Day Of Confession

108

Lugano, Switzerland. Still Wednesday, July 15. Noon.

Elena had not really looked at Harry since she'd helped him dress Da

It was a given that they couldn't keep traveling as hunted criminals from one place to another, trusting that somehow someone would help them. Da

'We here?' Da

'Yes, Father Daniel.' Father Renato half smiled. 'Thankfully.'

Getting out, Elena saw Harry glance at her briefly as he opened the van's sliding door and then he turned away as Father Natalini brought the wheelchair from the back. Father Daniel had said almost nothing during the trip, just stared out the window at the passing countryside. Elena was certain he was still exhausted from the events of the past forty-eight hours. He needed to eat and then to sleep for as long as he could.

Elena stepped back, watching as Harry and Father Natalini hefted Da

Suddenly the door at the top of the stairs opened, and their hostess appeared.

'Come in quickly,' Veronique Vaccaro said and stepped back to make way for them.

Once they were inside, she immediately closed the door and looked at everyone in turn, as if sizing them up. Diminutive, temperamental, and middle-aged, Veronique was an artist and sculptor who dressed in earth colors and whose quickly spoken sentences came in a bewildering mix of French, English, and Italian. Abruptly she looked to Father Renato.

'Merci. Now you must go. Capisce?'

No offer to rest, use the washroom, even a glass of water. No, he and Father Natalini had to go.

'A vehicle from a Bellagio church parked in front of a private house in Lugano? Might as well call the police and tell them where you are.'

Father Renato smiled and nodded. Veronique was right. And as he and Father Natalini turned to leave, Da

'Grazie. Grazie mille,' he said with genuine gratitude, understanding what the two men had risked to bring them there.

And then the priests were gone, and Veronique, saying she was preparing something for them to eat, left, passing one of half a dozen large abstract sculptures that sat like characters in the small, su

'Father Daniel should rest,' Elena said almost the moment she had gone. 'Let me ask Veronique where.'

Harry watched her cross the room and push through the same door Veronique had used. He stared at the closed door for a moment longer, then turned to Da

Until now Harry had held back, trying to give his brother as much time as he needed to heal, both physically and mentally. But Da

'You called me, Da

'Yes…'

'You were scared to death of something. It was a hell of a way to say hi after so many years – especially on an answering machine… What were you afraid of?'

Slowly Da

'What?'

'Get out of here right now.'

'Get out of here?'

'Yes.'

'Just me. By myself?'

'If you don't, Harry… they'll kill you.'

Harry stared at his brother. 'Who is "they"?'

'Just go. Please.'

Abruptly Harry looked off, his gaze going around the room. Then his eyes came back to Da

'-killing the cardinal vicar of Rome, and you for shooting a Rome detective,' Da

Harry hesitated, trying to find the way to put it. Finally he just said it. 'Did you kill the cardinal, Da

'Did you kill the cop?'

'No.'

'Same answer.' Da

'The police have a lot of evidence against you, Da

'Farel?' Da

'What do you mean?'

For a long moment Da

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Harry looked off at Veronique's collection of sculptures. Finally he turned back.

'You were in a bus explosion, Da

Da

'Not only got out,' Harry pressed him. 'You managed to stuff your Vatican ID, your passport, and your glasses in somebody else's jacket…'

Da

'The bus was going to Assisi. Do you remember that?'

'I… go there often.' Da

'Do you?'

'Yes! – Harry, just get out of here. Now. While you still can.'

'Da

'Who were you afraid of when you called me?'

'I don't know…'

'Farel?'