“I guess I touched a nerve.”
“Keep talking. It will make it easier for me to kill you.”
“If there was a God, he would let loose a plague upon the world that would kill only members of the Order of St. Helena.”
“Your husband was one of us. Did you know that?”
“No. But it doesn’t surprise me. Carlo always was a bit of a fascist. In retrospect, it was his most endearing trait.”
They had arrived in the Piazza di Siena. Built in the late eighteenth century, it was named for the hometown of the Borghese clan. Veronica, on those rare occasions when she was inspired to take exercise, sometimes jogged a lap or two around the dusty oval before coming to her senses and lighting a cigarette. Like most Italians, she did not believe in the health benefits of regular physical exertion. Her daily routine generally consisted of a pleasant stroll to Doney for a cappuccino and a cornetto.
With a prod of the gun barrel, Father Graf directed her into the center of the esplanade. The cypress trees lining the perimeter were silhouettes. The stars were incandescent. Yes, shethought again. There were worse places to die than the Piazza di Siena in the Borghese Gardens. If only it were Luigi.If only...
Father Graf’s phone tolled like an iron bell. The screen illuminated his face as he read the message.
“Have I been granted a reprieve?”
Wordlessly, he slipped the phone into his coat pocket.
Veronica lifted her gaze to the heavens. “I believe I’m having a vision.”
“What do you see?”
“A man dressed in white.”
“Who is he?”
“The one whom God has chosen to save that Church of yours.”
“It’s your Church, too.”
“Not anymore,” she said.
“When was your last confession?”
“Before you were born.”
“Then perhaps you should tell me your sins.”
“Why?”
“So I can grant you absolution before I kill you.”
“I have a better idea, Father Graf.”
“What’s that?”
“Tell me yours.”
54
Casa Santa Marta
Pietro Lucchesi once gave Donati a valuable piece of advice about public speaking. When in doubt, he said, begin with a quote from Jesus. The passage Donati chose to recite was from the nineteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.The words were barely out of his mouth when Domenico Albanese once again objected.
“We are all familiar with the Gospels, Excellency. Perhaps you can come to the point.”
“I’m wondering what Jesus would be thinking if he were here among us tonight.”
