When Mayhem Cries

by Alex Howell

  Raina stepping towards them laughed, “Uh—no. The Sistine bathroom stalls aren’t like the catacombs, I’m not going to get lost in them.”

  Mason always ready to give Raina a good ribbing, seconded his daughter as he teased, “Well it took you long enough. I thought you might have fell in!”

  Raina suppressed a smile as she playfully punched Mason in the arm and told him, “Funny big guy. Real funny.”

  Clara, who had downed several cans of diet coke and bottles of water during the course of the day, apparently had a vested interest in the bathroom, prompting her to question Raina, “How is the bathroom anyway?”

  Mason not quite understanding the need to size up a public restroom, gave his daughter a quizzically look as he asked, “We came here to see Rome and the thing that you are most interested in is the bathroom?”

  Raina glancing at Mason rolled her eyes, then looked sympathetically to Clara as she remarked, “That’s just like a man isn’t?”

  Clara laughed and nodded knowingly, “Yeah.”

  Mason not quite getting it, shook his head, “What? You guys have some inside running joke going that I just don’t know about?”

  Raina shrugged and informed him, “Well I really don’t expect you to understand Mason—all you have to do is stand.”

  Mason raised an eyebrow, “Stand?”

  Raina laughed, “That’s right. When you use the john all you have to do is stand, but us ladies just have to be a bit more careful where we sit!”

  Mason finally reading between the lines, chuckled, “Oh okay sure. I guess you got me there.”

  It was Raina’s turn to read even further between the lines however when she looked over to see a Cardinal quickly ushered to the side by a member of the Sistine Chapel’s security detail. Mason followed her line of sight and immediately realized what she was thinking.

  As if the two were gifted with telepathy Mason then spoke what Raina was already about to suggest. And in the most sedate, and fatherly voice possible, he told Clara, “Hey—if you have to go to the bathroom Clara, just go ahead and go. And have Raina go with you.”

  Clara folding her arms across her chest, protested, “Dad—I’m not 2 years old! I don’t need an escort to the bathroom!”

  Mason was barely even paying attention to his daughter’s disdain. And was literally looking right past her, desperate to keep an eye on the Sistine guard and the Cardinal. Raina fortunately intervened, and tapping Clara on the arm told her, “No—seriously, I don’t mind. Come on let’s go.”

  Clara always feeling obliged to listen to Raina acquiesced, “Alright—let’s go.”

  Raina then kept Clara busy with inconsequential small talk as the two disappeared into the Sistine Chapel’s lady’s room. Mason taking his cue, then quickly marched over to the Cardinal, just as he heard the guard shout at the man, “Father Roberto—it’s just not safe! We have to figure out what to do about them!”

  The Cardinal seeing Mason approach then loudly cleared his throat as if to alert the guard to his presence. The guard turned around and demanded, “Is there something I can help you with sir?”

  Mason grinned at the man, “I couldn’t help but overhear your concerns about safety.” The guard then frowned at Mason, as he muttered, “What?”

  Mason flashed his badge identifying him as a contractor for military intelligence and informed them, “It’s alright guys. You don’t have to be skittish. I’ve been assigned to this case.”

  Cardinal Roberto then stepped forward and scrutinized Mason’s ID, remarking, “You work for the Pentagon?”

  Mason nodded, “Yes sir. I work for a group of contractors called Onyx.”

  To which the priest snorted halfway derisively, “Contractors?”

  Mason didn’t like the welcome he was receiving, but he had grown to expect it. Ever since the days of Blackwater when contractors had run amuck in Iraq during the 2000’s and 2010’s, he knew full well that much faith had been lost when it came to any freelancers assigned to a job.

  And as if Roberto could read his very mind, the Cardinal shook his head in disgust, as he sarcastically quipped “So the CIA has resorted to freelancers huh? I see that they really take pride in their work. Wonderful.”

  Mason getting annoyed barked back, “Look, I don’t care whether you respect my particular form of vocation or not. But I’m here to get some answers all the same. So, I would like for you to tell me just what it is that has you guys so worried about safety, okay?”

  Mason then looked at the guard who had initially relayed the concern and demanded, “So why don’t you both make nice for the dumb American here, and tell me what the hell is going on?”

  The guard speaking in fluent English, with just the faintest hint of an Italian accent, shrugged, “Okay… okay… You don’t have to get upset with us.”

  He then cleared his throat as he extended a hand and offered, “My names Franco by the way—I’m the chief security officer here.”

  Mason was glad the guard was coming around, but halfway annoyed at the formalities grunted back, “I’m Mason—nice to meet you.”

  Franco then gave a headlong glance down one of the halls of the chapel and remarked, “We’ve got all kinds of characters that come through here.”

  Mason raised an eyebrow, “Alright and just what do you mean by that?”

  Franco sighed, “We have many good people visit us to be sure. But many fanatics of all stripes as well. And among them sometimes it is exceedingly hard to tell the simply eccentric, from the truly dangerous.”

  The Cardinal then broke his silence by elaborating, “Let’s be clear here—he’s talking about Opus Dei.”

  The mention of the secretive Catholic organization got Mason’s attention. He didn’t know a whole lot about this chapter of the church but he knew that they were shrouded in mystery and steeped in controversy.

  Mason inquired, “Opus Dei?”

  Cardinal Roberto nodded, “Yes.” The Cardinal sighed, “Don’t get me wrong—many good people come out of Opus Dei. The platform was originally meant to celebrate the sanctification of the average person.”

  Mason may not have known much about Opus Dei, but he knew enough to know that in recent years, through persistent right leaning leadership they had become more and more openly hostile to those that disagreed with them. Thinking as much, Mason remarked rather cynically, “They help sanctify the average person with the support of right-wing governments.”

  It was true that Opus Dei were a group of Catholic fundamentalists that quite frequently had become entangled with right wing politics. The group had been founded after all in Madrid, during the heyday of fascist Spain.

  The good Cardinal was quick to brush off such assertions however, telling him, “Yes, some fall into that trap… but most are simply focused on bettering themselves.”

  Mason wishing to get to the point then challenged, “Okay—so what does any of this have to do with the terrorists who attacked Rome?”

  It was now the security chief Franco’s turn to speak up, “We have had some Opus Dei people warning us that members—” Franco trailed off before lowering his voice to a near whisper, “—that members of The Blood have been siphoning off some of their congregants.”

  The mention of the nefarious group of terrorists that had caused so much chaos in the world as well as Mason’s own personal life, made his own blood boil, as he hissed, “Really?”

  Franco added, “We don’t have any proof mind you, but our informants at Opus Dei have told us enough to make us very concerned.”

  Mason nodded, “I see.”

  Just then he heard rushed footsteps and Clara’s voice behind him, as she called out, “Dad! What are you doing over there?”

  Mason wishing to conceal his true purpose quickly put his badge back in his pocket. And with a wink at the Cardinal, he lied, “Oh nothing, the good father here was just letting me know when the next guided tour of the Sistine Chapel will take place.”

  Clara asked,
“He was? Okay so when is it?”

  The Cardinal frowned, and completely unsure how to respond began to open his mouth—before Mason answered for him, “It starts right about now. You ready to show us around Father?”

  Raina and Clara stared at the priest expectantly. Finally, with a bit of a smile playing across his face at the audacity of the American, the Cardinal answered, “Sure—right this way.”

  Read the Next Book of the Series:

  CRISIS MELTDOWN

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  Mason didn’t listen to his gut. And now it may cost him his daughter.

  Nearly a full year has passed since Mason Walker’s last dangerous mission. Clara, his daughter, has finished her first year at Stanford and her first professional job. To celebrate, Mason and Clara jet off to Egypt for two weeks before her sophomore year begins.

  All seems normal on the trip. They sight-see, meet other travelers, and take photos. But as soon as they land back in Baltimore, Onyx calls. They need Mason’s help.

  What Mason and the rest of Onyx don’t know, however, is that soon, a new mission comes up, one even more important than the one Onyx requested.

  One that will leave Clara’s life in the balance.

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  Don’t Forget About Your Gift:

  “War brought me in. Will love push me out?.”

  It’s like breathing. I don’t even need to try.

  I was born to be a Navy Seal.

  I knew it was my calling and wasted no time in joining up.

  My training. My missions. My team.

  I love every bit of it.

  But I never knew I would ever want this...

  A calm, quiet day. Away from it all, including my brothers.

  Just to be with her. Bree.

  The thought of her name makes my knees weak.

  How could someone have so much power over me?

  The navy didn’t prepare me for this.

  And I never thought making a choice could be so hard.

  What do you do when love is standing between you and the country you vowed to protect?

  War brought me in. Will love push me out?

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