Shout in the Dark

by Christopher Wright

  Chapter 32

  Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore

  LAURA PHONED MARCO and said she wanted to see him again. Marco explained that he had just received another summons to one of Amendola's friendly little panels, so unfortunately she would have to wait.

  Before she rung off, Laura apologized for not being at the Colosseum when he got there. She said that the burned body at Monte Sisto had upset her badly and she'd wanted company, but had decided to go home rather than wait for him to turn up in a taxi.

  Marco knew that there must be more to it than that, but Laura made him promise not to talk about it again. He kept trying to convince himself that she had nothing to do with the murder of the man in the burned-out Audi.

  The summons to Amendola's panel of inquiry had been as sudden and as unexpected as the first. Inside the dark chamber in the Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, Marco felt confident that he had already gained some skill in dealing with the higher echelons in the Vatican. The first panel had obviously been set up to intimidate, but with this one he felt more at ease. The hastily reassembled clerics, complete with Augusto Giorgio, sat along the dark oak table in a row. Father Josef's warning to go easy on the Cardinal was not the first thing on his mind.

  "In your own words, Sartini, tell the panel why you have been disobedient." Amendola did his earlier trick of drawing himself up in the high backed chair.

  At the end of the long table Father Josef sat motionless, apparently thinking of other matters and certainly not offering any support.

  Marco returned his attention to Amendola, "Your Eminence, I set out to find the genuine bronze head for Father Josef. You agreed to the plan."

  "I understand from Monsignor Augusto that you were not alone in your escapade."

  "No, I had some companions. We went to Monte Sisto..."

  Monsignor Augusto Giorgio was nodding his head vigorously. "Who were these companions, Sartini? That's what the panel needs to know."

  Since the Monsignor already knew the answer, why was he asking the question? Was he getting enjoyment out of making mischief?

  Marco glanced first at Father Josef then at Amendola. He could glean no comfort from either of their expressions. "I was carrying out my search in conjunction with three journalists."

  "And were ... these people ... friends of yours?" Monsignor Augusto's slow and deliberate voice sounded sympathetic.

  It was obviously a trap. "I only got to know them because Laura Rossetti came round to my apartment."

  Monsignor Augusto Giorgio stood up quickly and leaned on the polished table. Damp patches began to appear around his hands. Perhaps he was nervous. More likely he was sweating with anticipation.

  "A woman?" He made it sound as though the greatest scandal ever to rock the Church was being unfolded. "You discussed Vatican business with ... a woman?"

  Marco looked over at Father Josef but the old priest was staring at the table. It would be hard to forgive this silence. "Yes, Laura Rossetti is helping me look for the relic. I thought it would be a good idea if we teamed up."

  "Teamed up?" The Monsignor made it sound as though teaming up involved a carnal act at its most sordid.

  "Laura had a letter her father sent to her mother. She thought it might tell us where he'd hidden the relic. I expect you know her father was the late Canon Angelo Levi."

  It was a calculated move, like chess with Brother Roberto at the seminary; and it was paying off by putting the major pieces on the board under pressure. The oppressive gloom lifted instantly. Even the faces hanging on the high walls looked less severe as Marco breathed out heavily. The reference to Angelo Levi and his daughter was enough to transfer all guilt to a suddenly defensive panel of inquiry.

  Monsignor Giorgio sat down. "I see no reason for us to pursue this particular line of questioning." He turned to the Cardinal.

  Amendola rose from his high backed seat. Father Josef looked awkwardly at the floor as though he already knew what was coming.

  "Marco Sartini, you have been ordained into the priesthood of the Church of Christ. At present, we do not believe you are either fit or ready to take up duties in a parish. It is the unanimous decision of this panel, set up at the request of the Vatican Council under whose authority we operate, that your provisional suspension is formally confirmed as from today. The suspension will be continued for a minimum period of six months."

  Marco had expected something like this, but he had hoped for a small protest from Father Josef.

  The pitch of the Cardinal's voice changed to a mellow, almost caring tone: "Marco Sartini, you will, I am sure, find this a difficult decision to accept. In the intervening period you can report to Father Josef. I want him to attempt to knock some commonsense into you."

  Father Josef glanced up but did nothing to acknowledge this invitation, not even giving a brief smile.

  Amendola continued. "Marco Sartini, you will be called to appear again before this panel in six months' time, when your case will be reviewed. Maybe when that time comes, you will prefer to continue working with Father Josef -- if Father Josef is willing to entertain the prospect."

  There was a trace of humor in the Cardinal's voice but Father Josef showed no sign that he found the suggestion the least bit amusing. Rejected by the senior clerics, Marco stood with his head bowed until the panel left the room.

  "Try and smile, Marco!"

  He looked up to find Father Josef beaming over his wrinkled face.

  "I don't understand."

  Father Josef clapped a thin arm round his shoulder. "I'm so glad, so very glad."

  "Glad? About what? Where were you just now when I needed you?"

  Father Josef let out a shrill laugh that Marco had never heard before. "I was praying I would be allowed to have you working for me."

  "But when the panel..."

  "Panel, nonsense, you must credit me with more sense than that. I had a little game to play. If certain members had even the smallest suspicion that the Cardinal's plan was to my liking, they would have argued most strongly against it. You still have a lot to learn about manipulating senior members of the Church." He laughed again. "Even the Holy Father takes lessons from me. Now, we really must get down to finding the bronze relic. Welcome to my staff, Father Marco."

  KARL WAITED RESTLESSLY in his car at the far end of the street where the old troll lived. Hopefully he would see the Priester either coming or going to his apartment. He felt for the comforting bulge of the Makarov in his pocket. This time Sartini would not get away.