After he settled into his room Benicio contemplated the phone call to the Vatican. He knew he wouldn’t be able to relax until he called. He was worried, though. Once he made the call he could be forced into immediate service without having a chance to rest. He was tempted to put it off, if only for a few hours.
But that was not the Vatican way.
He picked up the hotel phone and hit zero to connect to the front desk, then gave the operator the fifteen-digit number he’d memorized on the plane. He dropped into a moon-shaped chair next to a tiny table. It was a clean, comfortable room, but small.
One ring.
“Hello?” It was the accented voice of Cardinal Espinosa. Benicio realized the cardinal had been sitting by the phone. Good thing he hadn’t waited until morning with his report.
“Your Eminence,” Benicio began. “I have made contact with the boy.”
“And?”
“There is something unusual, no doubt. I haven’t had a chance to observe the child reading the manuscript because —”
“No!” the cardinal said sharply. “The boy is not to view the manuscript again. You are only to determine the credibility of Father McCallum’s claim. You are not to let the boy read the manuscript.”
“Well, I was going to say that the Voynich manuscript has been stolen, so I —”
“Stolen? Already?”
Already? “I can’t verify the boy’s abilities without letting him see the manuscript. Should I be looking for the manuscript?” Benicio asked.
“That book is not your concern. You were to evaluate the claims of Father McCallum. That is all.”
“Yes, your Eminence.”
“Is there credibility to Father McCallum’s claim? Yes or no?”
“I would like more time to investigate, but right now I would say there is a chance of it. The boy said the fathers are free and the forsaken need to tell the story. Unfortunately, that’s all he said, but it’s quite remarkable given that he is not supposed to be able to speak at all.”
“The fathers are free?” Cardinal Espinosa asked. “What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Can you get the boy?”
“Non capisco.”
“Can you get the child?” Espinosa said again. “Bring him to me.” It was an order.
“Your Eminence,” Benicio began, his mind racing. “I don’t think I could convince the parents to let me take the child.”
“So don’t convince them. Just take the child.”
“By force?”
“If need be, yes.”
Benicio didn’t know what to say. There was a very uncomfortable pause.
Finally the cardinal spoke again. His voice was calm and carefully measured. “My son, I have misspoken. Forgive me. My enthusiasm impaired my reason. Ignore what I said. We must discuss the matter more thoroughly. Return to the Vatican immediately. I will have a ticket waiting for you at the airport.”
Something is going on here. “What about the child? I think it would serve the church better if I —”
“Don’t tell me what would serve the church. As of this moment, the boy is no longer your concern. And he is certainly not the concern of Father McCallum. Your assistance to the Holy Church has ended in regard to this matter. Speak of it to no one, and return to the Vatican.”
Benicio wanted to ask questions but never had a chance. He heard a click. The cardinal was gone. He slowly placed the receiver on the cradle.
The cardinal had said some exceedingly strange things. Benicio didn’t believe Espinosa wanted him in Rome to discuss anything. But he knew why the cardinal was calling him away. There were other men here. The men he’d seen at the airport. If the cardinal wanted Matthew Younger, he’d send those men. The hired hands of the Vatican. Wonderful, he thought. I’m sure those guys will be real tactful.
He shook his head as he remembered Father McCallum’s concern. Well, Ronnie, he thought, they are going to cut you out. Unfortunately, they’re going to cut me out of this one too.
He sighed heavily. Sleep was no longer an option. He might as well break the news to Father McCallum. He would keep his promise, tell the man what was happening. It was the least he could do.
Cardinal Espinosa’s body gave an involuntary shake. He drew his hand away from the receiver he’d just hung up and stared at his forearm. Fresh trails of blood glistened in the sign of the Cross.
The truth is known. Father McCallum cannot be trusted. The boy can read the manuscript. God’s secret is vulnerable to the world.
He turned his gaze to the ceiling. “My Father, I had not chosen wisely in allowing that man to be involved. I will correct the mistake. And I will not allow the book to be read. You can count on my service, God, to prevent the lies of the forsaken from being told.”
The cardinal lifted the phone and dialed, then waited.
Jeremy answered.
“Are you aware of the situation?” the cardinal asked without any greeting.
“We saw Valori and McCallum at the boy’s house.”
“What did they find out?” the cardinal asked.
“Don’t know. They weren’t in there long before the kid was screaming.”
Silence. “Do you know what Father Valori told the parents?”
“We think they made up some story. They were showing badges at the door.”
“Go see Father McCallum. He has betrayed the church. I need to know if he has spoken of this matter to anyone other than Valori. He must be silenced.”
“Silenced?”
“And then get the child. You must bring him to me. If you cannot obtain the child, make sure he cannot hurt the church. He is a threat to us. He is a threat to you.”
“So, if we can’t bring the kid back to the Vatican —”
“Then there is no boy,” the cardinal said curtly. Then he hung up.