All Through The Night

Willy put an arm around him. “Wait a minute, José. Sister Maeve will be right over to take a picture of us.”

Alvirah was frantic to get away, to be off following up on her suspicions, but it was easier just to finish helping Willy with the presents than to get someone else to do it.

Meanwhile, Cordelia and her volunteers were busy passing out candy and soda, although some people had begun to leave. To Alvirah’s dismay, she saw that Grace Nunez was about to depart with José and Stellina in tow.

When she called out to her, Grace bustled over. “Where are you taking Stellina?” Alvirah asked.

“I’m go

“Yes, I do. Oh, I hope he’ll be able to tell me how No

Ten minutes later all the presents had been dispensed and all the pictures taken. Alvirah ran to Sister Maeve Marie and picked up the Polaroid shots. Then she grabbed her coat.

“What’s up?” Willy asked, his voice muffled through his fuzzy Santa Claus beard.

“I’ve got to show Monsignor Tom some pictures,” she said over her shoulder. “Meet me there.”

The monsignor was out but was expected back soon, Alvirah was told. Willing the time to pass quickly, she waited in the rectory parlor, pacing back and forth. Willy and the monsignor arrived at the same time, half an hour later. The monsignor was smiling. “What a nice surprise, Alvirah,” he said cheerfully.

Alvirah didn’t waste words. She handed him the pictures. “Monsignor Tom, look at these.”

He studied the picture of Stellina taking the cup from Rajid during the pageant, then he looked at the close-up Maeve Marie had made of the cup alone.

“Alvirah,” he said quietly, “do you know what this is?”

“I think so. It’s Bishop Santori’s chalice. And do you know who I think that little girl is?”

He waited.

“I think she’s the infant who was left at your rectory door the night the chalice was stolen.”

29

Grace Nunez walked Stellina to the door of the apartment she shared with No

Inside the apartment it was quiet and dark; Stellina noticed the difference immediately. Without No

She took the silver cup out of the bag and sat on the edge of the bed. Holding the cup made her feel less alone. No

At seven o’clock, Stellina heard footsteps pounding up the stairs to the hallway. It couldn’t be Daddy, she thought. He never runs.

But then he was banging on the door. “Star, open up! Open up!” he cried frantically.

As soon as he heard the click of the locks, Le

He raced into his room and grabbed the bag from under his bed. Stellina followed him and stood in the doorway, watching. Le

“Come on, Star, let’s go,” he ordered. “We’re getting outta here. Don’t try to bring anything but your cup.” He knew he probably was crazy to bring the kid now that the police were after him, but she was his good-luck charm- his lucky star.

“Will you take me to see No

“Later, maybe tomorrow. I told you, come on. We got to go.” He grabbed her hand and headed hack down the hall, pulling her behind him.

Stellina grasped her silver cup as she stumbled to keep up with his pace. Without locking the door behind them, they raced down the stairs-one flight, two flights, three flights, as she struggled not to fall.

At the last landing before the lobby, Le

He was halfway across the foyer when the outer door suddenly burst open. Yanking Star in front of him, Le

Joe Tracy was at the head of the squad. He wasn’t about to risk a child’s life, however hollow the threat. “Everybody back!” he ordered cautiously. “Let him go.”

The car Le

Star obeyed, but when Le

Ten minutes later, Alvirah, Willy and Monsignor Ferris arrived to find Le

As they stood in the living room of the apartment where Stellina had lived these past seven years, they told Joe Tracy about the chalice, and about their suspicion that

Stellina was the missing infant of St. Clement’s.

One of the policemen came in from Le

Joe read the crumpled note, then handed it to Alvirah. “She is the missing infant, Mrs. Meehan,” he said. “This confirms it. It’s the note the mother pi

“I have a call to make,” Alvirah said with a sigh of relief. “But I don’t want to make it until Stellina is found…”

“We’re combing the city for her,” Tracy said as his cell phone rang. He listened for a moment, then broke into a broad smile. “You can go ahead and make your call,” he told Alvirah. “The little Blessed Mother was just picked up attempting to walk all the way to St. Luke’s Hospital to see her no

“Yes, I am.” Let Sondra be in the hotel, Alvirah prayed.

“Ms. Lewis left a message that she is having di