John Lyman - The Secret Chapel

“Let’s go, Father. We have to hurry.”

Leo opened the door and slid into the passenger seat while John fumbled with the gear shift. After finding first gear, he gunned the engine and lurched the car into the maze of side streets.

John pulled an envelope from under his T-shirt and handed it to Leo. “I went to Father Morelli’s room this morning before dawn. He didn’t answer the door, so I went back to my room. Someone had slipped that envelope under my door with your name written on it. Then the phone rang, and a Vatican security officer told me that Father Morelli had died. At first, I didn’t know what to do. Father Morelli told me that, if anything ever happened to him, I was to go to his office and mail his laptop to Lev Wasserman in Jerusalem. I express mailed it to Israel after I phoned you this morning. Here, take this.” John pulled the blue plastic object from the pocket of his jeans. “I’m sure this is what they were searching for.”

“What is it?” Leo asked.

“It’s a computer flash drive. On it is all our research up to now on the hidden chapel. There are also some private records with details of Father Morelli’s financial assets, including his bank pass codes. After I finished mailing the laptop, I went straight to his apartment to meet up with you. When I saw that the cardinal and all the security men were still around, I just kept walking down the hallway past his room. They were frantically searching the building for something, and I put two and two together.”

Leo took the flash drive from John and studied it for a moment. “You think they were looking for this?”

“I’m pretty sure of it. Father Morelli was very suspicious of elements within the church that he felt were working against us. They would love to have the information on that flash drive.”

Leo pulled a lever under his seat and pushed it back as far as it would go to straighten out his legs. “Where did you find this?”

“Father Morelli insisted that I keep it. He was always misplacing it and knew that, if anyone was looking for it, they wouldn’t think to look in my apartment. I had it in my pocket when I walked past the security men and right out the front door. I saw you enter the building and decided to get Father Morelli’s car and wait for you in front of your hotel. When you didn’t return, I started looking for you in all the cafes close to the Vatican. I kind of figured you needed a drink at that point. That’s when I remembered Father Morelli said you and he always went to that cafe back there when you were in Rome. It was one of his favorite places.”

The BMW sped under the Farnese archway designed by Michelangelo on the Via Giulia . Leo noticed they were heading back toward the Vatican. “Where are we going?”

“We’re on our way back to your hotel. You need to change clothes, pack your stuff, and check out. Don’t forget your passport in the hotel safe. You need to ditch that Roman collar too, right now.”

“What in the world are you talking about, John? Are you losing it? Maybe we should stop the car right now. I think I need to walk for a while and clear my head.”

“You might want to read that letter from Father Morelli before you do.”

Leo studied the expression on John’s face. He knew that this young man had been extremely loyal and devoted to Father Morelli and that, at this moment, he was totally panicked by something. Leo removed the letter from the envelope and began to read.

To Leopold Amodeo, my dear brother in Christ,

I am writing to you tonight in the hope you will join with a special group of friends in Israel on a holy mission of critical importance. I have just spoken with Lev Wasserman about our discovery under the Basilica today. He and his team have discovered more information about the chapel in a completely different section of the Bible from the one we had been looking in. The chapel we discovered is very special. Apparently, it was built to receive something. The code specifies only that, whatever this object is, it must be delivered by you to the chapel. You must work with Professor Wasserman and his team. They will guide you in your search. Your name was discovered encoded in the Bible in conjunction with the chapel and as an instrument in a battle between good and evil. You are part of God’s plan to save humanity from Satan himself.

At this time, we have no idea exactly what we are looking for or its connection with the ancient chapel under the Vatican. All we know at this point is that the object is located in the Holy Land, and you are tasked by God to find it. You are mentioned by name as a leader in the quest. If you truly believe that the code is a message from God, you must devote yourself entirely to this search. I believe that you have seen for yourself the power of the code to reveal things that have been hidden for millennia. It led us to the hidden chapel and will continue to guide you.

This is a holy quest for the truth and for the salvation of all our brothers and sisters around the world, nothing less. I believe your name was spelled out in the code because you are incorruptible and possess a strong faith in God. Leo means lion, my friend, and you are now God’s lion. He has a plan for you and you must follow it through to the end.

Sadly, my name does not appear in the code along with yours, so even though I want more than anything else to be a part of this great adventure, I have decided it is best for me to remain here in Rome.

Lev called me this evening and said that, according to the code, the object we now seek is very old. He placed the date of origin around the time Lucifer was cast from heaven by God. This will be the most important archaeological undertaking in Church history. It will also be the greatest holy task ever assigned to man by God himself.

Remember, the code also speaks of evil forces at work against us. Use caution and trust no one except those listed as “chosen” in the code. The “archaeological priests” who uncovered the tunnel under the Mamertine Prison were not from the Vatican. If they were priests, they are part of a rogue element in the Church and are the evil ones I spoke of who have infiltrated our faith and know our every move.

From this time forward, your life is in danger, my brother. I have been coaching John for this very moment. He and Lev will help you, but let God be your guide. Although its importance has not yet been revealed, the ancient stone brick we found in the chapel must remain with you and John at all times. If you have received this letter from John, it is because I am unable to give you this message in person. You must leave for Israel at once. Godspeed, my dear friend, and may God keep you and protect you always.

Yours in Christ,

Anthony Morelli, S.J.

Father Leo was shaken to his core. His question about the real reason Father Morelli had summoned him to Rome had been answered. Speeding through the streets, the slipstream blew the tears from the corners of his eyes as he and John looked at one another with expressions usually reserved for soldiers preparing for combat.

Leo pulled his cell phone from his pocket and began to dial.

“Who are you calling, Father?”

“My travel agent in Rome. I need to buy two airline tickets to Israel.”

“Better to buy them at the airport with cash. We don’t want to leave a credit card trail for anyone to follow.”

“You’re pretty good at this, John. How do you know all this?”

“Father Morelli and I had been having discussions about this scenario. The more we learned, the more paranoid we were becoming. We even ordered a book on the Internet about how to disappear without a trace. We learned a lot from that book about how easy it is for people to be followed using their credit cards and cell phones.”