The Last Templar

Chapter 27

Monsignor De Angelis sat on the hard rattan chair in his bedroom on the top floor of the austere Oliver Street hostel where the diocese had arranged for him to stay while he was in New York. It wasn't all bad. The hostel was practically located for him, being only a few blocks east of Federal Plaza. And from its upper floors, the view of the Brooklyn Bridge couldn't fail but inspire romanticized visions of the city in the hearts of the purists who normally occupied these rooms. But the view was wasted on him.

He wasn't exactly in a purist frame of mind right now.

He checked the time, then flicked open his cell phone and dialed Rome. Cardinal Rienzi answered, balked a little about disturbing Cardinal Brugnone, then acquiesced, as De Angelis knew he would.

"Tell me you have some good news, Michael," Brugnone said, clearing his throat.

"The FBI people are making progress. Some of the stolen objects have been recovered."

"That's encouraging."

"Yes, it is. The Bureau and the NYPD are keeping to their word and devoting a lot of resources to this case."

"What of the robbers? Have they arrested any others?"

uNo, Your Eminence," De Angelis replied. "The man they had in custody passed away before they could question him. A second gang member also died in a fire. I spoke to the agent overseeing the case earlier today. They're still waiting for results of forensic tests, but he believes the man may have been murdered."

"Murdered. How terrible," Brugnone sighed, "and how tragic. Their greed is consuming them.

They're fighting over the spoils."

The monsignor shrugged. "It seems that way, yes."

Brugnone paused. "Of course, there is another possibility, Michael."

"It has occurred to me."

"Our man could be cleaning out his house."

De Angelis nodded imperceptibly to himself. "I suspect that to be the case."

"This is not good. Once he's the only one left, he'll be even more difficult to find."

"Everyone makes mistakes, Your Eminence. And when he does, I'll make sure we don't miss it."

De Angelis could hear the cardinal shuffling around uneasily in his seat. "I'm not comfortable with these developments. Isn't there anything you can do to expedite matters?"

"Not without what the FBI would deem to be unwarranted interference."

Brugnone was silent for a moment, then he said, "Well, for the moment do not upset them. But you must ensure that we are kept fully abreast of the investigation."

"I'll do my best."

Brugnone's voice took on a more ominous tone. "You understand how important this is, Michael.

It's imperative that we recover everything before any irreparable damage is done."

De Angelis knew exactly what the cardinal's stress on the word "everything" meant. "Of course, Your Eminence," he said. "I understand perfectly."

After he had hung up, De Angelis remained seated for some minutes, thinking. Then he knelt beside the bed to pray; not for divine intervention, but that personal weakness might not cause him to fail.

There was far too much at stake.