Probe

by Douglas E Roff

  PF

  Adam responded:

  Thank you for your email, Paulo. I would be happy to continue our conversation at any time. Perhaps we should agree to regular communication to avoid any prolonged or avoidable unpleasantness. I have a couple of very specific items I would like address with you. In my view, we need to remain calm, work through the process of understanding each other and avoid, at all costs, the war that Tomas di Gensarii predicted would inevitably come to pass.

  I hope you agree.

  When would you like to talk?

  Armand LaPlace

  PS – Good luck tracing that name but I know you will try.

  Paulo’s response came the next day:

  Two days from now on Friday, at 10:00 am Eastern. You call me. You have my number.

  PF

  PS - Rue Armand LaPlace is a street name in Paris. Very funny.

  Adam responded:

  10 Eastern it is. Glad you have a sense of humor. Why if you weren’t so intent on killing me, we’d probably be making a buddy movie right now.

  ***

  Two days later, at the appointed time, Adam called Paulo. “Why Mr. Fortizi, what have you in mind for our little chat today? Still trying to track me down and do me in?”

  “In the spirit of total and complete honesty, yes. But I’m willing to set aside our differences for the moment to discuss certain matters and come to a resolution of how we may … shall we say, help each other.”

  “I seriously doubt that. But go on.”

  “Were you responsible for the brief detention of my people a few weeks back? Waylaid on the way home from work? Two days, eight of my people or so? What was that all about anyway? You say you want peace, then engage in provocative acts that could set off conflict. Are you trying to start a war?”

  “Hardly. But I think you are. Isn’t this a lot like the pot calling the kettle black? You’re up to something, that much we know from the Book of Gensarii. We don’t know what exactly you’re up to, but I do not believe that our health and general welfare is a part of it. So, in the spirit of truth, justice, and the American way, cut the BS and get to point. Pretending that you intend us no harm isn’t going to wash.”

  “OK. Then let’s say we do intend you harm. So, what? What can we do?”

  “I don’t know but I have some ideas about what we might be able to agree on.”

  “Care to share?”

  “Nope. Not yet. You called for this little chat, so what’s on your mind?”

  “Your little stunt with my people has caused a stir within the Collective. The Councils are … quite annoyed with this transgression and expect our military to retaliate. Personally, I think this is a mistake but there you have it. I would like to avoid confrontation, but my people are incensed by your aggression.”

  This was a total fabrication, as only Paulo and Enzo knew about these incidents, and Paulo hadn’t followed through with his conjecture.

  “Not sure what you expect me to do. You’re trying to kill us, and we’re trying to find out how and why. If you think we’re going to stop doing what we’re doing, you’d be wrong. If I find out you have retaliated in any way, and, in particular, if you try to, or do in fact, kill anyone, the retaliation on my part will be massive and targeted. You can’t win this thing, not this way anyway, Paulo. Attack me or my family, or anyone important to me, and I’ll kill you and every member of your family. Starting with your kids, if you have any.”

  “You don’t sound very friendly, Alan.”

  “This isn’t a game, Paulo, and until you start telling me something I can use to stop this course of action you’re on, things will only get worse and I mean mainly for you.”

  “Seems unlikely at this point.”

  “Well, we will discover your secrets and then we will find you. All of you. Then the killing will begin. I don’t want that, but then you have left me little choice.”

  “What do you propose?”

  “Truce. No killing. We haven’t attacked and harmed or killed any of your folk, just taken some tissue and bio samples. I suspect you’ve done a lot more and a lot worse. You need to stop this nonsense that you are somehow the aggrieved party. You aren’t. You are planning something very bad for my kind and as soon as I know more about it, I may choose to take the existence of your kind public. Then I will turn over everything we have to various world governments and the United Nations. It will then be my recommendation that we begin the immediate identification and location of every last one of you as a dangerous threat to mankind. Worse than a virus. I think you probably know what will happen next. A few humans mistaken for Gens may be killed, but I give it only a couple of years before you are all, or mostly all, dead. Extinct as a species, or very near so.”

  Adam paused. “You know all about us, we know nothing of you. Inform your military. Inform your councils. So long as we don’t attack, no killing. But I warn you again, if you do, there will be overwhelming retaliation. Trust me when I say, we have both the motivation and the means. The lack of understanding about who you are, what you want, and what you intend to do could easily set off massive panic. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can manage this crisis. But if you insist on killing me and starting this war, it will end badly for you. You can’t win; you must know that.”

  Paulo wasn’t sure Adam was right, but he suspected he probably was. “What’s in it for us?”

  “No war. You may yet survive well into the future. Stop presuming you know what we as a species will do in response to knowledge of the existence of your kind. But if the first event showcasing your sudden appearance on the world stage is a war, well, then, you’re fucked. Literally. Talk to us; it’s really your only hope.”

  “We have survived for millennia symbiotically with humans precisely because you don’t know we exist. What would be wrong if we agreed to maintain the status quo?”

  “Nothing. All for it. Right after you give us your language and codes and we verify you have ceased your current science projects. Then, agree to meet out in the open with a human leadership you can be comfortable with, including Holy Mother Church.”

  “We might agree to maintain the status quo, but we won’t reveal ourselves as you propose. Too risky and if you breach, you have us in your sights. What you propose can only be done in the context of complete trust. I don’t think either of us are there yet. Do you?”

  “No, but we must begin building the foundations of that trust by agreeing to actions, or inactions, that we think we can achieve. It won’t just happen overnight and we must begin to lay the foundations of trust now. We must agree to what our former President calls ‘the fierce urgency of now.’ There is nothing more fiercely urgent than preventing this unnecessary war.”

  “We’re Republicans.”

  “Why does that not surprise me. Look, we need to stay in touch and agree to regular calls say, every two weeks. Maybe once a month. You know a hot line like the Russian and the Americans had during the Cold War. Let’s not start something because someone didn’t get the memo, or some hothead did something stupid. Let’s not back into war. Accidentally.”

  “OK, say for grins and giggles we do this your way. Why are we even talking to each other? Do we actually have something we need to discuss? A real agenda, or just whatever we feel like chatting up every second Saturday? I think I need something concrete to take to my Councils. Otherwise, this is just posturing. My people won’t buy it.”

  “Do as you think you must, but we have total discipline on our end. Do you? We hear otherwise.”

  “Then you heard wrong. We have a cohesive and disciplined structure on our end. Have had it for many millennia. You on the other hand leak information like a sieve.”

  “You may want to double check that, Paulo. What was, is not necessarily a true indicator of what is, or what will be. I suggest we each draw up our own proposed agendas and call each week until we have them winnowed down to a working number. Go talk to yo
ur Councils. But if I find any retaliation by your military or any other paramilitary group, all bets are off.”

  “Talk to you same time next week.”

  ***

  Two were on the phone right afterward.

  “They’re talking to each other. Planning to avert the war and try to resolve differences. Maybe even out our kind in a controlled way. Paulo is calling all the Councils and the Military. They’re formulating a Peace Agenda.”

  “Are you sure about this?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “I was there. I was in the room. Heard everything. Paulo trusts me. They have a call next week. What do you want me to do?”

  “Nothing. Just report what they are up to. I’ll think of something.”

  ***

  She turned to her sister. “It’s time to turn up the heat, if we can. Let’s contact Bellinelli and see what he’s up to.”

  “You trust him?”

  “Fuck no. But at least he wants the same war that we do, just not for the same reasons. Still, in the short run, he may be useful. But eventually, we will need to eliminate him and his organization.”

  “What can I do?”

  “Go back to Chicago and keep at your work. We’re way ahead of schedule and maybe we can start a small fire soon that ignites the whole conflagration.”

  Chapter 34

  Murden Wills stood on the tarmac by himself. He had been informed the previous day that he would be traveling with the entourage to Rome which included Edward, Hannah, Misti and James. Kimmi was absent and he didn’t understand why. In matters dealing with anthropology, if Edward and Hannah were involved, then Kimmi should’ve been included too. He didn’t like traveling without his friend and would feel her absence keenly.

  Who would watch over Kimmi in his absence and what was the purpose of having Misti St. James along? Or this James Bentley fellow? What could either of them possibly add to this complex field equation?

  Since the arrival of the new members of new teams several weeks ago, nothing had been the same as before. The delicate balance that had been struck in Team Hannah was lost. At least to him, anyway. The dynamic of the London teams was still good and new talent was moving productivity along well, it just didn’t feel the same as before their arrival; even James and Raoul noticed a perceptible change.

  The two had always watched over Hannah and Vera, the same pair that caused Murden so much mental grief. But now the brothers were even more deeply inculcated into leadership roles as the ladies rearranged the how and who was to be involved in their personal safety and security. That was his job and he didn’t need the help to two ex-military types to tell him what to do or how to do it. Did they not understand that it was the safety and security of the team, the entire team, that mattered? Adding personnel willy nilly was simply unsafe.

  If anything happened to anyone, he would undoubtedly be blamed.

  ***

  When everyone was accounted for and their gear stowed, they boarded the charter jet bound for Rome.

  Edward had arranged a meeting with Cardinal Bellinelli and his staff to discuss a private matter of some historical import to Edward. An event that happened in the thirties in a remote region near Lake Como. According to his sources, Edward said to the Cardinal’s staff, the name of Holy Mother Church had arisen connected to some very strange events. Edward thought that buried somewhere in the archives of the Vatican in Rome, some account of this tale must exist, if true. Then maybe more information might surface that could shed light on the participants and what had happened all those many years ago. Edward told the staff of the good Cardinal that the Vatican had always been more than cooperative with his research, given his long history of service to the Holy See.

  Of course, this tiny matter was only of marginal import; there were far more important matters to discuss with a more global reach. Still, he was curious …

  This is also what Edward reminded Cardinal Fonseca, the Dean of the College of Cardinals and chief lieutenant to the new Pontiff. Edward had known and known of the new South American Pope for many years, as he had several Popes before him. For over thirty years Edward had made himself and his family available to the Holy See to undertake special projects of an extremely delicate nature, and even more religious significance that could not be entrusted to just anyone.

  The Holy See had always been appreciative of his efforts and had promised cooperation in any endeavor undertaken by Edward and his extended family, no matter the difficulty or cost to the Vatican. In the thirty years since the first project for a Pope was undertaken, he had never asked for anything in return. Not money, not advice and not assistance. Cooperation yes, and he had sought out wise counsel. Such was the firm, amicable and serious nature of the relationship that when sought, counsel was given and gotten.

  Now he was at the doorstep of the Vatican asking for assistance he knew only the Vatican could provide. As Edward never asked any questions around what his previous tasks entailed or for an explanation of the significance of the undertaking, so Edward assumed the same rules would apply to his request for help. He needed to know certain details and expected the vaults of the Vatican libraries to be opened for him. Cardinal Fonseca, acting on the authority of His Holiness, the Pope, had promised Edward full and unfettered cooperation in writing and in a document sealed by His Eminence personally.

  ***

  The team sat in a well-appointed anteroom of the Chief of Vatican Security waiting for a man to appear and arrange a detail of security officers to guide the team to the offices of Cardinal Bellinelli to meet with his subordinates. Odd that the good Cardinal was absent; Edward had never been asked to wait before and knew well his way to the Cardinal’s offices, even though he had never visited. Something was different about this encounter and Edward was strangely aware of it.

  The Chief of Vatican Security, a man by the name of Bruno Marchetti, had been speaking to someone by phone and was taking his time at it.

  “Sorry for the delay Dr. St. James but there was an urgent matter that needed tending to right away. Please forgive me.”

  Edward knew how to play this game. He nodded at the man, then said. “We are late for a meeting arranged by His Holiness personally and this is the best excuse you can come up with? In the thirty years odd I have served the Holy See, I have never been treated so rudely. I will mention your behavior to the appropriate authorities when we are done here. Now, if you don’t mind, may we please proceed to the offices of the Cardinal?”

  “My apologies. But it was the Cardinal I was on the phone with and he mentioned some concerns I was to address.”

  Edward was surprised.

  “Did I not share this document sealed by the office of His Holiness requiring full and immediate cooperation? There are no emergencies or other distraction that can impede your assistance to us. Now, sir, get moving.”

  The team looked on quietly, understanding that this was an Edward matter and he would handle it alone. Misti would watch and learn.

  “I am sorry, Dr. St. James, but it appears that before you can visit the Cardinal, you and your group will first have to submit to a full physical search. And the confiscation of all your papers, documents, and any firearms you may be carrying. Even then, only you will be allowed to visit with the Cardinal’s staff. The rest of your group must remain here.”

  Edward said icily, “Never going to happen.”

  With that, Edward pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. His first call was to Cardinal Fonseca. His second call was to Cardinal Oviedo, the new Vatican Secretary of State, and an old acquaintance of the St. James family.

  The team heard half of the call. It ended with, “If that is your final response, then I hope you understand the full implications of your action. This is an egregious violation of our longstanding agreement, a personal affront to me and a breach of the 1993 Concordat. You do realize what that means, do you not? It will
all come out now, every last detail.”

  Silence.

  “Then, it is as you wish. If I even feel a slight breath against my back, I will release far more information than you think I have or know. I have the tapes. Any attempt on the lives of any gathered here today will result in the release of the video too. And the Folio. Just be aware, Cardinal.”

  Misti looked on at Edward, knowing something big and bad had just happened. She now realized that the trip back to the airport wasn’t going to be as simple as the trip from the airport to the Vatican.

  The addition of Murden and deletion of Noki was now coming into full focus. It was now also clear to Murden too that the exit from the Vatican itself wasn’t going to be easy. Edward had earlier alerted Murden to prepare himself for a possible, though not probable, fight on the way out; now that time had come. Edward made two additional phone calls, then gathered the team.

  “Time to go, folks. I believe our unrequested escorts are just arriving.”

  Chapter 35

  Four young and well-armed men, the same men who had ushered the group into the Security office upon arrival, had reappeared at the office door. Bruno Marchetti had also appeared in the waiting room and was expecting to have Edward and his group disarmed and papers confiscated in short order. His instructions from Cardinal Bellinelli had been clear; the group was to be detained for further questioning by the Cardinal’s staff.

  Edward had felt that something was wrong from the very beginning of his contact with the Cardinal many weeks ago. His correspondence with Cardinals Oviedo and Fonseca had been curt and formal, not something Edward had expected from old friends at the Holy See. He now understood that those emails must’ve been intercepted by Bellinelli and that his correspondence had been compromised from the very outset of communications, possibly as far back as Maria’s initial contact with him long before the wedding in June. He also now doubted the authenticity of the letter from His Eminence and expected that this episode had been engineered for some other purpose known only to the Cardinal and his team.