The SPECTRE Of The VATICAN ©

Chapter 49 - Secrets and Lies.

Time: Present Day
Location: Vatican City

Peter went immediately to see the Archbishop. He was going over in his mind what he would say to him. After all, he was the third most powerful man in the Vatican, some cardinals believed him to be the most powerful, even above the Pope himself.
He wasn't sure why but he had an awful feeling that he was about to find out. He would have to be careful . . . careful Graz was a dangerous man to make an enemy of,  he knew that from past experience. He decided on the way, that discretion was the better part of valour. He would show him the photo. . . no more. . . he would not tell him all he now knew. He would gauge his reaction. . , there would be questions about how he had come by such a photograph. . . he had to have plausible answers. . . he wasn't sure exactly how much Graz knew about the days events. He knew he had a network of spies throughout the Vatican. . . his sparrows he called them. . . Peter wasn't certain if this was a reference to his favourite dish, sparrow casserole, if his spies knew, by this, their fate if they were ever to cross him.

He finally arrived at Graz' office on the third floor. His office was adjacent to the Secret Vault, so he could witness first hand who was gaining access to the most highly guarded secrets of the world. Two Swiss Guards guarded his office standing on either side of the door and directly opposite another two guards on either side of the first entrance to the vault.

The senior guard extended his right hand. Peter took his right hand in his and covered it with this left. He applied the secret handshake that had been used in the Vatican since the time of the Knights Templar.  Peter was told that there were three secret handshakes, he was given only the first.  He was instructed in it, in secret, by Graz himself. Peter always had had a curious nature and he had asked about its origin. Graz didn't tell him much, only that the three were similar but not the same as those commonly used in some orders of Freemasonry since, they too, had sprung from the Templars. Peter executed the grip with precision it was designed to trap imposters who might seek access to secret places, things or people.

He was relieved yet a little alarmed when the guard said simply and ominously, "Pass,  the Archbishop is expecting you."

He didn't ask Carter for the handshake. He merely shivered as Carter passed right through him.

When he entered Graz was looking through some papers on his desk. He looked up over his pinc nez glasses and said, "Ah, Petros, come in my boy, take a seat. What brings you to see me this fine day?" 

Carter retired to a corner hovering six feet above the ground, he had quickly found this afforded the best vantsge point to observe dealings amongst mortals.

"You are probably aware that I have had a visitor, a visitor from Australia, A visitor from my past,  Amelia's mother, you remember, I have told you about her, Amelia I mean, many times over the years."

"Mmmm, Oh, yes I remember, wasn't she the girl next door, the love of your life - until you found God that is," Graz played him like a fish at the bait. "And what lies did the mother of your love tell you? Did she tell you that she deceived her daughter, that she deceived you, that she tricked you into leaving your home?"

"She said she had lied to me in the past but didn't elaborate. She just told me that Amelia was dead and they, not the police so much, suspected foul play. She showed me a photograph of who they suspected, apparently he was the last person seen with Amelia before her body was found. I think it might be the one you call Andy, she said his name was Andre. He looks just like the one I introduced to Dan, that scared Dan out of his wits at Rome airport when we arrived."

"So you say Dan told you about Andre, after I expressly told him not to. I'll have to have words with Father Dan Allen." Peter had realised, after many dealings with Graz, that when he used your full name you were in for some deal of trouble, like a parent angry with a rogue child. The child instictively knows by the name his parent uses how much trouble he or she is in.