He wondered how, but did not ask.
揧ou let me go after Friar Dwight, who had a gun,?Kelsey said to the abbess. 揧ou closed the doors behind me. Why??
揥as there any stopping you??the older woman asked.
Kelsey said nothing.
揘o, Sister Deal, you were intent on going after Dwight. I merely allowed you to do that. But Sister Claire was in the tower, with her bow, watching, just in case. Of course, you leaping onto the man抯 back did complicate things for her.?
The abbess seemed fierce and dutiful, but also compassionate and understanding.
揥hat now??Nick asked.
揥e continue on with our duty,?the abbess said. 揟he church is satisfied. In their minds, the issue is resolved. We抣l never hear from them again. And the Blessed Virgin can rest here, in peace, forever.?
揥hy not tell the world the truth??Kelsey asked.
揑t would accomplish little and create more problems,?the abbess said. 揃etter to allow the fiction to live on and for those men in Rome to think themselves so important.?
揑 still have those images from the Just Judges,?Nick said.
揥hich are no longer a problem,?Claire said. 揙nly us and the Vatican understand their significance as a road map to here and, thanks to Omega, Rome has no need to inquire into them. So let the world enjoy them.?
He agreed.
Which might go a long way toward smoothing things over with the Belgians and Reynaldo. After all, he had retrieved them.
揑抣l shortly retire,?the abbess said. 揟o Ghent and our convent there. Sister Claire will almost certainly take my place. I have long thought she will need a competent Vestal. Someone with intellect and spirit. Someone we can trust. I was hoping, Sister Deal, you would join us and take up that task.?
He stared at Kelsey.
A woman he抎 once loved deeply, and still loved today, only in a different way. He was so glad she抎 reached out to him. The past few days had been challenging, but also rewarding. He抎 not only done his job but also made a new friend. And that抯 what she was. His dear, dear friend.
揑抎 be honored,?Kelsey said.
Time for him to go. He stepped over and gave her a hug. 揟ake care.?
Tears welled in her eyes. 揧ou too.?
He gave the two other women a slight bow. 揑t抯 been a pleasure. And if you ever need anything.?
He paused and pointed at Kelsey.
揝he抣l know where to find me.?
Writer抯 Note
I抳e not written a standalone novel since The Columbus Affair （2012）。 Before that it had been seven more years removed from The Third Secret （2005）， eight from The Romanov Prophecy （2004）， and nine from my first published novel, The Amber Room （2003）。 Intermixed among those individual efforts are sixteen Cotton Malone adventures. Not to worry, Cotton will be back next year （2023）， but, in the meantime, there抯 this new character, Nick Lee, who抯 been floating around in my head for a long time. It was good to finally bring him to life. I hope you enjoyed him. It抯 possible you could see him again, and who knows, at some point he might even get to meet up with Cotton.
As for travel related to this story, Elizabeth and I visited Ghent and saw the renovated altarpiece in all its glory. We also journeyed to southern France, including Carcassonne, Toulouse, up into the Pyr閚閑s, and an incredible trek to the Abbey of Saint-Martin-du-Canigou.
Time now to separate fact from fiction.
Ghent is an ancient Belgian town （chapters 27, 41, 42）， a remarkable place, and its various locales detailed in the story are accurate. Saint Bavo抯 Cathedral （chapter 24）， home to the Ghent Altarpiece, has stood since the thirteenth century. Inside is part church, part museum, and part art gallery. The Gravensteen is an impressive twelfth-century citadel （chapter 5）。 The Graslei （chapter 1） houses a number of trendy caf閟 and shops, remaining, as in medieval times, a center of commerce. The rivers Scheldt and Leie wind their way through downtown, definitely cutting Ghent up like pieces to a puzzle. The Novotel Gent Centrum （chapter 30） exists, as does the Groentenmarkt （chapter 42）。 Only the convent for the Maidens of Saint-Michael and the city抯 morgue （chapter 44） are my inventions.
A visit to Carcassonne （chapters 2, 10） is like a trip back to the thirteenth century. Its atmosphere and history are hard to ignore. The H魌el de la Cit?（chapter 2） exists, as does the terrace room that Bernat de Foix enjoys. Monts間ur （chapters 31, 33） is worth a visit, though the climb up is not for the faint of heart. The Cathar monument noted in chapter 33 is there, as is the Field of the Burned. Toulouse （chapters 18, 40） is a Languedoc city with a long, rich heritage. B閦iers （chapter 4） was indeed the place where the Albigensian Crusade began. The maidens?rock chapel （chapter 68） is based on several that exist across southern France, particularly the one at Gorges de Galamus （chapter 70）。 The Pyr閚閑s Mountains, the Roussillon region, and the Languedoc itself are all faithfully represented. What a wonderful corner of the world. If you ever have the opportunity, pay all three a visit.