揟he dead woman is a Vautour,?he said. 揟here抯 no question in my mind. She is the best tangible lead we抳e ever come across.?
揑nteresting that they remained women from the beginning,?Dati said.
He nodded. 揑t appears so.?
The friars in Ghent had viewed the dead woman抯 body and sent an image of a vulture that had been tattooed on her left shoulder. Through officials at Saint Bavo抯 he抎 also learned that a United Nations investigator was on the scene and had penetrated the local convent for the Maidens of Saint-Michael, retrieving a laptop that had been stolen from Sister Deal during the attack. That drew a straight line from the burned Just Judges panel to the maidens.
揥e investigated the maidens,?Dati said, 揳long with other convents in southern France, a long time ago. Nothing unusual was uncovered.?
揌iding in plain sight is always best. And they have not survived for so long by being stupid.?
Two paths were available. They could go straight to the maidens?motherhouse in southern France. Or they could start with the retirement home in Ghent. He weighed the pros and cons, then said, 揥e will focus on the convent in Ghent and see if we can rattle some of those old nuns.?
Dati nodded.
He pointed to the tomb of John Paul I. 揌e served a mere thirty-three days. A lifetime of preparation and dedication for a little over a month as pope. What a waste.?He paused. 揑 want more.?
揂nd I want you to have it. We Dominicans are ready to serve as a communion of brothers.?
He liked that. No question where the friars stood.
揟he time has come to stop dreaming, stop planning, and make it real,?he said to Dati. 揑 need the confidence of the cardinals, and providence has dealt us a golden opportunity to gain it. I am not going to squander that.?
揘either will I.?
That抯 what he liked about this man.
Definitive. Decisive. Determined.
The perfect ally.
揑 will personally handle the situation in Toulouse,?Fuentes said. 揑 want you to deal with those maidens in Ghent. We have to know for sure.?
Dati bowed, ever so slightly, agreeing.
He acknowledged the show of respect with a nod. 揌ere抯 what I want you to do.?
Chapter 27
Nick had developed a whole host of instincts. He抎 started honing them with the FBI, but the past few years on an international stage had allowed him to really perfect them. He hadn抰 been sure the prioress was a problem, but he抎 been curious enough to find out. The older woman probably thought that no one would consider her appearance here in Ghent suspicious. One of her sisters had been attacked. It would be only natural for her to be concerned. She also existed in a cloistered world where her word was the law and no one questioned her actions or motives. He lived in a world where every single thing came under sharp scrutiny.
揝he sold me out,?Kelsey said again.
He was tailing the prioress, who抎 left the basilica with the laptop. He was in communication with Kelsey through his phone, her voice audible thanks to earbuds, and Kelsey safe back in her apartment. He was out on the streets of Ghent, the prioress thirty yards ahead and in no hurry. For the past fifteen minutes they抎 meandered about. He could almost read the older woman抯 thoughts. Who抎 be following me?
揝he抯 a good woman,?Kelsey said in his ear. 揟he other sisters, and I, have great respect for her. That抯 why this is so hard.?
揧ou have to assume that she抯 doing what she believes is the right thing,?he whispered back.
揟hat抯 what I keep telling myself. But she still sold me out and allowed a great masterpiece to be destroyed.?
He knew that lying was tough for Kelsey. On their first date she抎 made it clear that she preferred straight talk. If he didn抰 want to see her again, just say so. No need to make excuses or hedge. The truth would be just fine. He loved that about her and, when the time came to end things, she抎 practiced what she抎 preached and not minced words. Of course, earlier, she抎 lied to her prioress about copies of the images but, as he抎 explained to her, sometimes in his line of work, to get to the truth, it had to be done.
He passed through a cobbled square where a statue of Apollo stood watch. Water flowed from a fountain. Outdoor caf閟 were doing a respectable early-afternoon business. Lots of hustle and bustle all around with people moving in every direction. The prioress kept going, exiting onto a side street labeled Biezekapelstraat.
He followed.
Music leaked out overhead from open windows. They turned again onto another street and passed by Ghent police headquarters. He抎 momentarily thought she might be headed there and that they抎 misjudged her.
But she kept walking.
Saint James Church stood ahead adjacent to another large square. The river Leie flowed beyond, beneath a low-slung bridge. He saw the Gravensteen looming on the far bank. They were headed in the general direction of both the old castle and the convent, the way he抎 taken last night on the river.