As he got dressed he prioritized what he needed to do. First, he needed to make copies of everything from last night and get them over to Mary Ellen, and then look deeper into this secret society known as P2. He had to find out if there was any evidence that it still existed.
He also wanted to look deeper into the transactions between the bank and the Legion of Christ. Gathering up his papers, he decided to call over to the Vatican Library to see what the archivist had found out. Locating his phone he saw he had a message. Figuring it must be from Mary Ellen or the archivist, he was surprised when he saw who it was from.
Cardinal Cavallari has requested an appointment with you this morning at ten-thirty. Please be prompt. Call to confirm as soon as you receive this message.
He was furious he had to change plans. He still had enough time to make copies for Mary Ellen but the rest would have to wait. What did the Secretary of State want with him? He couldn’t decline. Calling he confirmed the appointment.
In another part of the Apostolic Palace, Carlo tapped lightly on the door.
“Entrare.”
“Here are those articles you asked for Cardinal Cavallari. I didn’t know if you heard the latest news about the plane crash? I put this morning’s newspaper about it on top.”
“No, where did it happen?”
“A small Learjet went down in the Appenine Mountains outside of Arezzo early Thursday morning,” replied Carlo.
Cavallari felt like he’d just been hit with a baseball bat.
“Is there anything else you would like me to do before I return to my work, Cardinal Cavallari?” Cavallari was trying to remain calm after what Carlo had just told him.
“No, Carlo that will be all.”
As the door closed he gasped for air. Grabbing the newspaper he began reading.
AP
The Associated Press
9:32 a.m. Friday
Italy . . . Seven people were killed early Thursday morning over the Appenine Mountains in the Marche region of Italy. It is believed the flight originated outside of Arezzo. A Dassault Falcon 50 EX Learjet exploded upon crashing, said Guiseppe Gabetta, a spokesperson for the Italian air force. The plane crashed about 4:30 a.m. local time.
Besides the pilot, copilot, and flight attendant, there is said to have been two dignitaries with high-ranking positions and two heads of large European companies aboard. Their names are not being released until DNA samples can be gathered to make positive identification. Names are being withheld until next of kin have beennotified. There is an investigation underway to find out the reason for the crash.
Cavallari was very familiar with the make of the plane. It was the same one P2 uses and what he had flown on. He knew it couldn’t have been any of the disciples, or the Grand Master on board, or he would have heard from someone by now but he didn’t dismiss the possibility that the four passengers had been guests of P2. He also questioned if the crash was an accident.
Don’t concern yourself with these latest developments, stay focused, or you could jeopardize everything, he instructed himself. Timing was crucial if the plan was to succeed. Pope Benedict was wrapping up his visit to the UK and would return to the Vatican on Sunday. It was only the second visit by a head of the Catholic Church since Henry VIII declared himself head of the Church of England more than 500 years ago. The Pope’s visit was to create a more open relationship with the Anglican Church and acknowledge the Church’s failure to act responsibility concerning the child abuse scandal that rocked the Church.
Cavallari was anxious for his meeting with Cardinal McKenna. As prefect of the CDF he must have consulted with Pope Benedict before the trip and been aware of what the Pope would say on the child abuse issue.
The Catholic Church was rich in assets but unfortunately cash poor. With the number of lawsuits growing against the Church, it felt like a tsunami was gaining strength and would soon hit land, taking everything in its path.
The time was right for a new representative of God on earth. He would restore strength, peace, and security to the church. He would create new relationships with other religions and work to unite with world governments and banks to correct the wrongs of the past. Cavallari needed to find out what McKenna knew that could affect the Grand Master’s plan.
The phone on the desk rang, interrupting his thoughts. Chec
king the time he figured it must be Carlo telling him his appointment had arrived.
“Cardinal Cavallari, Cardinal McKenna is here to see you.”
“Thank you, give me a few minutes.”
“Of course.”
Placing the receiver back into its base, Carlo looked over at Cardinal McKenna, “Cardinal Cavallari will be with you shortly.”
Donovan was puzzled why Cavallari had requested this meeting. He was not happy about having to rearrange his morning for the appointment. He was anxious to get down to the archives to see what the researcher had found out.
Glancing at his watch, it had been ten minutes since the secretary had informed Cavallari he was here. How long is he going to keep me waiting? Closing his eyes, he silently said, “Dear Lord, bless this lowly servant with patience, which he seems very short of at the moment.”
As he sat there he sensed a growing presence of something evil approaching. Looking around there was only the assistant and himself in the room, but he couldn’t shake the feeling. McKenna heard the sound of a door opening, and when he looked up, he stared into the eyes of a monster.
“Cardinal McKenna, thank you so much for meeting with me on such short notice. Come in.”
McKenna quickly gained his composure and followed Cavallari into his office.
“Please sit down,” said the Secretary of State, motioning to a chair.
As McKenna took his seat he said, “I overheard you were not feeling well, someone mentioned a vertigo attack? I hope it has subsided.”
“Yes it is much better, thank you.”
McKenna was trying to give the appearance of being relaxed. How could he be sensing the presence of evil from a man of the cloth?
“I noticed you were not at the Morning Prayer,” asked Cavallari.
McKenna was surprised that the cardinal had noticed his absence.
“Something came up that I had to attend to,” responded McKenna.
Cavallari could see that Donovan would not freely divulge information on his own.
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