“That’s fine, Gwen. You need to be completely open and honest with the police. As far as my whereabouts go, I’m extending my little holiday for a bit longer. Keeping it open-ended.”
“Speaking of which, how’s your little friend?” Gwen asked. It was as if she could read his mind. He decided to take the high road and interpret her query in the cleanest possible way.
“She’s naturally upset over how things have developed, but holding up,” Steven said. “How’s everything with the business?”
“Oh, you know, it chugs along, with or without you. Not that you’re easily replaceable, but there’s nothing we haven’t been able to deal with in your absence, so far. Although it does get a bit distracting to have the local five-o stopping in every few days, demanding to know where you are.”
“I’m sorry for that. Okay, then. I’m calling with a calling card, so this number isn’t a good contact number for me. Sorry. But I’ll check back in shortly. In a few days. Hold down the fort, Gwen, and thanks for everything,” Steven said.
“Be careful, luv.”
Morbius Frank was sitting at a small café in Rome, enjoying the feel of the afternoon sun on his face as he watched the frantic pedestrian traffic. A shadow fell over the table, then Sia Amieri sat down across from him.
“Cross called his office a few hours ago,” the big man said.
“And? Do we know anything more than that? Any hint of where he’s hiding?” Frank asked.
“No. Nothing in that direction. But there is a troubling new development.”
Frank sighed. “Besides having lost him and the girl? In possession of the most valuable treasure in history? Tell me, what could be more troubling?”
“His office got a call from someone at the Vatican. Asking him to get in touch as soon as possible. About the Voynich.”
Frank’s eyes narrowed to slits. “What? This is bad. First we have the girl turning out to have CIA connections, and now we have the Church in direct contact? We’re losing control of this, my son.”
Amieri didn’t respond. There wasn’t anything to say.
“If the Church gets the Scroll back, we can assume that it will disappear forever, and its secret will go with it. I’ve spent too much money and too many years tracking this down to have that happen,” Frank seethed.
“I know. I don’t like it either.”
Frank took a few deep breaths, composing himself, and Amieri pretended not to notice that his mentor’s cup trembled a little as he brought it to his lips.
“Fix this, my son. Whatever it takes. Fix it.”
Natalie and Steven parked at the airport and took a water taxi to Venice, which dropped them in front of Saint Mark’s Square. They meandered around and eventually decided to go into a hotel on the waterfront to use the phone. The interior was old Venice, all gold brocade and velvet and polished dark wood. Natalie took a seat at the lobby bar while Steven sought out the bank of pay phones that were situated by the bathrooms.
He dialed the number on the calling card and, when prompted, entered the number. It took a moment to connect, then answered on the third ring.
“Luca.”
“This is Steven Cross. You left a message for me at my office?” Steven wanted to keep this as brief as possible.
Luca hesitated for a few seconds. “Ah, yes. Dr. Cross. Thank you for calling.”
“How can I help you?”
“I believe we both have an idea. You have come into possession of something that belongs to the Church, and I’d like to discuss a solution before things get any more out of hand,” Luca tried.
“Sounds accusatory. Can you prove that the Church is the legal owner of whatever we’re hypothetically discussing?” Steven threw out.
This already wasn’t going as Luca had envisioned.
“The item in question has been in our possession for centuries. It is clearly our property.”
“So possession establishes ownership? I’d say, in that case, whoever possesses it, owns it,” Steven observed.
“Ownership of some things entails tremendous responsibility and jeopardy. I was hoping we could discuss how to remove any from your life moving forward,” Luca said.
“How do I know you’re not a large part of the risk yourself? It seems like it’s become a very dangerous world all of a sudden.”
“The Church doesn’t endorse bloodshed, Dr. Cross.”
“Tell that to the folks on the receiving end of the Crusades or the Inquisition,” Steven volleyed back.
“I should say that today’s Church doesn’t, and that I personally would never authorize it. Which is why I think we have something worth discussing. Depending upon your objective, I may be able to solve a very real problem for you — namely, how to return the item in question without incurring any retribution or threats. The reality is that whoever possesses the item will forever be a target. In fact, removing it from our custody has already accumulated an enormous toll. I’m clear in my objective here. I want the item returned and am prepared to negotiate to arrange that. Simple,” Luca pitched.
“How can I possibly trust you?” Steven asked.
“I’m not sure you’re in any position not to trust me. I’m trying to put a stop to a very real disaster that has been set in motion, perhaps unwittingly, and in which you are a regrettable collateral player. I think you’re a very smart man and can see that being involved with a catastrophe can’t end well. For anyone. Besides which, if we can’t come to an arrangement, I think you’ll find trusting me will be the least of your problems.”
Luca had a point. And Natalie didn’t have a plan of any kind that she’d shared with him. Perhaps there was a deal that could be brokered with the Church.
Luca continued. “Do you believe in God, Dr. Cross?”
“Not in the sense you do.”
“Hmm. Well, I do. Obviously. Very much. What I can tell you is that life on this planet is short and that we all have a destiny, and that yours has nothing to do with the item. It pains me that evil seems to have surfaced and struggled for possession of it. You may not believe in God, but surely you’re old enough to believe in evil? You must be worldly enough to have seen it?” Luca asked.
“I’ll concede that point, philosophically. I’ve seen evil. Which is usually nothing more than the actions of greedy, mean-spirited men to satisfy their lusts. I’ll agree that evil exists. It’s us,” Steven said.
“I don’t disagree. But just as evil is us, so is good. They are antipodal, and yet co-exist directly because we exist. Different ends of our spectrum, if you will. I am not interested in getting into a theological or philosophical debate, or trying to frame a theistic argument. I’m telling you that someone is killing to get their hands on the item — the same someone who likely participated in its theft. That someone will continue until they have it, and you and the girl will share the fate of everyone else who has stood in their way.” Luca drove home his point. “In a world of moral ambiguity, perhaps we can keep this simple. Being alive is good. Being killed is bad, or evil, if you like. I’m approaching you to see if we can come to terms that will end this before any more evil occurs.”
Steven considered this.
“I have a bargaining chip. Beyond the item, which isn’t mine to give or take.” Steven had considered the merits of playing his trump card and decided to do so. The only thing the Church would hold more valuable than the Scroll, would be the Scroll’s secret.
“There is nothing besides the item. That is all I want. I’m prepared to entertain any terms you might propose,” Luca said.