The Angel of Milan Read Online Free

always been detached emotionally when sending his priest on an assignment.
     
                  “Finally, Adama, there is a Vatican agent in Milan who will assist you as necessary. He is native to Milan, very capable, and therefore will be of great assistance in your task. Make use of him; you will need an ally in this endeavor.”
         “How do I contact our agent in Milan?”
         “You do not. I will see that he contacts you.”
         Burtuchi abruptly ended his discourse and turned to the others in the room. “Now, if your Eminences will excuse us? I wish to speak with Father Adama alone for a moment.” 
                  Cardninal Decessi raised his hand as if he were a child seeking the attention of the schoolmaster. “Eminence, the other matter we have yet to discuss, how to deal with Del Cielo?”
         Burtuchi’s face turned red as he stared at Decessi. I thought that if Burtuchi could have brought down fire from heaven, Decessi would have been toast by now. I had to force myself not to smile, or I was sure I would be next in the toaster. A long moment passed in silence.
                  “Yes, of course, Eminence, you are correct. However, I would like to discuss Del Cielo in private with the Father. Now, if you would please excuse us.”
                  There was some confusion on the faces of the others, but without pause, some shuffling ensued as they hastened to depart on command without further comment. Apparently, none of them wanted to become the next target of Burtuchi’s temper. With nods to both Burtuchi and myself, the three glided like specters out the door, closing it quietly behind them.
         Cardinal Batist’s face betrayed him, however. It was clear that he enjoyed seeing Decessi as the target of Burtuchi’s wrath. A political gain of some sort, I assumed.
                  “I apologize for my loss of composure, Adama, it is a weakness of mine that is exercised too often of late, I fear.”
                  “Your Eminence, there is no need to apologize to me, I—” Burtuchi interrupted with a wave of his hand.
                  “Father, let’s move on to Cardinal Decessi’s concerns, namely Del Cielo, and your soon-to-be presence in Milan. As soon as you arrive, there will be those who recognize you as having part in the identification of the Atonement Lot. They will assume that you have been sent to authenticate the object, and currier it back to Rome.”
                  “I don’t understand, Eminence. If the object has been stolen from the Duomo, how could I be sent to pick it up?”
                  “Exactly, Father, unless it was the Vatican that removed it from the Duomo in the first place.”
                  I began piecing the puzzle together in my mind, but the pieces didn’t seem to fit.
                  “Those seeking the object have come to this conclusion for a number of reasons. Access to the treasury is limited to those within the Church, there was no break-in, and no one has been able to locate the object outside of the Church thus far. Even the murder of Father Crochi has been interpreted as a means to cover our tracks in the theft.”
                  “If those facts are true, Eminence, then I would be drawn to the same conclusion. The Church has stolen its own property, and I am the likely currier!” I looked up at Burtuchi and smiled. “But that is not the case at all, is it, Eminence?” Burtutchi smiled back in concurrence.
                  “No action was initiated by any valid form of authority in the Church. However, since it is more than probable that Crochi was the original thief, I am concerned that an element of the Church was involved. Once you retrieve the Atonement Lot, no one may ever know that the Vatican is in possession of it. They will suspect it, but must never know