The Omega scroll

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

Jerusalem

T he media had had the story for nearly two months. The murder of Mike McKinnon had been embarrassing for both Israel and the United States, and the CIA categorically denied McKinnon had any authorisation for involvement with what was now suspected to be the theft of an Israeli antiquity. Mossad wasn’t buying any of it. Eventually a compromise was reached. Provided the name of ‘the man in his fifties’ or his relationship with the CIA was not disclosed, an increasingly restive media would be allowed to report on the double murder in the laneway off Yehuda ha-Yamit and publicly air the speculation on the Omega Scroll that had been swirling around Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv for weeks. Four billion dollars worth of defence equipment bought a certain amount of cooperation, even from the Israelis. The first report appeared on the front page of the Jerusalem Post, alongside a report on Pope John Paul II’s throat surgery and his deteriorating condition. Hunt for the Omega Scroll Goes On Tel-Aviv police are baffled by a robbery at the Hebrew University several weeks ago, and a subsequent double murder in a laneway off Yehuda ha-Yamit, the police officer in charge of the case, Chief Inspector Amos Raviv, admitted today. In a daring raid on one of the university’s laboratories, a suspected Hamas operative driving a van carrying the signage of a local security company stole a safe pretending to collect it for repair. The driver of the van was found shot dead in a garage near the Old Yafo Port area along with another male, believed to be in his fifties, whose name has not been released. ‘At this stage we still have no idea what interest Hamas might have had in the safe,’ Inspector Raviv said, acknowledging there were rumours that it might have contained the Omega Scroll. The Hebrew University has dismissed the rumours as speculative nonsense. ‘To the best of our knowledge the safe was empty,’ a spokesman for the Hebrew University said, denying that the university had any involvement with the Omega Scroll. The Rockefeller Museum has refused to comment. ‘We have no significant leads at present and we are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything to come forward,’ Chief Inspector Raviv said. – Associated Press

The Director of the Rockefeller’s ‘refusal to comment’ had focused the media’s attention on what the museum might be hiding and a worried Jean-Pierre La Franci telephoned Cardinal Petroni with the news.

‘We are getting calls here as well, Eminence, and unless someone says something, this is not going to die.’

‘Leave it with me,’ Petroni said icily. Lonergan had been away long enough, he decided. It was time the fat academic stopped swanning around the world and got back to doing what he was paid to do, protecting the Church’s interests. Petroni buzzed his private secretary.

‘Eminence?’ answered Father Thomas.

‘Do we know where Monsignor Lonergan is?’

‘Somewhere in Europe on a lecture tour, Eminence. Possibly Florence.’

‘Possibly is not good enough, Father Thomas. Find out and place a call.’ The Cardinal Secretary of State switched off his intercom with an irritated flick.

Firenze

At Il Museo Archeologico in the Italian city of Florence, Derek Lonergan brought his lecture on the Dead Sea Scrolls to its conclusion.

‘I reiterate, there is not a shadow of doubt,’ he said, raising his chin and almost closing his eyes, ‘that the Dead Sea Scrolls are dated two hundred years before the birth of Christ.’

The ‘crowd’ of eighteen people applauded politely, and one by one they made their excuses, leaving Monsignor Lonergan in the hands of the museum’s hapless director, who eventually managed to put him in a taxi and send him in the direction of his hotel on the banks of the Arno, facing the Ponte Vecchio.

‘A triple scotch, barman. My vocal chords need oiling,’ Lonergan said as he sat on a bar stool, belching loudly.

More than one eyebrow was raised among the occupants of the white lounge chairs scattered around the elegant surrounds of the Hotel Lungarno’s main bar.

‘ Certamente, Signor,’ the barman replied. ‘You are a singer?’ he asked with a smile, his English pronunciation less than perfect but streets ahead of Lonergan’s Italian.

‘Good God, man. Are you all mad over here? I have been lecturing to a very large and appreciative audience on the mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls. You’ve heard of the Lonergan Lectures? They’re quite famous.’

‘Ah! Monsignor Lonergan.’

‘The very same.’

‘There is a message for you.’

It did not occur to Derek Lonergan that the barman’s recognition might be due solely to the name written on the phone message which said, ‘Urgent you return to Jerusalem immediately. La Franci.’

‘ Lei e va bene, Signor? ’ the barman asked, a concerned look on his face.