Page 111 of No Stone Unturned

“Which is why we already have rooms in the Vatican for such purposes.”

“I enjoy entertaining from home. It makes the encounters more personal and encourages more investment when done that way.”

“I’m afraid the renovation costs of twelve million euros do not outweigh the potential investments from outside sources. It’s a travesty, an embarrassment. There are millions of people in this world who are starving, and millions more who have no clean water to drink. And you spend that kind of money to renovate your personal quarters? To improveyourcomfort and status? You have lost sight of what is important, Jacopo. Humility, loyalty, compassion and self-control.Thoseare the characteristics of Jesus that we follow.”

Jacopo’s face burned. “I have never lost sight of what this church stands for.”

“Then how will you explain your transgressions against Father Emilio Armando? Trying to force him into a confession of an illicit affair? Is that an action of a man of God?”

“Why is confronting a sinner with his sin a transgression?” Jacopo argued. “It’s vital for the church to have a leader who has the right moral compass.”

“Except that’snotthe reason you blackmailed the man you believed to be his son. If you truly had concern for Emilio’s soul, you would have approached him privately. Not tried to coerce a man you hoped was his son into making a public confession or forcibly extracting a DNA sample from him.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jacopo felt his voice rise and fought to temper his emotions. “I didn’t blackmail anyone. But the Catholic people have a right to know if one of their own has shown a serious lapse in judgment.”

The pope lifted his hands. “Finally, we agree on something.” He leaned forward. “I’m issuing a statement tomorrow notifying the press I have accepted your resignation as president of the Vatican.”

“What?” The Holy Father wouldn’t dare risk an uproar at such a sensitive time for the church. Would he? “I won’t agree to it.”

“I suggest you reconsider. Your actions, including blackmail, the threat of releasing classified Vatican information, employing mercenaries to extract a DNA sample from an unwilling person, and trying to unearth evidence ofmynonexistent love child, has settled it. You’re finished.”

“You have no proof that ties me directly toanyof this other than the request to speak to the man I believed to be Father Armando’s son, for which I’m completely justified.” Jacopo’s mind was whirling, seeking an angle, a way out of this mess. “Your Eminence, this is clearly an unfortunate misunderstanding. I’m a victim here. I was hacked. How does that put me in the wrong?”

“You have lost your way, Jacopo.”

“I assure you, I have not. We are not on opposing sides. We both have the interest of the church foremost in our hearts. It is neither fair to condemn me for something I haven’t done, nor to punish me for it. That’s not the benevolent way.”

“It is the right way.”

Apprehension coursed through Jacopo. The old man wasn’t budging, so he was going to have to adjust his tactics. Removing him as the president of the Vatican would be politically delicate and could cause a possible shift in the pope’s own coalition. There would be public outcry, interest and discussion. The pope would have to justify his dismissal, a move that might anger Jacopo’s supporters and result in the airing of the Vatican’s dirty laundry. That was something he knew the pope would be loath to do. It was time to engage a different strategy.

“Your Eminence, none of this makes sense,” Jacopo said in a quieter voice. “Let us take a moment to consider the fallout of my dismissal. You are gravely ill, and the Vatican is at a crossroads. Removing me at this critical juncture would reveal a serious weakness and division within the highest echelons of the church. We cannot risk splitting our believers. You know that. The church requires cohesiveness and solidarity more than ever. You do not want your legacy to be one of divisiveness and scandal. It’s obvious I was hacked and those emails were not mine. If I were asked to resign, I would be expected to offer an explanation to the press for my resignation. I would have to express my concerns about the serious divisions and inner turmoil of the church in its present state. That would further weaken your legacy and cause discord among the cardinals and bishops. All that is required to make this go away is that you acknowledge I was hacked, accept my apology for the inconvenience to the cardinals, and we go on. Business as usual.”

The pope listened without interrupting, but shook his head in disappointment. “That sounds dangerously close to blackmail.”

“That couldn’t be further from the truth. This is about preserving the image of the church, its reach and legacy. Wemustfocus on cohesiveness and strength. To show weakness and division would be a grave mistake.”

“It would also be a grave mistake to keep you as president of the Vatican. You’ve engaged in criminal behavior. You crossed the line. You made grievous mistakes while associated with the Church. It will not be tolerated. You have acted outside—and contrary to—the wisdom, doctrines and guidance of our church. Therefore, if you will not resign, I will dismiss you. I will be fully within my rights.”

Jacopo’s throat burned with fear. “I’ll demand a trial. This will go public and your accusations will collapse. You havenoproof.”

“I’m afraid I do.” The Holy Father clapped his hands twice and a side door opened.

Father Koenhein shuffled into the room, moving to stand behind beside the pope.

Jacopo stared at Julian in a mixture of disbelief and fury, his mouth twisted in displeasure. “You? You dare to betray me?”

“He dares to stand up for what is right.” A thin chill hung on the pope’s words.

“I’m sorry, Your Eminence,” Father Koenhein said to Jacopo. “I didn’t hack your account or send those emails. But the ones where you referred to the other cardinals in such a derogatory manner—those are genuinely yours. As are the instructions to send the notes and package of the statue to the man named Slash. I also hired those men on your request to extract his DNA so you could see if he was Father Armando’s child. Then you instructed me to cross-reference his DNA with the pope’s.”

“Lies,” Jacopo hissed. “All of it, lies. None of that happened on my instructions.”

“That’s not true,” Father Koenhein said quietly. “I will swear to that on the Bible and under oath. Cardinal Lazo, I have been loyal to you for more than twenty-seven years. But I could no longer go along with what you wanted me to do because I knew in my heart it wasn’t right.” He paused, lowering his gaze and plucking nervously at his cassock. “I prayed to God to show me what he wanted me to do right after you told me to cross-reference Slash’s DNA with the Holy Father’s. Not an hour later, I bumped into a young woman in the park. She was my sign from God. She walked me back through my childhood and the reasons I came to the priesthood. I realized how far I’d strayed from that young man I once was. And that knowledge distressed me greatly.”

“Recant, my son,” Jacopo said softly. “I will forgive you.”

Father Koenhein shook his head, took a shaky breath. “I became a priest to help people, not hurt them. People could have been hurt...because of me. You told me those menhadto get the DNA at any cost. I agreed, thinking it was justified because it was to protect the church. But my conscience bothered me because I knew it was wrong. They brought weapons into that house. They threatened innocent people who could have been injured or killed. There’s no justification for that. I was ashamed of myself, of what I’d let happen in the name of the church. I’ve confessed everything and begged for forgiveness from the Holy Father.”

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