The Diva Crusade (John McRae Book 1)

by Phoenix Ford

  "Agreed," replied Eleanora. "I don't think there's much possibility of using the bomb without some innocent casualties, but perhaps we could explode the bomb over Al-Raqqah itself where most of the inhabitants are probably Islamic State sympathizers."

  "Yes," said Polombo, "but even there I imagine there are people who are just playing along with the Islamic State fanatics because they have no other choice if they want to stay alive. We will probably have to make a tough decision. Even though some innocents would die so many more would be killed if the Islamic State were to get their hands on the nuclear waste."

  The waiter returned to remove their empty plates and serve the main course. Eleanora was having a grilled trout with risotto and asparagus. The Monsignor had salmon with grilled mixed vegetables. The waiter refilled their wine glasses from the pitcher of house wine they had ordered and left their table.

  Inside the main dining room Sylvia had finished her lunch before Eleanora and the priest. She paid the check and hurried out of the restaurant before she might be observed. The photo of the priest had made this surveillance worthwhile. Once he was identified some more light might be shed upon Eleanora's activities.

  CHAPTER 26

  Sylvia had already touched-up John's now black hair and put some fresh adhesive on his fake but realistic moustache. He sat in a chair with his feet propped up on an ottoman in their hotel room while Sylvia re-dyed her hair red in the bathroom. It was Halloween, October 31st, and several hours later she and John would be arriving at Villa Ravasini for the Masked Halloween Ball. They had hired a vintage Rolls Royce Silver Cloud with an MI6 agent posing as the driver for the occasion. Sylvia was glad that Rome had turned considerably cooler because their costumes were made of thick velvet and brocade.

  Earlier in the week John had held the due diligence kickoff meeting at Industria Strozzi. Sylvia had played the part of his secretary at the meeting but only made periodic appearances during the last couple of days in order to continue her surveillance of the Contessa. She really hadn't learned anything new about Eleanora, but she hoped after tonight's ball she would learn much more. She had a small bug to plant in Eleanora's telephone. It was so important to Sylvia that this operation be a success. Two months ago she had been severely criticized after the botched kidnapping of a Nigerian warlord in Lagos, Nigeria resulted in the deaths of three innocent people. In light of the grossly inaccurate intelligence received from other MI6 personnel Sylvia didn't feel she should be held accountable for the consequences. Nevertheless Sylvia had no choice but to accept the criticism from her superiors and hope for a better outcome in this current operation.

  At least with the help of personnel at MI6 headquarters in London and her Italian counterparts Sylvia had managed to identify the priest whom the Contessa had joined for lunch at the trattoria. He was Monsignor Roberto Polombo, a distinguished member of the Curia who held a PhD in cultural anthropology from the University of Bologna and was in charge of the Holy See's extensive collection of Roman busts and other statuary from antiquity. His prominence within the Vatican caused Sylvia considerable concern. Thus far Sylvia had no proof that the Contessa was behind the suicide bombers and poisonings in Syria, much less any reason to think the Monsignor had any connection to those events. But what if the Monisgnor, a member of the Curia, was also linked to those events how high up in the Vatican does the chain of command reach.....she was soon lost in her thoughts.

  Several hours later Sylvia and John, now dressed in their heavy velvet and brocade late 15th century style costumes as the Catholic Monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand, sat in the back seat of their hired Rolls as it pulled up to the street entrance to Villa Ravasini. A man dressed in 18th century style moss green livery wearing a white powdered wig and knee breeches with white stockings and frock coat opened John's door. John stepped out and offered his hand to Sylvia whose gown was rather cumbersome. As she stepped out of the car her tiara and other synthetic jewels sparkled in the light of the villa completely ablaze in the spotlights around its perimeter. Both she and their driver, Mark, who was another MI6 agent were armed. John and Sylvia proceeded along the walkway to the villa. They felt reasonably well-disguised with their costumes and Venetian-style masks.

  Tonight the front doors of the villa were fully open. Doormen in the same matching 18th century-style livery stood by each side, one of them collecting tickets. Big Band music blasted through the house as Sylvia and John joined a line of people slowly moving ahead through the dimly lit polychrome entrance hall all the way to the main doorway into the loggia that spanned the entire back end of the large mansion. Except for the extra padding she wore to disguise her appearance John thought Sylvia looked lovely in her forest green and gold costume gown. His black clothes fit well enough except that the special late 15th century style shoes and the rigid white collar were a bit uncomfortable. The couple ahead of them were obviously posing as Donald and Melania Trump, the man wearing a reddish blond wig styled into a lavishly exaggerated comb-over. Another man in livery was asking each couple approaching the entrance whom they were costumed to portray. Sylvia spoke Italian fluently as well as two other languages and understood every word. When the couple ahead stepped into the enormous loggia they were led up onto a temporary platform to stand while their entrance was announced. Five ornate chandeliers lit the room, the frescoed walls and costumed people all wearing masks creating a stunning scene. It was a lively crowd with the band starting "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" in the other loggia on the right side of the villa.

  The liveried man by the door said something to Sylvia and John in Italian that John did not understand. Before he had a chance to say anything Sylvia leaned over and spoke to the man in rapid Italian. A moment later they were ushered into the loggia and onto the platform where they looked out upon the crowd as they were announced: "Loro Maesta, Re Cattolici Isabella di Castiglia e Ferdinando d'Aragona!" Their majesties, the Catholic Monarchs Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon!

  As John stepped down from the platform and held his hand out to Sylvia he smiled "I'm glad the formalities are out of the way."

  "Yes," she replied. "Why don't I wait here while you go grab a flute of champagne or spumante or whatever that is for me and something for you?" She glanced towards one of the tables set up with bottles in ice and dozens of champagne flutes filled with a sparkling white wine. She noticed there were also bottles of Pellegrino mineral water.

  "Excellent suggestion," said John. "I'll be right back." He made his way past Romeo and Juliet, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and a throng of others to the drinks table. Reaching for one flute of bubbly he asked a white-coated waiter "Champagne?". The man replied "Spumante!" John accepted the drink, grabbed a glass of mineral water and walked back through the crowd to Sylvia.

  "Thank God, you're back!" she said. "A horrid little man dressed as Fidel Castro kept insisting that I should dance with him. Finally he went away after I convinced him that I was waiting for my jealous husband to return with our drinks."

  John laughed and handed Sylvia her flute of spumante. He raised his glass in a toast: "Happy Halloween!"

  "Happy Halloween!" Sylvia replied. She sipped her drink. "Not bad," she smiled. "Why don't we wander around to see if we can spot the person of interest," Sylvia said motioning for John to follow.

  CHAPTER 27

  Sylvia and John made their way through the crowd towards the far right end of the loggia. They rounded the corner into the other loggia that ran along the right side of the house. The band was set up on a platform in the middle of the expansive room against the outside wall. It was quite a scene with the mostly older crowd gyrating to the beat of music from an earlier era.

  "Would you care to dance, your Majesty?," John asked Sylvia, holding out his left hand to take her right.

  "Excellent suggestion, my dear," she replied. "The room is so crowded that dancing will be an inconspicuous way to move around and surveil the room."

  "Don't turn around now, but I think both the Contessa
and the Monsignor are standing in the corner about thirty feet behind you." Eleanora wore a magnificent period gown of dark burgundy with a beautiful antique jeweled crucifix hanging from a gold chain round her neck and diamond earrings. The Monsignor was wearing clerical vestments from a previous century. Both Eleanora and the Monsignor wore masks, his plain black and hers a shiny burgundy studded with rhinestones. Eleanora's costume made her look like Tosca. She had taken the decaying gown of one of her ancestors stored in the attic to a tailor and had it copied to her measurements for this ball. The Monsignor's attire really was authentic. He had found it in a collection at the Vatican and arranged to borrow it.

  John led Sylvia towards the middle of the room where they started to dance. He leaned over to whisper "I'll lead us around the loggia while we are dancing so that you can discreetly check them out."

  After about a minute of dancing Sylvia whispered in John's ear "You are right. That's Eleanora and the Monsignor. Let's continue dancing around the room close to where we entered. I will then leave you for a short time. I studied the floor plan of the villa provided by the Italians. I think I can find my way upstairs to the private apartment where the Contessa actually lives. If I can find her office or even a bedroom phone I can plant the device."

  John and Sylvia danced slowly around the room, smiling at Anthony and Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth I and her escort and others. They did their best to look just like anyone else having fun at the costume party. When they rounded the corner into the other loggia Sylvia said "John, I suggest you get another spumante and mineral water and wait for me outside that doorway over there," she pointed to an open doorway to what looked like a hall. "There's a staircase in there that goes upstairs to the apartment. I shouldn't be gone very long."

  "Okay, but please be careful," he replied. "We don't know if anyone is in the apartment or when the contessa might decide to go up there."

  As they approached the doorway Sylvia said "It should be quick provided I can open the door upstairs which is probably locked. Why don't we walk near the hall leading to the restrooms, and as we walk past it I will sneak inside. The floor plan indicated the staircase is at the end of that hall. As soon as I am done I'll meet you near the front door of the villa in case we have to make a fast getaway."

  "Okay," replied John.

  "First I will call Colin, our driver, to let him know I am now going upstairs. He will be the backup just in case anything goes wrong. You have his number too if there is an emergency. I don't expect to have any problems, but if you must leave without me for any reason call him for assistance."

  "Will do, but I am nervous for you."

  "Don't be," replied Sylvia, patting John on the shoulder. "I'm well trained for this type of thing and have done many more dangerous activities."

  "I'll go get the drinks and then wait here for you. I'm sure you are excellent at this sort of thing, but it's a first time experience for me."

  Sylvia looked around the room to determine whether anyone was watching her. People had been going in and out of the hallway to the restrooms, but there was no one doing so now.

  CHAPTER 28

  "You really do look ravishing, cara," whispered the Monsignor into Eleanora's ear.

  "Monsignor!" she exclaimed. "You're a priest!"

  "Yes, my child," the Monsignor replied with a mischievous smile. "But I am also a man. I just want you to know what a beautiful sight you are. I so appreciate all the things you do for the Church."

  "Well, you know my family has been a strong supporter of the Church for centuries. The little things I do pale in comparison with the activities of some of my ancestors," Eleanora said modestly.

  "In view of all you are doing to help Syrian Christians I'm not so sure about that," he replied. "Don't underestimate your contributions to Christianity."

  "You are too kind," Eleanora demurely smiled. "Shall we make our way into the other loggia and have some refreshments?"

  "That sounds wonderful," the Monsignor replied. "You always have such delicious food at this ball."

  "Thanks to the caterers," Eleanora commented. "Unlike previous generations of my family I no longer have sufficient staff to prepare everything for an event this size." The Monsignor took her arm as they slowly made their way down one side of the loggia towards the entrance to the back loggia. It was quite a sight with couples dancing around the room in many different costumes under the dimmed lights of the chandeliers. The beautiful frescos adorning the walls of the centuries old room created an ambience of a time long past.

  As Eleanora and the Monsignor entered the crowded back loggia they walked towards one of the tables laden with all sorts of Italian hors d'oeuvres. Suddenly Eleanora stopped and leaned close to the Monsignor. She whispered in his ear "It's difficult to see through the crowd, but I think I saw someone entering the hallway to the stairs that lead upstairs to my apartment! It's probably just someone looking for the restrooms, but I'd better go check."

  "Did you lock the door to your apartment?," asked the Monsignor.

  "Yes, of course, but a professional thief could easily unlock it with the right equipment," said Eleanora. "I'd better call my cousin, Angelo, before I go upstairs. He and a small team of men are providing the security for this party." She pulled a cell phone from the folds of her gown to ring her cousin.

  As Eleanora ended the call the Monsignor said "What did he say? I'm afraid for you to go up there alone if there really is an intruder."

  "Don't worry, Monsignor. Angelo will follow me up the stairs, and he is armed. All of the men in green livery are really his men. All of them are armed. With so much priceless art in this old house I must have adequate security to satisfy the insurance requirements. Why don't you enjoy the food and get another spumante. I should be back shortly. I will find you."

  CHAPTER 29

  Sylvia walked down the hallway towards the back past the two restrooms, no doubt an addition to the villa's original floor plan to accommodate so many visitors after the house was opened to the public. As expected, the hall led to a staircase. Glancing over her shoulder to confirm she was unobserved, she made her way up the stairs as quickly as possible in the cumbersome gown. Halfway up there was an alcove with a window on the landing. She continued past it and climbed the last flight of stairs.

  At the top was a small space dimly lit by a lamp on a little table beside a closed door. Cautiously she tried to open the centuries-old door, but as expected it was locked. She was relieved to find a modern lock on the door which she was pretty sure she could pick with a special device hidden in her clothes together with her mobile phone and small pistol.

  Sylvia pulled out the device and began to work on the lock. She had it open in less than two minutes. She rushed into the next room, closing the door behind her. She entered a sizable sitting area with a television and various pieces of furniture. The overhead lights were off, but two lamps provided plenty of light. Off to one side was a small library that appeared to serve as an office of sorts with a desk, sofa and chairs and a magnificent oriental rug. Old master paintings decorated both the sitting area and the library. There was another doorway that opened onto a long hallway which presumably led to the seven bedrooms. Sylvia quickly went to the telephone in the library. She was relieved to find an old-fashioned telephone with a landline. This type of phone would make it much easier to plant the bug.

  Eleanora and the Monsignor made their way through the crowd and entered the other loggia where the hors d'oeuvres and drinks were served. Eleanora said "I will just dash upstairs for a few minutes to check on everything."

  "Certainly, my dear, but please be careful. While you are upstairs I will get the spumantes," replied the Monsignor.

  "Thank you, Monsignor," Eleanora smiled. "Angelo will be joining me upstairs shortly, so there's no need to worry. He's probably outside or somewhere in the crowd." She left the Monsignor and walked towards the hallway.

  It only took Sylvia a minute or so longer than she anticipated to install
the bug. It was a new type of device, very small and difficult to be noticed. Rather than needing to be installed inside the receiver it was a type of device which clamped onto the cord running from the wall to the phone. She attached it near the wall to the underside of the cord, making it even more difficult to be detected.

  As soon as the device was attached Sylvia dashed to the door to exit Eleanora's apartment, closing the door softly behind her and making sure it was locked. She descended the stairs, but at the landing she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Quickly Sylvia hid herself behind the long velvet drapes which were closed over the window. She stood rigidly still, checking to be certain her shoes were behind the drapes too. She listened to the footsteps of somebody crossing the landing and starting up the last flight of stairs. She then heard the door to the apartment being opened and closed, but just as she was about to come out from behind the drapes she heard somebody else coming up the stairs from below. As soon as she heard the person pass and the sound of the apartment door opening and closing again Sylvia hurried down the last flight of stairs and dashed into the ladies room. She washed her hands as if she had just used the toilet. Another lady, a blonde dressed as a Viking, entered to check her make-up.

  "Buona sera, signora," the Viking spoke to Sylvia.

  "Buona sera, signora." Good evening, madam. Sylvia smiled in return as she dropped her hand towel into a basket and left the ladies' room.

  Eleanora spoke in Italian to Angelo in the bedroom of her upstairs apartment. "Everything seems alright in here, but just outside the door and when I entered my living room I thought I caught a slight whiff of a fragrance which is not my own."

  "Okay, let me just check the windows and look in all potential hiding places," replied Angelo in Italian. "I'll be there in a minute."