Page 102 of An Inside Job

“He trained and employed a large number of very talented studio assistants, all of whom could mimic his style. It’s possible that someone like Giovanni Boltraffio or Bernardino Luini made it. But I think it’s a Leonardo, and I’m not alone.”

“What now?”

“We remove all the many layers of overpaint and strip it down to the original. Then we invite the greatest Leonardo scholars in the world to examine it. I’m confident they will reach a consensus on the attribution.”

“And then?”

“The painting will have to be restored.”

“Is there any chance I could convince you to handle it?”

“So much for your infallibility, Holiness.” Gabriel smiled. “It would be the honor of a lifetime to restore the painting. In fact, I’ve already made a perfect copy of it.”

“Really? Where is it now?”

“It was sold to a Russian oligarch this afternoon for a half billion dollars.”

“Sold by whom?” asked Donati.

“A Swiss bank controlled by the Camorra.”

“But why did the bank sell your copy to the Russian?”

“They were under the impression it was the real Leonardo.”

“You somehow managed to switch the paintings?”

Gabriel smiled but said nothing.

“I’m afraid to ask how the Camorra-controlled bank ended up with the Leonardo in the first place.”

“It appears as though it was used to pay off a loan for a piece of commercial real estate in London.”

Donati’s eyes narrowed. “And the address of this property?”

“New Bond Street. The borrower was something called the Mayfair Group. We haven’t been able to determine who or what it is.”

“You should have come to me,mio amico.” Donati turned to face theLast Judgment. “I could have told you everything you needed to know.”

41

Casa Santa Marta

The guests milling about the lobby of the Casa Santa Marta caught an unexpected glimpse of the Vicar of Christ five minutes later as he hastened into a waiting elevator, accompanied by his private secretary and a layman carrying a flat rectangular case. Upstairs, the pontiff and his party headed straight for Room 201 and closed the door behind them.

“All of it,” demanded Donati.

“The less you know, the better, Luigi.”

“You’re beginning to sound like Father Keegan.”

“Laws were broken,” explained Gabriel. “Many laws.”

“I would have expected nothing less. Now tell me the name of the bank.”

“SBL PrivatBank.”

“It’s headquartered in Lugano, if I’m not mistaken.”