Page 109 of No Stone Unturned

“What does he say?”

“He appears quite distressed at how you have addressed him and other cardinals in the emails you forwarded to them. He appreciates your humility and transparency in coming clean, but he finds the entire affair sordid and unbecoming of an individual of your stature. The email he is referring to is one from several weeks ago that you sent to Cardinal Bartini discussing what you saw as a character shortcoming among the new cardinal from Portugal. Somehow, it has been forwarded to all of the cardinals.”

Jacopo froze, as his brain was having a hard time processing the information. “Forwarded? How is that possible?”

“I think your account has been hacked.”

“Hacked?” A frown set to his features. “I thought the Vatican is supposed to have the highest level of information security.”

“It is, but Your Eminence, you’ve now received multiple emails from other cardinals or their staff members. Several are asking me to confirm you sent the email and they are real. What should I tell them?”

“Tell them that they aren’t real, of course. It’s all a lie and I’m being framed.”

He paused, then looked skyward turning slowly. Father Koenhein’s computer dinged several times indicating the arrival of more messages.

“How has this happened?”

“I—I don’t know how. I’ve only begun to sort through your account now. It will take me some time to figure out which emails went out, to whom and how it happened.”

Fury swept through him. “Slash,” he spit out. “He’s behind this. What did Cardinal Tunneli mean by he accepts my request for forgiveness?” His voice raised significantly. “Father Koenhein, I’m waiting for answers.”

The priest pointed to the printer. “You may sort through them yourself, Your Eminence. I’ve printed out what I’ve discovered to this point. The one on top is the most recently sent email issued from your account. It’s supposedly written by you and asks the other cardinals’ forgiveness for your pettiness and treatment of them, including assigning them derogatory nicknames and disparaging their contributions to the church. You admitted that the guilt over your actions had become too much to bear and that you are begging their forgiveness for your transgressions.”

“That’s impossible.” Jacopo looked at his clerk, stunned.

“It gets worse, sir. Apparently along with your confession, you emailed each of them all the emails where they are mentioned negatively. It will be difficult to deny all of them.”

Jacopo’s mind was a mixture of despair and rapid-fire searching of scenarios that would rescue him from this situation. His only hope was to convince the pope that it was a deliberate ploy by enemies of the Vatican to weaken the church during the time of his failing health. A plot to drive them apart at a time when the cardinals should all be coming together. It was pretty weak. But if it was going to work, he had to get to the pope before one of the other Cardinals did. Damn Slash. He was going to pay for this, and pay again.

Father Koenhein was still scanning the emails. “Oh, no,” he said, and crossed himself.

“I am not in a mood for secrets. What did you find?”

“In your supposed email to the Holy Father, you apologize for disgracing the church, yourself and his Eminence. You say you are willing to humble yourself before God and man and seek forgiveness and absolution.”

“The pope? My emails have been forwarded to the pope, too?” This couldn’t be happening. It was destroying everything.

“It also appears you offered to resign.”

“Iwhat?” he roared. He heard a noise behind him and glanced over his shoulder at the other cardinals who were crowding the doorway, listening.

“You said you were resigning, Your Eminence. That’s what the email says.”

Jacopo snatched the papers from the printer, read the first email and crushed the rest in his fist. His rage burned hot. “This is a travesty. I’m taking this to the Holy Father.”

Father Koenhein’s computer dinged again and he turned back to read it. “He just requested your presence. He’d like to see you at once. Shall I tell him you’re on your way?”

“Absolutely.”

Jacopo pushed past the cardinals at the door of his office. “I will go speak with the Holy Father now and clear this up.”

Cardinal Bartini stopped him, putting a hand on his arm. “If any of those emails were legitimate, Jacopo, we’re in serious trouble. Some of those emails were sent to us, which means our names are attached to this mess. You were careless, very careless.”

“I was hacked!”

“Regardless, it shows poor judgment. We will be watching carefully.”

Jacopo lowered his voice. “Don’t you dare desert me now. I’m what’s holding together this coalition.”

---