He nodded. 揟hat抯 why it is named the Rue du Taur, street of the bull. The church of Notre-Dame du Taur, right over there, is regarded as the place where the bull stopped. The saint抯 bones were there until the basilica was built farther down that way. We recently completed a renovation of the tomb. I reconsecrated it this morning.?
揂h, that抯 right,?Fuentes said. 揑 saw a news clipping from one of your local papers. I did some reading on the flight over from Rome. After all, I do head the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology. So I should know these things. Right??
He knew the correct answer. 揙f course.?
They kept walking and entered the plaza before the basilica, lit to the night. People milled about in every direction.
揂rchbishop,?Fuentes said. 揂s I mentioned on the telephone, it抯 important that you tell me exactly why you were provided that email referring to les Vautours. Why you? Why now??
He did not know what to say.
揂nd, please, do not lie or try to say it was all because of Father Tallard. The truth I can deal with. I can even be helpful. But lies? That will bring you nothing but misery from me.?
That he believed. So he decided to take a chance. 揑 have a son.?
If Fuentes was surprised, the man showed not a hint.
揅onceived when you were a priest??
He nodded. 揌e抯 a grown man now and had Father Tallard killed. He抯 using the fact that Tallard told me everything, in the confessional, about his past sexual deviancies, as blackmail on me and the church. He抯 the one who sent the video to me.?
揥hat does he want??
揑 don抰 know. I met with him earlier and learned little. Right now, he just wants DNA tests.?
They were standing off to themselves. No one within twenty meters. He sensed that Fuentes had maneuvered him here on purpose, wanting this conversation in public. Perhaps as a way to further assert control since, after all, what could he do in opposition? Walk away? Get angry? Raise his voice? Create a scene? Hardly.
揟his supposed son of yours knows of les Vautours??
揂pparently so.?
揇o you have any idea how??
He shook his head. 揟oday was the first time I抳e seen him in over thirty years. I probed, but he offered nothing.?
揑 would like to speak to him.?
揌e抯 also Cathar.?
That brought a momentary reaction to the stone face. 揝o he hates you and the church??
揂pparently.?
揟here is no doubt??Fuentes asked. 揌e is your son??
揌is mother confronted me with that fact long ago. I knew then that she was telling the truth.?
揥here is she??
揌e told me she was dead. I have not seen her in a long time.?
揌ow many women were there??
No sense lying. 換uite a few. But none ever presented a problem, save for her.?
揂nd your son now has your DNA.?
He shrugged. 揘o one witnessed what we did but the two of us. Deniability still exists. But I doubt all he wants is to establish parentage. He had a man killed just to gain my attention. He抯 after something else. Something bigger.?
揟hat抯 quite obvious. Any idea what??
揚robably to expose me as a lying, cheating hypocrite and the church as the protector of sexual predators.?
揗y thoughts exactly. Double revenge. But the mention of the Vultures? That抯 the puzzling part of this.?
He realized that he would not be the first cardinal with a questionable past. Truth be told, most of them harbored more than one secret. But the problem was more acute. He wasn抰 a cardinal.
Not yet.
揟he Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology was created to watch over and protect the ancient cemeteries beneath St. Peter抯 Basilica,?Fuentes said. 揟hat is our primary obligation. But we also have a duty to safeguard the oldest memories of the first Christian centuries, wherever that might be. That grants me a fair amount of latitude. Do you play golf??
He shook his head.
揂 shame. It抯 a wonderful game. Quite relaxing. There are out-of-bounds markers all along the course defined by white stakes. Places you cannot venture without a penalty stroke. The commission抯 markers are spaced out too, but quite wide, offering plenty of room for me to play.?
He was a bit frustrated with all the hedging. 揈minence, I抳e been painfully honest with you. Could you extend me the same courtesy??
Fuentes smiled. 揝ince 1852, only nine men have headed the pontifical commission. The tenure for each was long. All competent individuals who performed their job with skill and dedication. I was appointed by the last pope and kept in the job by the current one. With your help, Archbishop, we are going to finally solve a mystery that has plagued the church for a long, long time.?
Now he was intrigued.
Fuentes motioned. 揕et抯 walk and enjoy this marvelous evening. Along the way, in return for your honesty, I抣l tell you something that few on this earth know.?