Benicio was sound asleep when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. His eyes fluttered open and he saw a flight attendant bending over him.
“Your phone,” the flight attendant said, motioning to the armrest next to him.
He blinked and sat up abruptly. “Grazie,” he said sleepily as the attendant slipped away down the aisle.
He was on the plane to Philadelphia — the longest leg of the flight — and had fallen asleep again. He wrestled the phone out of the armrest and found the connect button, then put the receiver to his ear. “Hello.”
“Father Valori?” It was the crisp voice he’d heard in Prasat.
“Yes.”
“This is Cardinal Espinosa. I trust you remember our first meeting.”
“Yes, your Eminence. I remember it well.” And he did. Cardinal Espinosa had recruited him straight out of grad school. The cardinal had sent a personal invitation for an all-expenses-paid trip to the Vatican, an invitation Benicio couldn’t refuse.
He had arrived in the magnificent office of the cardinal and within moments he was convinced he had been called to the priesthood. The cardinal, a charismatic, enthusiastic recruiter, insisted that Benicio’s gifts and expertise in mythology and spirituality were crucial to the Holy Church. Benicio’s strong Catholic upbringing was also a factor.
Since his recruitment Benicio had learned that Cardinal Sebastián Herrero y Espinosa was the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith — the cdf — and one of the most powerful men in the Vatican. Many people thought the Supreme Pontiff or even the Secretariat of State were among the most powerful but it was the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith that held the reins of authority within the church. The cdf, a special branch of the Roman Curia, was responsible for maintaining and ensuring the integrity of the Catholic faith around the world. Benicio also knew Espinosa showed little respect for traditional church boundaries and protocol. He was fanatical about protecting the faith and saw no limit to the means by which he would do that. Twenty years ago he had faced life-threatening cancer but had miraculously recovered. Even the cancer hadn’t deterred him from his holy duties.
“Thank you for your immediate loyalty to the one true faith,” the cardinal said on the air phone. “Your assistance is urgently required as the eyes and ears of the Vatican. It is in your judgment we trust at the most crucial of hours.”
“Yes, your Eminence.” Benicio knew the assignment was high priority. After his recruitment and his time in the seminary he rarely spoke with the cardinal. His directives normally came from others well beneath Espinosa. Now, he almost felt nervous.
“As you likely realize from your flight itinerary, your destination is Yale University. We’ve had a representative there for some time to watch a certain manuscript of importance to the Holy Church. His name is Father Ronald McCallum, and he is expecting you. You will find his address in the pocket of your coat.”
A certain manuscript? Benicio wondered. Could this really be about the Nephilim Bible?
Cardinal Espinosa continued, “You will investigate a claim made by Father McCallum in regard to a certain child who may have the power to read the manuscript. Father McCallum will explain the details. You must investigate the child and report immediately to me.”
The cardinal emphasized the word me. Benicio suspected this mission did not have the full blessing of the Holy Church.
“You have been specifically selected for this task because of your proven loyalty and discretion in the service of the Holy Church. In addition, your secular education through your doctorate in clinical psychology will be an asset as the boy in question has psychiatric difficulties.”
“Yes, your Eminence.” Benicio knew it was not his place to ask questions. Questions, when they were permitted, were always much later.
“Ascertain the validity of Father McCallum’s claims. Report to me directly at this number. Do not write this number down.” Cardinal Espinosa read off a fifteen-digit number, and Benicio memorized it.
And then the line went dead.