"Could I see the e-mail?" Marco asked.
'Ana's?"
"Yeah. Sofia's been going over the history of the shroud too. They're thinking along the same lines, and I have to say I don't think it's a bad idea."
"No kidding! Sure, I'll send it to you, but it's all very speculative. I doubt there's anything you can use."
"I'll pass it on to Sofia, although I really don't like getting a reporter involved in this or anything else. Sooner or later they fuck everything up, and to get a scoop they're capable of-"
"No, no, Marco, I'm being straight with you. Ana is as honest as the day is long, I swear, and she's my sister, she loves me-she'd never do anything that would hurt me. She knows I can't have problems with the authorities here, much less someone I've introduced her to."
"She'll tell you if she finds something?"
"Yup. She wanted to make a deal with you-send you everything she's sure she's going to find out, in exchange for which you'll give her what you know. Obviously, I told her she was dreaming if she thought she could make a deal with you or anybody associated with you, but I know her, and if she finds something out she's going to need to corroborate it, so she'll call me and try to get me to tell you-"
"So we've picked up a volunteer-an Art Crimes intern, you might say! All right, Santiago, no sweat. I'll tell Giuseppe and Sofia to keep their eyes open for her when they get to Turin."
"What are we keeping our eyes open for?"
"Sofia!" Marco turned to the historian as she joined them. "Santiago was telling me about his sister Ana-I don't know whether you've met her…"
"I think so, a couple of years ago. Wasn't she with you at that party for Turcio's retirement?" she asked Santiago.
"Uh-huh, you're right. Ana was in Rome then and went with me. She comes to see me a lot-I'm the oldest, and her only brother. Our father died when she was just a litde girl, and we've always been very close."
Sofia nodded. "I remember we talked for a while about press-police relations. She said sometimes there was a marriage of convenience between the two, but that it always wound up in divorce court. I liked her- she's smart."
"I'm glad you liked her, because you're probably going to run into her in Turin, going after the story of the shroud," Marco told her.
Sofia raised her eyebrows in surprise, and Santiago hurried to fill her in.
"You know what Santiago just told me, though, Sofia?" Marco said when he had finished. 'Ana's been poking around in the history of the shroud too. She thinks that's where we'll find our answers."
"Yes, I've thought the same thing, I told you."
"That's what I told Santiago. He's going to forward us an e-mail that Ana sent him about it. She may wind up running rings around us!"
"So why don't we talk to her?" Sofia asked.
"Let's stick with our own team for now," Marco answered thoughtfully.
"It wouldn't be the first time, and you know it, that police have worked with a reporter during a case."
"I know, but I want to keep a low profile-and keep the story within a controlled circle-as long as we can. If Ana finds something we can use, then we'll rethink it."
25
GUNER FINISHED BRUSHING OFF ADDAIO'S black suit and hung it in the closet in the dressing room. On his way back to the bedroom he straightened the papers Addaio had left on the desk and put a couple of books back on the shelves.
Addaio had worked late. The sweetish scent of Turkish tobacco permeated the austere room. Guner threw the windows open and stood for a few seconds looking out at the garden. He did not hear the quiet footsteps behind him or see the troubled expression on his master's face.
"What are you thinking about, Guner?"
Guner turned around, trying not to let any emotion show through his impassive facade.
"Nothing, really. It is such a lovely day-it makes one feel like getting out."
"Why don't you spend a few days with your family? You can go as soon as I've left."
"You're leaving?"
"Yes. I'm going to Germany and Italy-I want to visit our people. I need to know why we're making mistakes and where the betrayal lies. My inquiries here have gone nowhere."
"You shouldn't go, Addaio. It will be dangerous."
"I can't have all of them come here; that would be dangerous."
"Have them meet you in Istanbul. The city is full of tourists all year long-no one will notice them there."
"But not all of them would be able to come. It's easier for me to go to them than for them to come to me. At any rate, it's decided. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"What will you tell people here?"
"That I'm tired and am taking a little vacation, to visit friends in Germany and Italy."
"How long will you be gone?"
"A week, ten days, no longer than that-so take advantage of it and have a rest for yourself. It will do you good to be rid of me for a while. You've seemed tense recently, angry with me. Why is that?"
"All right, Addaio. I'll tell you the truth. Perhaps you'll consider it while you are away. I have suffered, deep inside, about this for months, maybe years." The servant paused and looked at the pastor, then took a deep breath and continued. "It seems to me that we have come to betray all we have vowed to uphold. My heart breaks for those boys you sacrifice. The world has changed, but you are adamant that everything must go on the same. You cannot go on presiding over these barbaric mutilations and sending young men to their death, and-"
His master cut him off before he could go further. "We have survived for two thousand years because of the sacrifice and silence of those who came before us, sacrifices against which ours pale in comparison. Yes, I demand great sacrifices-I, too, have sacrificed my life, a life that has never belonged to me, as your life does not belong to you. Dying for our cause is an honor; sacrificing one's voice is as well. I do not cut their tongues out; they voluntarily offer that sacrifice because they know that it is essential to our cause. By doing that thing, they protect us all and protect themselves."
"Why do we not come out into the light?"
'Are you mad, Guner? Do you actually think that we would survive if we revealed ourselves? You know the power of those who oppose us and the danger we represent to them. Our histories are linked and they have eradicated all, all through the centuries who have tried to follow those links to their origin. We ourselves have found only half-truths and lies, despite all our efforts. What's wrong with you, what demon has possessed your mind?"