The SPECTRE Of The VATICAN ©

Chapter 72 - Carter Exposed.

Time: Present Day
Location: Vatican City

As Graz and Peter entered they were greeted by the sight of several men and one woman milling around the coffee table. They paused at the door long enough for Carter and Teacher to bump into them as they pushed through the closed door. Peter felt a tremor go through him. like a cold shiver, as his son passed through him and moved to a corner of the room alongside Teacher. Carter saw that Peter's reaction did not go unnoticed by Andre as he security scanned the new attendees, and the woman . . . the woman seemed to have picked up his reaction too, but she was no longer looking at Peter . . . she was looking directly at him.

Enrico was in close three way conversation with - Shit....Jihad Yazzi....what the hell is he doing here? Carter didn't recognise the other man. A priest in a black suit, but his garb made his cord glow red as he remembered that night at the Italian restaurant . . . then he looked over and saw someone talking to Andre, it was him! It was the man who had been dressed as a priest that night! The one that shot and killed Ken! The one that had killed him!

He looked at Teacher!

"Hide yourself!" Teacher yelled and vanished.

He looked back to see the woman still staring at him. She sensed he was there . . . she could see him? He hid.

"Gentlemen, and lady. Shall we begin." Enrico gestured for them to be seated in their appointed places. Each person had a name tag on their table placement which also indicated their affiliation, except for Jihad Yazzi. He simply had 'ISLA' printed on his name card. The woman had 'Star Child' printed in place of a name.

The Cardinal, Enrico, simply had 'The General' and was placed at the head of the table.

Once they were all settled with a coffee and glass of water in front of them the General spoke. "My name is Enrico and I am pleased to open this meeting of SPECTRE Europe to highlight to you the extreme importance of what you are to decide today. I have invited two special guests to aide you in your deliberations, on my left is someone whose name is suppressed for good reason. You may refer to him as ISLA. And on my right is the very lovely daughter of a dear friend of the Vatican. You may call her Anita. Anita is an extraordinary young woman who is representative of the potential we have as humans to progress to a higher self. I have acceded to her request that all your personal weapons be confiscated. Of course they will be returned to you at the close of the meeting. One of the Swiss Guards outside is in possession of a firearm as well as his traditional spear so you are safe within these walls. Both our guests bring to the table very different and special skills, which will, no doubt, be needed if we're to put to bed current taxing issues threatening our position. I want you to be open and honest in your opinions and guidance. I don't want anyone leaving the meeting thinking I should have said this or that. We need everything on the table for this matter is now beyond urgent and requires swift and permanent resolution. I now declare the meeting open.

Enrico began introductions for the sake of Peter as much as for the two guests. He then explained the current situation with the Cheval family. Peter began to fidget and squirm in his seat when Enrico commenced his background appraisal and spoke in depth of the death of Amelia, then Carter, and finally Monique.

"The principals responsible for these Special Treatments are all here in this room. They were all carried out with precision. Since then however, developments have been less successful to say the least. We are at a point now where the entire Cheval family pose a significant threat to our operations. They are collectively in possession of certain informaton and evidence which could inevitably lead to investigations into these incidents being traced back here to the Vatican. The Cheval family are heavily ensconced in the media as is Carter Cheval's girl friend. She is called Layla