The Second Messiah

“I always do, Holy Father. Just as I pray that you will at least keep our secret to ourselves. We don’t need to scratch an old sore. You can still open up the archives, you can still reach out to other Christians, but without sacrificing the fates of your oldest friends. And consider your own position. A revelation this epic, along with everything else, could ruin the church.”

“Liam, you know where I stand on truth—”

“Please, I merely ask you to consider it again. For an old friend. Just to reflect a little longer.”

“I can promise nothing, Liam.”

Kelly pleaded, “Just reflect some more, it’s all I ask. What harm is there in that, John?”

The pope stared back at Kelly, mulled over the request, then finally nodded reluctantly. “Very well, I will give it consideration.”

The relief was evident on Kelly’s craggy face, as if a small victory had been won. “Thank you for that. Thank you sincerely.” He glanced at his watch and rose to his feet. “Excuse me, Holy Father, but I’m afraid I have an appointment. Robert Cane’s son, Jack, is in Rome.”

The pope paled. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s ironic, I know. But he’s the one who found the latest Qumran scroll. The newspapers didn’t mention him by name but he’s an archaeologist, like his father.”

The pope sat there, baffled. “How—how do you know this?”

“He called me from Israel. He flew to Rome this afternoon and wants to meet me urgently and talk. I’m already late.”

The pope’s face sparked with a look close to fear. “Talk about what, Liam?”

“Jack Cane has a special request. One I will need your permission to grant, Holy Father. But in return he’s made an intriguing offer.”

65

ROME

The Lear jet carrying Lela and Ari touched down at Da Vinci Airport and taxied to a halt outside a commercial hangar. Ten minutes later, escorted through customs and immigration, they entered a private airport lounge.

Ari got on his cell phone to check his messages, then flicked it shut. “I’ll go meet our local Mossad contact; he’s waiting outside. He’ll take us to Cane and the woman.”

“Rome’s a big city. How can you know where they are?”

“Because we’ve been watching them since they landed. Right now they’re heading for the Vatican.”

“Why there?”

Ari smiled and slid his cell phone back in his pocket. “I don’t know, but it’s interesting, isn’t it? Let’s go.”

“Give me a couple of minutes to freshen up, Ari. I need to find a restroom.”

“Okay, but try not to be long. I’ll meet you by the exit doors.”

Lela spotted the restroom sign down a hallway. A public pay phone sign was next to it.

As she stepped toward the bank of phones she recalled Julius Weiss’s order not to involve herself further in the murder investigation until he ordered to do so. But she had a desperate need to know the investigation’s progress.

She didn’t want to use her cell phone in case Mossad was monitoring her calls back in Tel Aviv. One of the pay phones took credit cards and Lela found her Visa in her purse and swiped it through the slot. She punched in the number from memory, adding the international prefix for Israel, 972.

The line seemed to ring forever until it was answered by a blunt male voice. “Sergeant Mosberg.”

“It’s Inspector Raul.”

“Inspector. This is a surprise. I was told you were on sick leave and couldn’t be contacted.”

“I am, but just between you and me, Mosberg, I wanted to find out if you’ve made any headway.”

“I certainly have, and I’m glad you rang,” the sergeant said brightly.

Lela glanced back over her shoulder. She was horrified to see that Ari hadn’t left the terminal but was lingering by a vending machine, fifty yards away. He had his back to her as he clinked some coins into the machine. Lela felt a stab of panic. If Ari looked her way he’d see her making the call.

Mosberg went on, “First of all, the scroll’s been carbon-dated, and it’s genuine. Between A.D. 25 and A.D. 50. Second of all, Jack Cane has disappeared.”

Lela was about to say I know to both statements when she caught herself. “Really?”

“We’re not sure where he’s gone but I haven’t put out a bulletin just yet. I’m still looking for him.”

Lela kept her eyes fixed on Ari’s back, praying that he wouldn’t turn round. She watched him reach down and retrieve a Coke from the vending machine. “You’re right, he may turn up. You said you’d made headway.”

“Yes, there’s something important. It’s kind of bizarre and it muddies things.”

“In what way bizarre?”

Lela observed Ari crack open the Coke. He sipped from the can and started to turn round, idly surveying the terminal. She felt her pulse quicken.

Mosberg said, “I checked out Yasmin Green, like you asked me to. I called her uncle’s relatives in New York and here’s the weird thing . . .”

“Go on.” Lela’s heart pounded as Ari turned around and spotted her. Their eyes locked. Ari frowned. Lela offered him a limp wave. She’d been caught. But her mind was focused on Mosberg’s next words.

“According to the professor’s relatives, his niece Yasmin Green was killed ten years ago in an auto accident.”

66

ROME