“You do realise that these people are extremely dangerous don’t you?” Dennis said, “They will definitely be armed and are not afraid to use their weapons. They’ve taken myself and Natalie hostage in the past and have killed security personnel both in London and Vienna.”
“Yes Mr Dennis everything is quite under control. The Vatican is the head of the Episcopal jurisdiction of the Roman catholic church. We take the threat of terrorism extremely seriously. We will catch these individuals responsible for the attacks in London and Vienna and any attacks they have planned for my city.”
Thirty minutes later and the mini-bus screeched to a stop outside the police headquarters in Vatican city. De Luca opened the passenger door and jumped out turning for Natalie’s hand. She smiled as she stepped out and Dennis came out next with a frown on his face. Hutchinson stepped out, greatly impressed by the two pike men guarding the entrance to the police station dressed in the traditional uniforms of red, blue and orange.
“Fantastic,” he said causing the others to look around.
“What is fantastic Mr Hutchinson?” Bauer asked.
“The Swiss guardsmen.”
“Oh I see.”
De Luca gave orders for the two policemen to wait for him then turned to Hutchinson.
“The Swiss guard have been the body guards of the Pontiff since the 16 century. These are of course traditional uniforms. You will see men in suits. They are also members of the Swiss guard.”
“Their uniforms are magnificent. Where do I sign up,” Hutchinson said, joking.
“I’m afraid to join the Swiss guard you must be a single male of Swiss citizenship, have completed basic training with the Swiss military, have a professional degree and be between 19 and 30 years old. Oh, and of course you must also be a Catholic.”
Hutchinson let his disappointment show.
“I do have a professional degree and I am a Catholic,” he said.
Dennis tapped him on the shoulder.
“You’re just 40 years too old my friend,” he said to the others laughter.
The two guards men saluted as they walked past.
Inside the main building it resembled more of a police station. Officers in suits were on telephones or computers. One, turned and smiled at Natalie in friendly fashion while he used a photocopier. De Luca took them up a flight of steps and through a door and stopped outside another office.
“This is the commandant of the Swiss guard, Colonel Martin Sonnenburg. You may call him Colonel or commandant. Do not call him by his name.”
De Luca knocked on the door and entered the room. The commandant was a tall man in a police uniform with three gold stars on his shoulders. He turned from a bulletin wall he was looking at and fixed a large smile and sprang forward to shake hands with everyone.
“Colonel may I present Miss Natalie Feltham, Mr Peter Dennis and Mr Jim Hutchinson.”
“Welcome. Welcome.” he said, “I was the chief of police in my native home city and I am a Captain in the Swiss army. I am the current commandant of the Pontifical Swiss guard appointed personally by his holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Can I get you all coffee?”
Sonnenburg picked up his telephone receiver and spoke quickly into it in Italian. Dennis caught the word ’Caffe’ and nothing else. There weren’t enough chairs in the office and as Hutchinson was about to ask if they could sit Sonnenburg picked up a blackboard pointer and turned to the board he was previously scrutinising.
“This is all the information we have at this time,” he began.
At the top of the board was a photograph of Von Werner, before his injuries. Next to it was a copy of the photograph Bauer had shown Dennis of von Werner’s scarred face in the range rover. Next to the photographs was written in black permanent marker his name, date of birth, country of residence, home address. Current whereabouts stated ‘unknown’
“If you know his home address why hasn’t he been arrested?” Hutchinson asked.
“He lives in a castle in Germany. Because he has not committed any crimes in his native country the German polizei will not arrest him without a warrant. This is being dealt with by the European court of justice in Luxembourg. Unfortunately its rulings can take months and we have to follow the procedures,” Bauer answered.
“This is why I want these individuals here in Italy,” De Luca added, “once here under Italian law I can arrest them.”
Dennis was studying the information on Von Werner.
“Von Werner is tall,” Dennis said to Sonnenburg.
“Tall?”
“Yes. I’ve been up close to him, very close. He is about 6ft 3in or 6ft 4in.”
Sonnenburg grabbed a permanent marker and wrote the word height.
“What would that be in metres?” he asked.
“Just under two,” Dennis said helpfully.
“Is there anything else about him you can think of?”
They all looked blankly at the photographs of the German count.
“If at any time any of you remember anything of relevance do not hesitate to say. Now we don’t know much on his associates. He employs a small private army. Mercenaries. Mainly of eastern European origin.”
There was a photograph of Sergei Danilov, underneath was written ‘deceased’
“He was on the American F.B.I’s most wanted list. We believe that he is dead.”
“He is,” Dennis added.
Sonnenburg turned to look at the journalist.
“You know of him?”
“I killed him.”
Sonnenburg stared at Dennis long and hard.
“Call it self defence.”
Sonnenburg turned back to look at Bauer.
“Mr Dennis has told me that he knows his way around firearms. Some training with the British army I believe….”
Dennis nodded.
“I have assured Mr Dennis that any measures he takes in assisting us will not lead to any prosecution. I have that from the director of Interpol personally.”
Sonnenburg nodded.
“Good to have you with us Mr Dennis.”
Dennis wasn’t sure if there was a hint of sarcasm.
“These other men,” Sonnenburg continued, tapping photographs, are all behind bars. Some of them in North Africa. Some are awaiting extradition to the United states of America.”
“Really?” Hutchinson said, “Why is my country getting involved?”
“Four of the men on this board are wanted in connection with atrocities against American forces in Iraq,” Bauer interjected, “This is why Von Werner employs them. They are military trained. He can provide them with money and a new identity. A chance they wouldn’t get elsewhere.”
“Then why aren’t the Americans leading this hunt?”
“Believe me Mr Hutchinson they want to. Luckily for us the European court of human rights does not force us to disclose personal data on these individuals. Therefore as much as the Americans ask the data protection act means that we don’t have to tell.”
Hutchinson was irked by this.
“You should let the Americans deal with it. Why they’d have had the whole case sewn up by now.”
“There is no need to be offended Mr Hutchinson. We are quite capable of dealing with this situation here. As it’s been said twice already, once these men pass over our borders they will be subject to Italian law.”
“Why are the Swiss guard and the Vatican involved?” Natalie asked, “I mean why not just Interpol. I thought you only guarded the Pope.”
“My dear Miss….”
“Feltham.”
“We have been alerted to the potential threat towards one of the holy churches of Rome Miss Feltham. In fact one of the very holiest churches of Rome. One built on Christ’s very blood. An attack on a Roman catholic church is the same as an attack on the holy father himself.”