The Hammer of God

30

R obert and Thorne sat quietly in the dark, waiting. Sister Isabella and Father Kong ushered them inside the room and departed, but were not far away.

Reeling from Donovan’s death, Robert managed to pull himself together during the flight to Rome. He’d lost his godson, one of his best friends, and learned that Samuel was the product of cloning, commissioned by a rouge sect inside the Roman Catholic Church that considered Samuel the Bible defined character known to the world as the Anti-Christ.

Robert drank half a bottle of Old Forrester during the flight over, and the high-octane bourbon whiskey went a long way toward calming his nerves. Now, sitting there in the dark, he suppressed his emotions, allowing only a controlled anger to fester, ready to do whatever was necessary to get his godson back.

He squinted, barely able to see Thorne sitting on the other side of the room. She loved Samuel as much as he did, and he knew she’d go to hell with him to find the boy and take him home.

He heard stirring outside the room, and trained his attention on the direction of the door. He heard a key slide into place. The door opened, and a sliver of light sliced through the darkness. Robert saw Thorne clearly, now on her feet, standing directly behind the shadow draped figure, who fumbled for the light switch.

“Excuse me, Father,” said Robert, startling the man.

“Who’s there?” called the priest, a nervous surprise in his voice. A ceiling light cast a bright white light across the room. Thorne pushed the door shut. Father Tolbert stood shaking. “Who are you? Why are you hiding in my room?” he asked.

Robert, both hands on his knees, fought back the urge to spring forward and pummel the man to death. “We’ve met before, Father Tolbert, in Chicago.”

“And that gives you the right to trespass and invade my privacy?

Who let you in?”

Thorne grabbed Father Tolbert by the shoulder. “Have a seat. We need to ask you a few questions.”

Father Tolbert winced. Thorne practically dragged him to the bed, forced him down, and took her seat on the other side of the room, facing Robert.

“My name is Robert Veil, Father. This is my partner, Nikki Thorne. I met you at Assumption of Our Lady the day Samuel Napier was kidnapped. I’m his godfather.”

A flash of recognition splashed across Father Tolbert’s face. “I see. I remember.”

Robert studied the priest closely, as did Thorne. “We’re here because Samuel’s still missing, and we have reason to believe he’s in Rome.” Father Tolbert swallowed hard and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to hear Samuel’s still missing. He’s a wonderful boy, but what makes you think I know anything about the kidnapping?” Robert felt himself tense up, but forced a smile. “It’s not that, Father, we’re just following up on every lead possible. I understand you left Chicago before anybody could talk to you.”

“That’s true. My assignment at the Vatican Library came through at the last minute.” He looked back at Thorne. “But the diocese has my information, so the authorities can contact me anytime.” Thorne remained stoic, poker faced. “Did you notice anything out of the ordinary the day Samuel was abducted?”

“No, nothing,” answered the priest, sweat beading up on his forehead. “It was a normal Sunday, nothing out of place.”

“How close were you to Samuel?” asked Robert.

Father Tolbert squirmed. “Samuel’s been an altar boy for almost a year. Before that, I put him through training.”

“So you were close?” asked Robert.

“You could say that. We had a good friendship.” Robert felt the 9mm Father Kong provided, since he couldn’t bring his own through customs, press against his side. I should plug you here and now. “Samuel looked a bit uncomfortable during mass that day,” he said.

“That’s nothing unusual,” said the priest. “We all get nervous. It’s normal.”

Robert remembered how confident Samuel could be, and his phone conversations with him about being an altar boy. “It’s a cinch, Uncle Robert! No problem at all!” Samuel had told him.

Father Tolbert cleared his throat again. “Now, you say Samuel may be here in Rome?”

“That’s what our sources tell us,” said Robert.

Father Tolbert looked back and forth between Robert and Thorne.

“Why would someone bring him here?”

“That’s a question we’re trying to answer,” said Robert, boring a hole in the priest’s forehead. “Got any ideas?”

“Why would I? I told you, I don’t know anything about it.” Robert, his patience thinning, stood, hands in his pockets, and paced back and forth in front of the priest. “Are you familiar with the stories, Father Tolbert?”

“Stories?” asked the priest.

“Yes, you know. Catholic priests, molestation.” The perspiration beading Father Tolbert’s face streamed down his cheeks. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. “Of course I’m familiar with the stories, who isn’t. It’s a shame, an embarrassment to the Church. Why do you ask?’

“Because we’ve heard rumors,” snapped Robert, unable to contain himself. Before he realized it, he towered over Father Tolbert, fists clenched. “Rumors you’re a child molester! That you molested my godson!”

Horror on his face, Father Tolbert recoiled. “I’ve done no such thing!” he bellowed.

Thorne grabbed Robert and pulled him back. “Pray to God that you haven’t, or I’ll send you to hell,” she growled.

“Get out of my room!” yelled Father Tolbert. “Get out!”

“What did you do to my boy?’ snarled Robert, foaming at the mouth.

“Robert, stop, let’s go,” barked Thorne, now in front of him, pushing him back. “This isn’t the time. We have to find Samuel. We’ll deal with this asshole later.”

Robert understood, but didn’t care. He wanted to beat Father Tolbert to within an inch of his life. Thorne grabbed him by the collar and stared into his eyes.

“Let’s go,” she said again.

Robert eased back, but pointed his finger at the priest. “If I find out its true, I’ll be back to kill you.”

Father Tolbert stood, tears in his eyes. “Get out and don’t dare come back! I didn’t do it,” he cried. “Now, please, leave me alone!” Robert snapped around and opened the door. A large priest, wide and muscular, stood outside the door. He looked past Robert and Thorne at Father Tolbert. “Is everything okay, Father?” he asked.

Robert didn’t wait to hear the answer. He and Thorne left the building and jumped in back of a waiting car. Father Kong and Sister Isabella, both in street clothes, looked back at them.

“How did it go?” asked Sister Isabella.

Robert looked out at Vatican City. “Let’s go,” he said. “Father Tolbert’s still alive, for now.”