Shout in the Dark

  Chapter 24

  The Vatican

  THE PRIVATE SECRETARY coughed discreetly. "Holiness, Josef Reinhardt is here."

  Reinhardt caught sight of the Holy Father and immediately slipped past Vittorio into the private sitting room where the Pontiff was standing. This room was new territory. The Holy Father waved him towards an upright chair, one of a pair obviously prepared to receive his visitor on equal grounds.

  "My little retreat," said the Pope, as though explanations were required. "I'm glad you could come, Josef. You're seeing the young priest Sartini later this morning, I believe."

  "For a progress report, Holiness."

  "Then maybe our meeting here is somewhat premature. I had hoped for news."

  "You know of Laura Rossetti?"

  "Rossetti...?"

  "Laura Rossetti, Holiness. Canon Angelo Levi's daughter. It seems she has been in contact with Sartini."

  "Yes, Rossetti. Young Laura Rossetti."

  "It could be excellent news. Laura Rossetti's knowledge and Sartini's energy may enable us to recover our property."

  "And the good Monsignor Giorgio is behaving himself on the panel of inquiry?"

  Josef Reinhardt allowed himself a smile. "I think I know how to keep Monsignor Augusto Giorgio in order."

  "I only wish I had your skills with the senior clergy, Josef. Perhaps you could give me lessons some time." The Pope laughed easily, turning as a sister entered the room with a tray. "I assume you will join me for a coffee."

  Reinhardt felt surprised by the hospitality, for this should have been a short meeting. "Thank you, Holiness, Coffee would be very welcome."

  "Coffee and prayer, Josef. You must stay long enough for both. I insist on it. I am becoming increasingly concerned for young Marco Sartini. You really should give him more of the facts." The laughter had gone now.

  "Facts?" said Reinhardt. "There are no facts to give. We have sent him out on a fishing expedition, if you remember."

  The Holy Father nodded. "Ah, the bait." He frowned. "I think we may be mixing our metaphors. I thought we were after wolves, not fish."

  Reinhardt grinned. "I am looking on this as a period of initiation. I believe Sartini has a great future serving the Church."

  "Elijah and Elisha?"

  "Holiness?"

  "I sometimes think you are like the Old Testament prophet Elijah, looking for the young Elisha to replace him in his old age. I would dearly love you to pass your mantle on to a successor of your choosing. But right now I want you to brief Sartini more thoroughly."

  "Holiness, most people think they can act out a part of innocence, but rarely can they do it convincingly. For the moment, Sartini must remain trustful of those around him, and they must trust him -- for the sake of the relic."

  The Pope stayed silent for a moment before becoming more relaxed. "I bow to your experience, Josef. But I want you to know that I do so reluctantly. I have been reading the files you lent me on the three journalists."

  Reinhardt watched the Pope raise the bone china cup to his lips. "Then you are aware, Holiness, that the Nazis destroyed each of their families."

  The Holy Father replaced the cup in its saucer and carefully dabbed his mouth with a white linen napkin. "That was in the past, Josef. You seriously believe the three of them are involved in this affair?"

  Reinhardt stirred his coffee slowly. "Almost certainly. Though not enough to stake my life on it."

  "Yet you would stake Sartini's life?"

  "A sacred relic is up for grabs, as they say, Holiness. In the hands of today's fascists it could become an overpowering attraction for many in the Church."

  "Forces of evil, Josef."

  Reinhardt held his cup steady, without drinking. "I doubt if the top powers in the fascist movement were involved in the events at TV Roma, and for that reason I believe Marco Sartini is still our best hope for retrieving the bronze head. The Lord willing, we can bring about the end of at least one neo-Nazi group at the same time." He recalled the circle of red and took a sip of the dark coffee. "If Sartini becomes fully aware of his role, he will shy away from associating with certain people. At present he is gaining their confidence. Tomorrow I may be able to tell you more."

  The Pope nodded. "Perhaps I feel just a little more easy in my mind now. A few days ago you spoke of losing the rabbit in order to catch the wolf. You were not serious, were you?"

  Josef Reinhardt took a deep breath. He could not lie. "Totally serious, Holiness."