Chris Kuzneski - Sign of the Cross

Obviously, they’d missed something important.

The house was abuzz with activity, so they went out by the pool where Dr Boyd filled them in on everything from the shooting to Dante’s hatred of his father. He also told them about his prior chat with Dante, which pissed Payne and Jones off until they realized that it occurred way before the events at Orvieto and had little bearing on their safety. In Boyd’s mind he didn’t know whose side Dante was on until they’d reached the house, so he kept that information to himself.

‘Wait a second!’ Jones blurted. ‘You’re telling me we weren’t in danger at the quarry? Come on, I don’t buy that for a second. His guards did not want us to leave that mountain.’

Payne agreed. ‘He’s right, Doc. I’ve got bruises all over my body to prove it.’

Boyd frowned, not wanting to talk about injuries, not with his face looking like that . ‘The guards worked for Benito, not for Dante. That forced him to keep up his ruse.’

Jones scratched his head. ‘If that’s the case, why did Dante bring you two here? For safety’s sake, you’d think this is the last place he’d want to bring you.’

‘If he survives, you can ask him yourself. In the meantime, there are more important things to worry about.’ Payne turned toward Boyd. ‘What did you find out about the laughing man?’

‘The who?’ Boyd chuckled at his little joke. ‘Ah yes, the mysterious laughing man. It seems that his identity wasn’t so mysterious after all.’

74

Nick Dial was tempted to leave the crime scene and drive back to the airport. It pained him to think that one of his suspects was being interrogated by someone other than himself. After all, he was the one who cracked the geographic relevance to the crucifixions, so he wanted to be present for the fireworks. Nothing gave him greater satisfaction than getting a criminal to talk.

With that in mind, he knew the opportunity to speak with Benito Pelati was one he couldn’t miss. No attorneys were present, and the local cops were too concerned with collecting evidence to be worried about a simple interview. In their minds Dial had made the bust, so he should get the first crack at Pelati. In fact, they even offered to watch the door as he did.

Pelati looked like royalty as he entered the back room. His clothes were flawless, and his stride was unrushed. His chin was high in the air as though he was about to address the peasants from the palace balcony. His hands were cuffed yet hidden by the fabric of his jacket, so they did little to shatter the illusion that Pelati strived to maintain. He was a national icon and expected to be treated as such.

The moment Dial saw him enter the room he knew their conversation was going to be pointless. In his mind he knew there was no way he was going to get anything from Pelati. He tried anyway, asking question after question about Pelati’s family, the crucifixions, and anything else he could think of. But Pelati didn’t flinch. He just sat there, unimpressed, like he was half disappointed that Dial was the best cop that Interpol could scrounge up.

Thankfully, a knock on the door changed everything. Dial was tempted to ignore it until he heard the door squeak open behind him. ‘What is it?’ he growled. ‘I’m busy here.’

‘Sir,’ a cop whispered, ‘there’s a Cardinal Rose to see you. He says it’s urgent.’

Dial smiled, realizing he’d get to thank the cardinal in person for warning him about the blackmail attempt on the Church. He also knew that Rose might have additional information that he could use when he questioned Pelati. ‘Yeah, that’s fine. Send him back.’

Though they had never met, Rose wasn’t difficult to spot. Not only was he dressed like a cardinal, wearing a scarlet robe and a red biretta on his head, but his gait was all Texas. He strolled down the hall like a sheriff heading to a gunfight. If the circumstances had been different, Dial would’ve lifted the cardinal’s garb to see if he was wearing spurs.

‘Joe, I’m Nick Dial. It’s a pleasure to meet you.’ The two shook hands just around the corner from the interrogation room. ‘So what’s up? I was told you had something urgent to discuss.’

Rose nodded. ‘I was given another update on Benito Pelati that I thought would help. But if now’s a bad time, I can always come back.’

‘Nonsense. I wouldn’t think of sending you away. Besides, I’m talking to Benito right now, and he keeps bringing up something that puzzles me. The guy will barely say a word to me, but when he does, he keeps alluding to some secret. I’ve pressed him, but nothing gives.’

‘This secret, has he given you any hints?’

‘I wish. It’d make my job a helluva lot easier… Oops. Sorry about that.’

Rose ignored the profanity. Most Texans swore, too. ‘Have you asked his family? Maybe they know something. I’ve never met the man, so I’m not sure what I can tell you.’

‘Actually, I think his son knew. That’s the reason Benito put two in his chest. To keep him from telling anyone else.’

Rose made the sign of the cross for Dante. ‘Did he?’

‘Did he, what?’

‘Tell anyone else. One of the cops told me there were several witnesses to the shooting.’

Dial nodded. ‘His bodyguards were nearby, but none of them spoke English. I get the feeling that was one of the requirements for his staff. It allowed him to conduct his business in private.’

‘Smart man. That’s the best way to do it. No fear of listening ears.’

‘Speaking of smart, why do I get the feeling that you’re aware of the secret? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?’

Rose shrugged. ‘Perhaps. God works in mysterious ways.’

Glory hallelujah! Dial thought to himself. ‘Tell me, is it something about the Church? Is that what the blackmail was about? He learned something about the Church and decided to make a few bucks for himself.’

‘Nick, listen, my hands are tied on this one. I can’t talk about it. I really can’t.’

Dial couldn’t keep from smiling. ‘But…’

Rose laughed. ‘ But I figure if I get him to talk about it without actually mentioning it…’

‘Then I’ll get everything I need, and you’ll have a clean conscience.’

He nodded. ‘Yeah, something like that.’

Dial looked at his watch and knew that he was running out of time. Pelati’s lawyers would arrive any minute. ‘Fine. But we’ve got to make this quick.’

Rose put his right hand in the air. ‘Don’t worry, I will be.’

Still smiling, Dial went in first, followed by Rose, who closed the door behind them. Rose had seen Pelati at the Vatican several times but had never spoken to him, mostly because the two had nothing in common. Rose was willing to give everything he had to the Church without expecting anything in return, whereas Pelati was the complete opposite. This mansion was proof of that. Rose was a giver. Pelati was a taker. It would stay that way until the end.

Pelati watched the duo enter the room and seemed to come to life. His eyes focused on the man in red who was staring at him. ‘Tell me, Mr Dial, who’s your friend?’

‘This is Cardinal Joseph Rose from the Vatican. He came to talk to me about your case, and I decided to let him join us.’

‘Oh? Why is that? Wasn’t I good enough company for you?’

‘Actually, you have it backward. I didn’t think I was good enough company for you. You see, you kept talking about something that I knew nothing about, so I decided to bring in an expert, someone who could help me understand.’

Pelati grinned at the thought. ‘This man is an expert? On what? Christ? ’

‘No,’ Rose interrupted. ‘I’m an expert on secrets.’