As they stopped to take a look at an ancient mural on one of the chapel’s walls, she inquired with her father about it. Clara asked, “Hey dad—that Ebola stuff has cleared up by now hasn’t it?”
Mason nodded, “Yeah—it should be.”
Clara then pointed toward one of the curators who was busy shepherding some photo snapping tourists away from a delicate set of statues. When her father looked over to where she was pointing, she remarked, “Then what’s with all the people in surgical masks?”
Mason shrugged, “Probably just trying to be careful—but there really isn’t anything to worry about.”
He wanted to reassure his daughter, but at the same time Mason couldn’t help but feel a small twinge of guilt. Because deep down, he knew that it wasn’t completely safe at all. Even if the last Ebola outbreak had been cleared out, as long as these extremists were at large, there was no telling when or where they might strike next.
Contrary to what Clara believed, this was in fact the reason why they were in Italy. Although she was led to assume that the trip was a last-minute hurrah before she began her Fall semester back at Stanford University, the real reason Mason and Raina embarked upon this “surprise” trip was because vital intel needed to be gathered about the terror cell that had struck Italy.
That’s not to say that Mason didn’t intend to see some sights and make the best of the trip. This was why he brought Clara along with him in the first place. He had learned a long time ago to try to take as many liberties as he could from his globetrotting missions abroad. It could be that they turn up nothing, and in that case, at least they had a decent vacation together all the same.
After Mason’ allayed Clara’s fears about any lingering Ebola, Clara seemed to dispel the notion outright. And spotting Raina coming around the corner back from her bathroom break, she shifted gears completely. Seeing her she shouted, “Raina! For a second I thought you got lost!”
Raina stepping towards them laughed, “Uh—no. The Sistine bathroom stalls aren’t like the catacombs, I’m not going to get lost in them.”
Mason always ready to give Raina a good ribbing, seconded his daughter as he teased, “Well it took you long enough. I thought you might have fell in!”
Raina suppressed a smile as she playfully punched Mason in the arm and told him, “Funny big guy. Real funny.”
Clara, who had downed several cans of diet coke and bottles of water during the course of the day, apparently had a vested interest in the bathroom, prompting her to question Raina, “How is the bathroom anyway?”
Mason not quite understanding the need to size up a public restroom, gave his daughter a quizzically look as he asked, “We came here to see Rome and the thing that you are most interested in is the bathroom?”
Raina glancing at Mason rolled her eyes, then looked sympathetically to Clara as she remarked, “That’s just like a man isn’t?”
Clara laughed and nodded knowingly, “Yeah.”
Mason not quite getting it, shook his head, “What? You guys have some inside running joke going that I just don’t know about?”
Raina shrugged and informed him, “Well I really don’t expect you to understand Mason—all you have to do is stand.”
Mason raised an eyebrow, “Stand?”
Raina laughed, “That’s right. When you use the john all you have to do is stand, but us ladies just have to be a bit more careful where we sit!”
Mason finally reading between the lines, chuckled, “Oh okay sure. I guess you got me there.”
It was Raina’s turn to read even further between the lines however when she looked over to see a Cardinal quickly ushered to the side by a member of the Sistine Chapel’s security detail. Mason followed her line of sight and immediately realized what she was thinking.
As if the two were gifted with telepathy Mason then spoke what Raina was already about to suggest. And in the most sedate, and fatherly voice possible, he told Clara, “Hey—if you have to go to the bathroom Clara, just go ahead and go. And have Raina go with you.”
Clara folding her arms across her chest, protested, “Dad—I’m not 2 years old! I don’t need an escort to the bathroom!”
Mason was barely even paying attention to his daughter’s disdain. And was literally looking right past her, desperate to keep an eye on the Sistine guard and the Cardinal. Raina fortunately intervened, and tapping Clara on the arm told her, “No—seriously, I don’t mind. Come on let’s go.”
Clara always feeling obliged to listen to Raina acquiesced, “Alright—let’s go.”
Raina then kept Clara busy with inconsequential small talk as the two disappeared into the Sistine Chapel’s lady’s room. Mason taking his cue, then quickly marched over to the Cardinal, just as he heard the guard shout at the man, “Father Roberto—it’s just not safe! We have to figure out what to do about them!”
The Cardinal seeing Mason approach then loudly cleared his throat as if to alert the guard to his presence. The guard turned around and demanded, “Is there something I can help you with sir?”
Mason grinned at the man, “I couldn’t help but overhear your concerns about safety.” The guard then frowned at Mason, as he muttered, “What?”
Mason flashed his badge identifying him as a contractor for military intelligence and informed them, “It’s alright guys. You don’t have to be skittish. I’ve been assigned to this case.”
Cardinal Roberto then stepped forward and scrutinized Mason’s ID, remarking, “You work for the Pentagon?”
Mason nodded, “Yes sir. I work for a group of contractors called Onyx.”
To which the priest snorted halfway derisively, “Contractors?”
Mason didn’t like the welcome
