“Officially, they refer to themselves as The Order of Asmodeus,” said the cardinal. “We call them The Order.” Robert walked closer to the cardinal. “You say they’re trying to destroy the Church from the inside?”
“Yes,” said Cardinal Maximilian. “They have an extensive network of priests and nuns throughout the Church worldwide. That’s their mandate. They corrode from within, like a cancer.”
“If you know this, then why not kick them out?” asked Thorne.
Cardinal Maximilian walked over to Thorne. “They’re very good at staying hidden. It’s hard to know who’s who, so rooting them out hasn’t been easy.”
The cardinal took a deep breath, rubbed his eyes, and lost his balance. Immediately, Bishop Lantern and Monsignor Falco assembled crates so he could sit down.
“Forgive me, it’s been quite a long week,” gasped the cardinal.
Thorne leaned her shotgun up against some boxes, produced an unopened bottle of water from her coat pocket and handed it to the cardinal.
“Thank you, my child,” said Cardinal Maximilian.
Thorne nodded, retrieved the shotgun and resumed her position.
“The Order’s biggest campaign over the years has recently resulted in its most penetrating damage here in the States,” Cardinal Maximilian continued.
“You mean the child molestation?” asked Robert.
“Yes.”
“Forgive me, Cardinal, but are you trying to get me to believe The Order is responsible for all the pedophiles in the Church?”
“No,” said the cardinal. “I’m saying one of their tactics is to look for weaknesses and play on them. They instigate, prod and persuade, trying to develop anything to damage our reputation and credibility.”
“That sounds like an excuse,” said Thorne. “I don’t buy it.”
“Look, we’re primarily to blame,” snapped the cardinal, then catching himself. “I’m only saying that once The Order found an opening, they worked overtime to make sure the cancer spread.”
“Is that why the Church is working so hard to hide evidence and a guilty priest?” fired Robert. “It looks like a classic case of cover-up, and nobody’s taking the blame.”
Cardinal Maximilian bristled. “No doubt you understand a great many things, Mr. Veil, but ours is a very old system of laws and practices. We must handle things in a manner that will leave the Church whole, or our enemies, including The Order, have won.” Robert looked at the ground and shook his head. “Why the weapons?
Despite the threat, it seems out of place.”
“That’s understandable,” said Father Kong. “But, in fact, it’s very necessary. When this battle first started, it was more a search and find operation. Then, when Il Martello di Dio came close to rooting out The Order in the early 1900’s, priests turned up dead. Shot, stabbed and hung.
After that, in 1925, Pope Pius XI made two changes. First, he allowed nuns to join, and two, he sanctioned the use of weapons outside of Rome, and even then only in extreme cases, where loss of life would be detrimental to our cause.”
“Why the use of women so late?” asked Thorne.
“The Holy Fathers sought to protect us from harm,” said Sister Isabella. “But when it became apparent that the sisters could provide greater stealth and information, we gratefully answered the Lord’s call.”
“How large is your group?” asked Robert.
“Our numbers are classified,” answered Cardinal Maximilian. “But our network is large and far reaching. The others are presently on assignments around the world, including Rome. One of us always stays at the Vatican on the staff of the Holy See, in case of dire emergencies.” The more Robert heard the more unbelievable it sounded. His time in the CIA taught him just how powerful and penetrating the Catholic Churches reach was in the world, but this stretch shocked him to his core.
“Okay, let’s say I believe you,” said Robert. “Now, what does this have to do with Samuel?”
Cardinal Maximilian stood. “Here, take a seat, my son.” Robert, anxious, shifted from side to side. “Thank you, but I’d like to stand.”
The cardinal stared for a moment then sat back down. “How much do you know about Samuel’s life before he came to the Napiers?” Robert hadn’t heard from Evie yet on her investigation into Samuel’s brief existence before the adoption. “Not much,” he answered. “I never really thought to ask Donovan about it.” The cardinal cleared his throat. “Well, we’ve been aware of Samuel’s existence since before he was born.”
“And what does that mean?” shot Thorne.
“It means Samuel’s birth was well thought out,” the cardinal answered. “Nothing was left to chance, every detail was accounted for.”
“So, he was the product of family planning?” quipped Robert. “Why would that make him a target for kidnappers?”
“We believe The Order took Samuel,” said Cardinal Maximilian.
“To get what?” asked Robert, impatiently. “Certainly, if they are who you say they are, money is the least of their problems.”
“It’s not what they can get, but who they believe Samuel is that’s the cause for the boy’s misfortune.”
Robert closed his eyes. “Who do they believe he is?” The cardinal walked over to Robert, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, calm and compassionate. “They believe Samuel Napier is the Anti-Christ.”
Robert’s eyes popped open and he rocked back. “The what?”
“They believe Samuel is the one spoken of in the Book of Revelation. The one who has come to destroy mankind,” stated the cardinal, stern and serious.
Robert shook his head in disbelief, not fully able to accept the cardinal’s words. A tingle shot down his spine, his face beaded with sweat, his chest heaving. “You believe that?” he finally asked.
The cardinal looked over at his people, then back at Robert. “We’re not sure.”
“This is crazy,” chimed Thorne. “What would give anyone the idea that the ten year old boy we’ve know since he was a baby is the Devil?”
“The Anti-Christ,” the cardinal corrected, “not the Devil.”
“Whatever,” shot Thorne. “The point is if they believe that nonsense, then they have a reason.”
Cardinal Maximilian walked away from the group until he reached a distance that gave him a full view of everyone. “Samuel was commissioned by The Order fifteen years ago. Korean scientists, under the close supervision of German doctors, worked for five years bringing him about.”
Robert clenched his fists. “Bring him about?”
“Yes,” said the cardinal. “Samuel Napier is the world’s first cloned human being. The CIA stole him as an infant and hid him with Donavon Napier. Now, it seems The Order has taken its property back.” Robert rushed toward the cardinal, but the others, including Thorne, held him back.
“It’s a lie!” shouted Robert. “I don’t believe it!”
“Let him go,” ordered the cardinal, waving the others away. The cardinal’s people immediately let go, but stayed close by. Thorne stepped to the side. “We’re not saying we believe Samuel is the Anti-Christ,” said Cardinal Maximilian, with conviction. “But when man tries to do what only God can, in this case, create life, then all manner of evil is possible.”
Robert fell to one knee, breathing hard. Father Kong took a step toward him, but Cardinal Maximilian motioned for him to stop. He played the cardinal’s words over in his head, but couldn’t make sense of it. Samuel, a clone, that’s what Donovan is keeping from me? He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. Thorne stared down at him.
“Get up, partner. We’ve got a boy to find,” she said.
Robert stood, his face drenched in sweat, his body aching with anger.
“Cardinal, do you have any idea where they’re holding Samuel?” Cardinal Maximilian rubbed his chin. “We have our suspicions, but nothing we’ve been able to confirm.”
“Then let’s have your best guess,” said Thorne, through gritted teeth.
“Before I answer, there are three other things,” said Cardinal Maximilian.
Robert braced himself. What more can the day bring?
“First, I’m asking you and your partner to keep our existence a secret. That you not reveal our identities under any circumstances,” said the cardinal.
