“I assume you’re referring to the part about your physical appearance.”
“Don’t tell me you actually read it.”
“Every word.”
Donati frowned. “I must say, the Holy Father rather liked it. He thought it made the Church seem cool. His exact word, by the way. My rivals in the Curia didn’t agree.” He abruptly changed the subject. “I’m sorry about interrupting your holiday. I hope Chiara wasn’t angry.”
“Quite the opposite.”
“Are you telling me the truth?”
“Have I ever misled you?”
“Do you really want me to answer that?” Donati smiled. It was an effort.
“How are you holding up?” asked Gabriel.
“I’m mourning the loss of my master and adjusting to my reduced circumstances and status loss.”
“Where are you staying?”
“The Jesuit Curia. It’s just down the street from the Vatican on the Borgo Santo Spirito. My rooms aren’t as nice as my apartment in the Apostolic Palace, but they’re quite comfortable.”
“Have they found something for you to do?”
“I’m going to be teaching canon law at the Gregoriana. I’m also designing a course on the Church’s troubled history with the Jews.” He paused. “Perhaps someday I can convince you to deliver a guest lecture.”
“Can you imagine?”
“I can, actually. The relationship between our two faiths has never been better, and it is because of your personal friendship with Pietro Lucchesi.”
“I sent you a text the night he died,” said Gabriel.
“It meant the world to me.”
“Why didn’t you respond?”
“For the same reason I didn’t challenge Cardinal Albanese when he refused to allow you to attend the funeral. I needed your help on a sensitive matter, and I didn’t want to cast any unnecessary light on the closeness of our relationship.”
“And the sensitive matter?”
“It concerns the death of the Holy Father. There were certain... irregularities.”
“Beginning with the identity of the person who discovered the body.”
“You noticed that?”
“Actually, it was Chiara.”
“She’s a smart woman.”
“Why did Cardinal Albanese find the body? Why wasn’t it you, Luigi?”
Donati looked down at his menu. “Perhaps we should order something to start. How about the fried artichoke leaves and zucchini flowers? And thefiletti di baccalà. The Holy Father always swore they were the best in Rome.”
6
Ristorante Piperno, Rome
