‘About what?’
‘Emanuela and Mirella.’
‘The girls?’ Phelps asked nervously. ‘Good God, this is torture. I can’t believe it.’
‘What girls?’
‘My God. The girls.’ Phelps covered his face with his hands, paralyzed. ‘Information about the worst that could happen to them, I suppose.’
‘What girls?’ Sarah asked again. The loose ends were getting even looser, instead of tying together plausible explanations. No resolution was in sight. Suddenly the conversation she wanted to have about the house seemed inopportune.
‘Two adolescents who disappeared in Rome in 1983,’ Rafael finally told her, ignoring Phelps’s comment.
‘What do they have to do with this? Why did Natalie want information about them?’
‘She was doing an investigation of the attempt against John Paul the Second. He deserved to die.’
The image shook her, impeding her formulation of the next question. It took her a little time to recover.
‘But who are those girls?’ Simon put in.
‘It’s a delicate subject. It’s enough to know they were carried off in Rome by persons connected with the Church at that time. Despite having circulated the idea they wanted to exchange them for the Turk, they killed them a little after the kidnapping for other reasons.’
‘And what were those reasons?’ Phelps demanded.
‘What I’ve said is enough.’ Rafael’s expression made it obvious he’d say no more on the subject.
‘And what about the other victim who died with them?’ Phelps changed the subject. ‘Did that have something to do with the case or was he just caught up in the imponderables of life?’ He was remembering the article he’d read in Schiphol Airport that mentioned the English couple and another man, not yet identified.
‘Are there other dead?’ Simon felt he’d entered a world gone mad.
‘He was the one who figured everything out. He was with the CIA, one of the founders, in fact. He was as good as dead as soon as he started following their movements. Ironically he’d just been relieved of the case the day before. His work was over. He’d reported something Natalie had been looking for in Bulgaria. This man, Solomon Keys, was going to spend a few days in London before returning to the United States. Natalie decided to satisfy her desires precisely in the place where Solomon, who now had nothing to do with the subject, happened to be. He probably had no idea it was her. The shooter never knew that it was Solomon Keys in the other toilet stall.’
‘How is that?’ Phelps was fascinated by so much information.
‘The shots were fired with the door closed from the inside.’
‘My God,’ Sarah exclaimed, imagining the scene.
‘You’re very well informed,’ Phelps commented with some reservation.
Rafael said nothing.
‘The Dutch authorities didn’t find the CD?’ Sarah asked suspiciously.
‘Of course they did,’ he said. ‘And they handed it over to the person they had to give it to.’
‘I don’t understand.’ Sarah wanted everything perfectly explained. She had the right.
‘There are behind-the-scenes games by the secret services that are not important here.’
‘How do you know all this?’ Sarah insisted.
‘Nothing is invisible to the eyes of the Vatican,’ he answered conclusively but evasively.
‘And the girls? What do they have to do with the assassination attempt on John Paul the Seond?’
Rafael looked hard at her to be sure he was understood.
‘Everything.’
The story was only getting more confusing. She wanted answers and, in part, had gotten them, but every answer contained new questions, new doubts.
‘To summarize,’ Simon began, ‘a supposedly religious institution, Opus Dei, does not wish known the circumstances surrounding the attack on John Paul the Second in 1981.’ It sounded like a journalistic presentation. ‘For that reason they initiate an operation — I imagine that’s the appropriate term — the objective of which is to silence anyone who has or might have knowledge of the affair, as well as getting hold of all the documents pertaining to the case.’
Everyone listened to Simon’s synthesis. Sarah remained perplexed. She needed a cool head to make things fit together.
‘They have the help of an enormous American governmental organization, and we’re here putting off the inevitable. Is that it?’ Simon concluded with a question.
‘That seems about right to me,’ Sarah agreed. ‘So many things need explaining. I feel more confused than when I arrived here.’
‘There is a question, though, that has still not been asked,’ Simon said, analytically, hesitantly. ‘What is Opus Dei’s interest? We’re talking about a costly operation with a lot of resources. And what does the CIA have to do with this?’
‘We’ll talk about that later,’ Rafael decided. ‘Now we have to discuss what happens next.’
A vibrating sound interrupted them. Rafael’s cell phone. He listened without offering a word and disconnected in the same way.
‘Um, by the way, I have to call home. Can I?’ Phelps asked cowardly. ‘I have to reassure my family. I talk to them every day.’
‘Of course,’ Rafael granted. His voice was serious, professional.
‘Don’t worry. I know well what I cannot say.’
‘Me too,’ Rafael informed him. ‘But before that, Sarah has to make a call.’
‘Me?’ She was not expecting this.
‘Yes. We need to set your father’s mind at rest. I told him you’d call.’ He put the cell phone in her hand. ‘And, in passing, ask him to tell his associate we need a plane for tonight.’
46
Emanuela
Wednesday, June 22, 1983
It wasn’t difficult to guess the reason for those shining eyes and that wide smile on her rosy lips. It was the happiness of fifteen years parading before the marvels of life, the promises, the future, which resembled a bouquet of roses. Destiny was the color of a rose.
The reason for her enthusiasm was her first job opportunity. A small job, part-time, but honest, an opening, her first salary, hers alone. She could hardly wait to get home and tell her family. She needed to hurry because the music class had already begun at the institute. Oh, how beautiful Rome was! A salesperson for Avon cosmetics at a fashion show. Who would have thought this opportunity would be in reach?
‘Emanuela has the looks for this position. She’s what we’re looking for,’ the representative had praised her minutes before on the terrace, as she was enjoying the taste of a soda.
He didn’t get around to opening the black briefcase at his feet, with the handle on top, new and well cared for, the odor of leather blending with the fresh summer breeze. He was around forty, more or less, and had the confident look of someone who knew what to do as a recruiter.
‘I’ll have to ask my family,’ she’d said. But she’d wanted to accept without bothering with parental permission. ‘But I think you can count on me,’ she concluded with a smile.
‘Wonderful, wonderful. But don’t forget. Your parents’ approval is necessary. Without it there can be no contract,’ he said seriously.
The man finished his drink and got up, took the briefcase by the handle, and held his hand out professionally.
‘It’s been a pleasure, Emanuela. I hope I can count on you.’
The girl responded to the gesture with a smile, constant, delicate, passionate.
‘Do you think you can give me an answer tomorrow?’ he asked.
‘Absolutely,’ she answered. ‘Shall I call you at the office number?’
‘No,’ he hastened to say. ‘We can meet here tomorrow at the same time.’ It wasn’t a question and Emanuela understood.
‘Of course. I’ll be here. Same time,’ the girl answered.
‘Tomorrow,’ he specified to avoid any mistake.
‘Tomorrow.’ The same bright smile. ‘See you tomorrow. I’m running late.’
The farewell was quick. The man stood on the terrace with a thoughtful expression, waiting for the next meeting, in his hand the key to the BMW parked in front, another job interview, who knows. He saw her turning the corner running toward the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music.