two ran away, I looked over and the cardinal was flat on his back, the knife protruding from his chest. I called out for the Swiss Guard, but by the time they reached us, the two men had sped away in a waiting car.”
“Sounds like a hit,” said Thorne. “But kind of sloppy. They could’ve just shot him.”
“Yes, but that would’ve attracted too much attention outdoors,” said Sister Isabella. “The Swiss Guard would’ve shut the place down.” Bishop Ruini lowered his head and cried. Tears filled the eyes of Father Kong and Sister Isabella.
“It happened so fast,” stuttered the bishop. “I didn’t see it coming.”
“It’s not your fault,” said Thorne. “None of us would’ve seen it coming inside the Vatican. But we don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves, we have to plan our next move.” Sister Isabella wiped her face. “Thorne’s right. Everything that’s happened tonight signals a shift. The Order’s making their final move.” Father Kong’s phone rang. The conversation was short. “We found the van. It’s empty, but our people are giving it a thorough examination for fingerprints and clues,” he told them.
Bishop Ruini walked over to Robert and stared him in the eye. “The cardinal asked me to tell you that you’re the heart of this effort now. He wants you to lead us the rest of the way. To find the boys, and stop The Order.”
Robert opened his mouth but the words wouldn’t come. The expressions on Father Kong and Sister Isabella’s faces said, we’ll follow you into hell.
“I’m not so sure that’s a good idea,” answered Robert. “You’re trying to save the world, I just want my godson back.”
“The two may be the same thing,” said Father Kong.
“I’m not one of you. I’m not a believer,” said Robert.
“The cardinal senses something in you, and I agree,” said Sister Isabella. “This is a major turn for the world, and whether you like it or not, you’re God’s man for this moment in time.” Robert felt a strong presence ease up beside him. It was Thorne. “We don’t have to believe what they do, Robert, but let’s do it, get our boy and get out of here,” she said.
Robert scanned their faces. “Okay, let’s do it. Bishop, stay here and keep us updated on the cardinal’s condition.” The bishop nodded and left the room. “Father Kong, I need you to supervise the examination of the van, and fill us in as soon as you find something. Ask around the area where the van was dumped, and see if you can dig up a witness. If they moved the kids, maybe somebody saw them.” Robert walked over to Sister Isabella, who still looked a little shaken, struggling to hold back tears. “Come on now, Sister, we need you on top of your game,” he said, smiling.
Sister Isabella smiled back. “I’m ready,” she said.
“Good, I need you to run the pictures of the two men we killed down at the castle. If you get a hit, let us know who they work for right away.” Sister Isabella nodded.
Robert’s cell phone rang. It was Alison Napier, near hysterical. “I saw the news report about the castle at Astura Torre. They said it was destroyed by a bomb blast. Is Samuel okay?”
“Samuel’s safe,” he told her. “They moved him before blowing up the place.” Robert reassured Alison then hung up. “Okay, let’s go to it.” The four of them left the room and headed for the elevators. “Thorne and I are going to check on Alison Napier,” said Robert. “We’ll meet you back at the villa in ninety minutes.”
Bishop Ruini rushed over as they boarded the elevator. “Cardinal Maximilian went into cardiac arrest,” he gasped, out of breath. “The surgery was a success, but he’s in a coma.” The elevator doors closed. Robert kicked the wall hard. When they reached the bottom floor, he and Thorne went back to the cars to retrieve their weapons. Sister Isabella and Father Kong gave them both hugs.
“God be with both of you,” said Father Kong. “We’ll be praying.” Thorne racked a shell in the Mosberg and smiled. “Amen.”
50
F ather Tolbert, hands in his pockets, blended in with the crowd in front of the hospital, listening carefully for any bit of useful information.
He gathered as much gossip as he dared, realizing he could be recognized at anytime, and eased away from the bustling press, curious onlookers, and fellow clergy. He crossed the street to where he could watch from a safe inconspicuous distance, backed into a small space between two buildings, and waited.
Almost a week had passed since he last saw Robert Veil and his partner at The Grand Hotel de Minerve, where he’d learned that Alison Napier was staying. The priest wondered how she fit into Cardinal Polletto’s hands, and if she knew that her son, Samuel, was cloned.
Father Tolbert liked Alison. She had always been nice to him, respectful.
He wondered what she’d think when she learned he was Samuel’s biological father, and a monster.
Father Tolbert had made sure he stayed out of sight, holing up in small, non-descript flophouse hotels in old Rome, where people saw everything, but minded their own business. The priest stayed off the streets during the day, and only went out for food and hair coloring at night. He frequented offbeat coffee shops and bars, where patrons shared the discreet talk of the town, but he heard nothing that would help his cause.
He was especially careful to suppress the sickness still burning in his soul, and avoided even eye contact with children who passed his way.
The hunger called to him daily, but his new purpose, the destruction of The Order of Asmodeus, enabled him to keep control for the moment.
This morning, while sipping an espresso at a coffee shop not far from his hotel, Father Tolbert overheard the owner speak of the attack on Cardinal Maximilian, a man he feared, but who had always been kind to him. He couldn’t account for his unease when it came to the cardinal, but his soul searching eyes seemed to pierce right through him, and Father Tolbert felt like the man could see his very soul.
He ran right over to the hospital, hoping that the incident would cause Samuel’s godfather to show. He had no reason to suspect a connection, but it was all he had to go on at the time. Father Tolbert was well aware of Cardinal Polletto’s hatred for Cardinal Maximilian, which made him wonder if the attack was more than a simple robbery attempt, as many were calling it, or something more. An assassination.
More press, priests, nuns, and catholic faithful, gathered in front of the hospital. Father Tolbert carefully examined each new face, hoping, praying for a break. Then, two dusty, dark blue sedans stopped in front of the hospital. After a few minutes, the cars turned around and parked across the street, not far from where Father Tolbert was hiding. He backed up into the darkness, then slowly eased forward.
Sitting in the passenger seat of the first car was a man who looked like Robert Veil, but he wasn’t sure. He slid back, then leaned forward again. In the backseat was a black woman, American, with an unforgettable face. It’s them! Father Tolbert considered rushing over and knocking on the window, but didn’t because there were others in the car.
After about two minutes, both cars pulled away and headed for the rear of the hospital. He quickly walked across the street and went to the back of the building on the opposite side, head low, eyes straight. When he reached the rear parking lot, he didn’t look around, but kept moving, careful not to walk too fast. He stopped well out of the sight of the two sedans, now parked at the back entrance. He stooped low behind a tan Volvo and watched Robert Veil, his partner, an Asian priest he didn’t recognize, and a woman he now recognized as Sister Isabella, who he knew well, rush inside the hospital.
Father Tolbert leaned back against the car behind him, keeping the back door and the two cars still parked there, in sight. The remaining men still left in the cars stepped out to smoke cigarettes, their weapons well in sight. They didn’t look like clergy, but after what Father Tolbert had seen over the last month, he was ready to believe anything.
A light rain fell. The priest closed his eyes and let the mist caress his face. Almost and hour passed before Robert Veil and the others exited the hospital. Veil’s partner, the black woman, snapped her head in Father Tolbert’s direction, sending him to the wet asphalt. He eased his head up and watched Robert and Thorne hide weapons under their jackets and signal one of the waiting cabs.
The Asian priest and Sister Isabella jumped in separate cars and sped away. Father Tolbert quickly ran to
