Echoes Through the Vatican: A Paranormal Mystery (The Echoes Quartet Book 2)

by K. Francis Ryan

  “We want to join forces. We’ll provide the organizational structure along with nearly inexhaustible capital and human assets. Are you following me here?” Bob took a breath and asked.

  “Yes, Bob, I understand.” Julian looked to the cardinal. The man’s eyes were quick and keen and his level of anxiety was rising rapidly. “Why don’t you continue? I’m following so far.”

  “Manny, why don’t you take it from where I left off?” Bob addressed Señor Rodriguez.

  “Julian,” the man’s relaxed and expressive Spanish accented English was hypnotic. He was everything Bob was not. No bluster or backslapping. No glad handling or offers of a drink. This was business. Polite business, but business all the same.

  Señor Rodriguez continued, “I’m not telling you anything new, as Bob said. The world is in chaos and we believe we can make it right again. We have learned a great deal, both about the business of mankind and about the business of business. Further, we have learned you, and those like you, hold a key to the future of people, both individually and collectively.” Rodriguez paused and smiled, inviting Julian to ask questions. None were forthcoming.

  “You have demonstrated a level of talent that has garnered you a lot of attention within your community. It doesn’t take talent however to see into your future. In time – and that time will not be long coming – you will take up a strong leadership role within your group.” Again, another pause and another smile, and another blow to the cardinal’s pride.

  Julian was staring into his coffee cup. He looked up at each man individually before he spoke. “Gentlemen, as you said, we are all busy, all have problems and time is of the essence. Please, tell me what you want. I understand you perfectly so far. Without preamble, just tell me what you want of me.” Julian’s voice was far more relaxed and pleasant than he felt.

  Monsieur Colbert leaned forward in his chair. He smiled and slowly set his coffee cup on a nearby iron table.

  “Mr. Blessing, we want your assistance in two very important areas.” The two previous speakers rose, walked to the coffee service, refilled their cups and returned. Monsieur Colbert waited.

  “The first is we need your help recruiting people of your kind. Perhaps that is putting it badly. Please forgive me. Let us say, people like you. We feel that with very little effort, you could easily form a cadre of talented people who could advance our aims exponentially.

  “If I’m not mistaken, those aims are also your aims as they are those of his Eminence. Do you not agree, Julian?” Colbert threw Luciano a bone. The cardinal did not receive it with good grace.

  “I’m not yet sure your aims are my aims. Right now, my aim is to find my friend and return home. To the degree you can advance that cause, our aims are the same. Beyond that, you’ve not given me anything specific, so I cannot say,” Julian offered and the cardinal’s mouth twitched toward a suppressed smirk.

  “To be sure, as Bob said, we will put everything we have into this effort for you whether you choose to join us or not,” Colbert said. “But we will be drawing down time and resources to do so, time we could use in pursuit of our objectives. The question is, what are you willing to contribute to the efforts?” Monsieur Colbert sat back and waited.

  “I’m sure you all understand,” Julian began, “what you present is only a picture in broad brush form. The details are missing. Without those details, I am unable to form a cogent response. For now, I will say I understand your desires and to the extent of my ability support them in principle,” Julian weasel-worded and then continued.

  “I will tell you, the group to which I belong is effective because it has no centralized leadership. We are a group of free agents. Trying to recruit from that pool would be disappointing. Besides, I am new to the community and so cannot, and would not, claim a following of any sort.

  “Can you give me something more specific that you want accomplished that does not depend on my ability to recruit for you?” Julian rose, poured himself another cup of coffee, and indicated the coffee samovar to the cardinal. Luciano glowered his displeasure and declined. Julian shrugged and returned to his seat.

  With a velvet voice, Señor Rodriguez took up the case, “Luc, if I may?” Monsieur Colbert nodded.

  “Julian, this is not something I mention lightly. It goes against every principle to which we have dedicated ourselves,” Rodriguez said.

  “Go on, Manny,” Bob encouraged. Mr. Clarke made a slight gesture and silenced Tan.

  “To date, we have found ourselves thwarted at many important turns in moving society forward,” Rodriguez said. “This was more than troubling to us, so we dispatched agents to find the reason,” Rodriguez said.

  “The information we received back was staggering. While we all signed on to assist the world in reviving it’s potential, a powerful group that has been operating for centuries has set its sights on enslaving mankind.

  “The people involved in this reprehensible conspiracy are those we all trust most. Politicians, civic leaders, members of the clergy of every denomination, the wealthiest and most powerful businesspeople, the social elite – members from all of those walks of life have a vested interest in seeing that mankind is kept sedated, powerless and subservient.

  “It took time and cost many lives in the process of finding out who leads this group.” Rodriguez’s voice dripped with frustration. “We have succeeded and the leader of this group is someone of immense standing and power, I am talking of…” Julian interrupted Mr. Rodriguez.

  “Let me save us all a lot of time,” Julian said. “You would like me to assassinate the Pope for you.” Julian sat back, crossed his legs and looked like he hadn’t said, ‘assassinate the Pope’ out loud. “Moreover, it was made pretty clear that the safe return of the doctor was dependent on my success. At least that is my understanding.”

  The four members looked at Julian with hard eyes. Eyebrows knitted, Mr. Clarke asked softly with a cut crystal British accent, “And you know that, how?”

  “His Eminence told me,” Julian said.

  All eyes, except those of Mr. Clarke and Julian’s, turned to the cardinal. For his part, Luciano was outwardly calm, but Julian could easily sense the rage rolling off the man.

  “Mr. Blessing,” Mr. Clarke said, “we, of course, do not require an answer today. I will tell you, there has been a misunderstanding. We will assist you in any case. For our part, we must mobilize our forces in order to pursue your current difficulties. We will begin the search for the doctor immediately. On that, you have my word. The four of us have given you a great deal to think about. May we call on you later to continue our discussion?”

  “Of course, sir. I will do all I can to be available for you. In the meantime, I will consider carefully what you’ve said,” Julian said inclining his head.

  “Thank you for coming. Can we arrange transportation for you?” Mr. Clarke asked.

  “That is very kind, but the day is perfect and I need time to think. I’ve not really explored Old Rome and the walk will do me good,” Julian said with an ease he did not feel. He stood as did they all, except the cardinal. “Will you join me, Eminence?”

  “I’m sorry, Julian, but the cardinal will be helping with some agenda items we need to go over,” Bob said.

  “Good meeting you, son.” Bob shook Julian’s hand vigorously. The hand was firm, but somehow cold, lifeless.

  After saying his goodbyes and thanking the group for its hospitality, Julian followed his previous escort to the front door and out to a freedom he thought he only had a 50/50 chance of ever enjoying again in spite of any guarantees of safe conduct.

  ***

  He joined Fr. Marek Soski on a bench several blocks away. Julian sat, blew out a long noisy breath, and asked, “You heard?”

  “Not one word,” Soski answered mildly.

  “What? You were supposed to be backing me up. What if something went wrong?” Julian demanded staring at the priest. “You were supposed to ride in and save the day. Remember?”
<
br />   Fr. Soski said, “You entered that place and it disappeared. I heard nothing and felt nothing. It wasn’t as if a wall went up. It was as though that piece of property didn’t exist. I have not the slightest idea what or how it happened. I could see it, but it wasn’t there. As far as backup goes, you, my very good friend, were in the hands of God. Or all on your own, which ever way you want to look at it.” Fr. Soski shrugged and tried to look contrite.

  ***

  The priest took out his iPhone and called for a cab, and when it arrived, the driver nearly drove off. No one, he felt, drove the Ghost around and lived. He put his foot on the accelerator and the car died. The man looked up to find a deathly pale priest in an overcoat, hat, gloves, and sunglasses staring at him over the hood of the car. The driver swallowed hard, jumped out and opened the back doors for his guests. Once installed, the driver made the sign of the cross and the taxi sped into the heart of Rome.

  “And so?” Fr. Soski thought while the cab driver knew only that he had a particularly silent fare.

  Julian considered before he returned with his own thoughts. “A few things became clear, but not many. Some things became muddier. Typical of Rome I’m discovering.

  “First, because we should start with dessert,” Julian said, “Luciano was there and will be lucky to escape with his skin. Next, the main course. There were a group of four men, Tan, Rodriguez, Colbert and Clarke. Ethnically diverse if nothing else. Clarke was in overall charge. He is the one who spoke the least. The others were busy trying to convince me, a) I should become a recruiter for them and b) the little matter of me assassinating the Pope. The Pope is the bad guy in all of this and he is thwarting the group’s efforts to make the world a better place.

  “They were all about ‘doing well by doing good’ of course. Always a good place for those who are interested in doing well at the expense of others. Extrapolating from their line of reasoning, there are multiple thousands of ways they can harvest the world at large and make money – with our help.” Julian stopped, reflected, then continued.

  “There is already one of us on their payroll and he, or she, isn’t so much formidable as terrifyingly powerful,” Julian said. Soski turned in his seat to look at his friend.

  Julian continued, “As soon as I crossed the threshold, all my attempts to do anything were stopped. I could get something off the cardinal, but only the rawest most violent passions. Of which he had plenty.” Julian chuckled.

  “The group entered into all of this today with a sort of paranormal bodyguard. Try as I might, I could read none of them. While Luciano was clear in his intent to open up a six-pack of industrial strength whoop ass, it was clear he couldn’t, wouldn’t or was afraid to try.

  “The others took up physical space, but nothing more. No signatures, no nothing. Even the house and the staff were blocked off to me. That would account for you not being able to sense anything from the outside. What do you think?” Julian asked.

  “Industrial strength what?” Soski responded. “Never mind, I would rather not hear you explain that. One of us acting as a shield. Now that is something a little more than disturbing.

  “I have an idea that is far beyond reasonable,” Fr. Soski said. “Think about what you said. Think about what I said. What if only you and the cardinal existed? What if you and he were sitting alone in that house? No group, no coffee. What if it was all an illusion? You stepped through the gate, took one step into a pocket dimension, and the rest was a false impression.

  “Had you or the cardinal done anything untoward…” Fr. Marek left the thought unfinished.

  “A chimera, a mental hologram. That’s sickening,” Julian thought and felt his mind roil in confusion.

  “Could I so easily be deceived?” he thought to himself. “Could a world be created for me in my own mind? One shared with the cardinal?” Julian’s teacher had said it was possible.

  “It would turn our world upside-down,” Soski said. “A world, I will remind you, we have already turned inside-out.”

  Julian said, “While we’re upside down and inside-out, let’s consider something else. If they have one of us powerful enough to do what you’ve suggested, why do they need me?”

  Fr. Soski thought and Julian received the thought with crystal clarity, “That is the only thing we do know. They need you because you are expendable. It would also launch the church on another inquisition, with us being the modern day heretics and witches. A nice distraction, don’t you think?” the priest said. “Distracted from what though?”

  “Marek, I have tried to avoid it, but it is something that must be considered. This Group, is it the same institution Professor Agostini uncovered?”

  “I pray I am wrong, but fear I am right,” Fr. Marek said. “I believe it is the same and that terrifies me. I need to talk with some people. There is an explanation to all of this and we need to find it quickly.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Your thoughts?” Mr. Clarke asked.

  A man in a plain black suit and clerical collar, considered, then said, “There is almost no chance Blessing will do as we ask unless we give him no choice. He will do anything to protect the woman. He would give up his own life freely. He would murder a thousand popes. She is his weakness and she must to be found.”

  “You have no way of tracking her?” Mr. Clarke asked.

  His companion arched an eyebrow, smiled, and his words were acidic. “If I could, she would be in our possession now and this would all be behind us.”

  “I mention it,” Mr. Clarke said, “not to offend, but because I have never known you, as our Consul, to be stymied.”

  Clarke had used the Group’s title, Consul. It was a vestige, the highest position in the ancient Roman Republic. It was a designation used in great deference then and now.

  “Are there larger issues, other agents or powers involved? Cardinal Luciano for example?”

  “No offense taken, my friend. The thought has occurred to me as well. Something, or someone, is obscuring the woman’s presence, her essence actually. It is as though she does not exist. That sort of protection would draw much power. To be sure though, I will work my way through this.

  “As for the cardinal,” the man snorted his derision, “his Eminence is an easier situation to handle. He will be expunged once he has served his purpose. People never fail to fascinate me, Mr. Clarke. They embrace the light and shun the darkness. What they can’t afford to admit is the light is a fantasy and the dark is the only thing that is real.”

  “The good cardinal,” Mr. Clarke followed the thought. “Even for all he knows, all he is, he spurns the light, but he is incapable of grasping the reality of how dark the darkness truly is. He and Blessing stand in the mist between the two.”

  “The difference is,” the Consul said, “Blessing knows roughly who he is and definitely where he is and why he is there. He grows more adept and powerful every day.

  “The cardinal believes he is out of the light so he must be in the darkness and he stopped growing long ago. The very definition of a stupid man, don’t you think?”

  ***

  The Vatican Bank was a blizzard of activity. On the surface, all looked calm and businesslike but Julian could feel the hum of energy just below the surface. The employees, from tellers to directors, were terrified.

  “You asked for me, Eminence. If you want to know what progress I’ve made, the answer is, none. Fr. Soski and I have interviewed and profiled every employee of the bank and we have not discovered the mole, let alone the method. We are at a standstill.” Julian stood at Cardinal Manning’s desk in a respectful silence.

  The old cardinal sat back in his chair, closed his green eyes and drew in a deep breath. “Julian, I am running out of options. We are currently drawing from our reserves to keep things afloat. Our buoyancy is failing fast, my son.

  “The Pope would like my head and will have it, but he knows replacing me will do nothing but delay stopping these attacks and bring the spotlight onto the Va
tican itself. Again. For this reason he will keep this quiet. Although not important in itself, I will be free to continue working on this without fear of being replaced.

  “There are a group of cardinals who sit on the bank’s advisory board. This same group advises the Pope on all matters financial and economic. Julian, I want you to interview each of them.

  “You and Fr. Soski have been through the bank like a dose of salts. I know because the managers have complained. Not loudly. This is, after all, the Vatican bank.” The cardinal eked out a slight smile.

  “The members of the council are all that remain. If not them, then the attacks are originating without assistance from the inside. My auditors say that is nearly impossible. A man on the inside is needed for any external assault to work.” The cardinal’s Irish accented English was present, but subdued.

  “Eminence, Cardinal Luciano is a member of that body, no?” Julian asked.

  “He is and I know he presents a special case for you and Fr. Soski. We will leave him for last, but sooner or later, he must be confronted. About that, son, he will not be entirely pleased,” Cardinal Manning said.

  ***

  “Thank you for calling, Bridget,” Julian said to his Irish mentor. “I wish I could say I’ve made progress. Hell, I really wish I could say we were on our way back home. Things here seem to get murkier by the minute and I am no nearer finding Ailís than I was.” Julian avoided telling his mentor about being ensnared by the Group, Sokolov and Cardinal Luciano.

  Her diction, as always, was perfect. The cadence of her Irish accented English was unhurried and hypnotizing. “You are in error, Julian. The murkiness has always been there, no more, no less. You are just now plumbing its depth. Do not let the darkness distract you. Whatever you do, do not despair. Going through that doorway leads in only one direction.

  “You have allies who will assist you beyond your ability to understand now. Hold to two things - you will bring this to a conclusion and you are not alone.