“The priest said that the original sculptures were taken into the Vatican Library. We can’t gain access to the archives. Very few people are allowed down there. The library, however, is open to those who can get permission.”
Sean frowned. “Yeah, except we don’t have permission. And I’m sure that to get that kind of clearance we would have to submit an application, go through some sort of vetting process, and then finally be issued a permit, all of which could take months. We don’t have that kind of time.” He looked around the square. His last comment reminded him of the two potential threats lurking around the corners or hiding in the shadows.
“No,” Tommy shook his head. “I mean, yes, you are correct. There is a process in place for all that. However, I’m wondering if we didn’t just meet someone who could expedite the process for us?”
The other three followed Tommy’s gaze up the stairs where the priest had stopped to speak to two children who were there with their parents. He was smiling pleasantly, as he had been through the entire duration of the conversation with the four Americans.
“Totti?” June asked. “You think he could help us get in there?”
“It’s worth a shot,” Sean said. “Never hurts to ask.”
“Yeah,” Tommy said. “Let’s just hope he gives us the answer we want.”
They hurried back up the steps and waited until the priest was finished speaking with the other visitors. He didn’t notice them immediately and started to head back into the building when Tommy’s voice halted him.
“Father Totti!” Tommy shouted a little louder than intended. “Father Totti, wait!”
The priest turned around. His seemingly permanent smile twisted slightly to a look of curiosity.
“Yes?”
“I’m so sorry, sir,” Tommy said, panting for breath after the short run up the stairs. “I have a very strange, and pretty unorthodox, request.”
“Oh?” Totti said. “What is it?”
“We were wondering if you could arrange access to the Vatican Library for us.”
He might as well have asked the priest if he was wearing boxers or briefs. The surprised look on the older man’s face told the Americans exactly how much they were asking.
“I’m sorry,” Totti said. “There is a system in place for that sort of thing. You’ll need to get your credentials checked. Then they will examine why you want access. They’ll also want to check references and your records concerning your level of expertise in regards to history and that sort of thing.”
Tommy and Sean turned their heads toward each other and then back to the priest. “Would a reference from the president of the United States help?”
Chapter 30
Totti led the group through a long, wide corridor with a high arched ceiling. The surface overhead was painted with magnificently bright colors that featured the Papal seal in several locations, as well as murals from biblical stories and symbols none of the visitors recognized.
They turned from the first hallway into another that opened up into the library. More elaborately painted arched ceilings soared overhead as the group walked down the aisle between shelves packed with thousands of books. To the right, empty tables were lined along the wall underneath high windows. The bright early afternoon sun poured light into the library, making the need for artificial light nearly unnecessary.
“You have very influential friends,” the priest said as he turned into a corridor on the left. “Were I a more curious person, I’d be inclined to ask how it is you have a direct line to the president of the United States.”
“Let’s just say we’ve done him a few favors in the past,” Sean said.
Totti wasn’t sure what that meant, and from the looks of it he didn’t care to know.
Sean’s line to the president wasn’t exactly direct, as the priest insinuated. The connection to Emily was, which is who Sean called to get to the president. Fortunately, the commander in chief wasn’t in a meeting. He was actually playing golf when Sean called.
The two joked about the president’s handicap and chatted about playing a round together at some point. When the pleasantries were over, Sean asked President Dawkins for the favor.
While John Dawkins wasn’t Catholic, that didn’t mean he was completely powerless when it came to persuading the Vatican. He and the pope had been on good terms during the extent of his presidency.
As soon as the phone conversation was over, an email was sent from the desk of the president asking that his friends be allowed access to the library. The message also included a few additional items such as Tommy’s expertise, experience, and some of the successful campaigns he’d engineered. The president was only aware of a few projects the IAA had carried out, but the ones he’d had his secretary list were pretty high-profile ones.
The men in charge of giving access to the library were impressed, to say the least.
Totti was given the responsibility of showing them around and making sure they left at the end of the day. Tommy and Sean assured the priest that they would only need a few minutes.
They made their way into another open room where there were fewer books and more pieces of art.
Exquisite paintings lined the walls. While art wasn’t specifically Tommy and Sean’s area of expertise, they knew Adriana would appreciate it.
She stared in wide-eyed awe as they strolled by the masterpieces, each one more impressive than the last.
Ancient vases from all over the world stood in the center of the room, protected by velvet ropes and glass.
“This area is more like a museum,” Totti said before the visitors could ask. “We have artwork from some of the greatest masters of all time stored in these rooms.”
“It’s impressive,” June said. “I never knew a place like this existed.”
Adriana did, but she said nothing. Her background in hunting down lost or stolen art from World War II had led her to a crazy theory that suggested some of the art had been salvaged by the pope and brought here to the Vatican.
She’d run out of leads that could connect the location to any of the art, and so she dropped the idea. Having seen some of the pieces in the Vatican’s possession firsthand, she wasn’t so sure it was a crazy notion after all.
Adriana’s idea didn’t suggest that the pope or anyone else at the Vatican had stolen the priceless pieces of art. She simply thought they’d been taken there for safekeeping, possibly stored in the archives or a secret chamber somewhere underground.
While her focus was primarily on paintings, one particular treasure had always tugged at her curiosity. The Amber Room. It was such a huge work of art that hiding it would take incredible resources and ingenuity.
The Vatican had both. Her theory was that agents of the Vatican saved the amber panels and brought them here to keep them safe from a world full of greed. She’d run out of proof, though, and dropped the idea.
Walking through the maze of sculptures and paintings made her wonder if she’d given up the pursuit a little too soon.
“Over here is where you’ll find the original sculpture,” Totti said. His voice echoed off the walls and hard floor.
He turned at the end of the hall and pointed down a short corridor with a dead end. “In there, you’ll find an alcove that displays the sculpture of Paul. Feel free to take your time. I’ll be back to get you before we close for the day, unless of course you leave before then.”
“Thank you so much, sir,” Sean said. “Really, I am very sorry if we’ve been an inconvenience.”
“Not at all,” Totti smiled. “I’m happy to help anyone who is interested in learning more about our history. If you have any questions, I’ll be in the main section of the library.”