Page 66 of The Order

“Won’t they be sequestered?”

“In theory. But in reality, it’s rather porous. That said, there’s no guarantee the dean of the Sacred College will allow me to speak to them. Not unless I have ironclad, undeniable proof of the Order’s conspiracy.” Donati patted Gabriel’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t think that would be too difficult for a man in your position.”

“That’s exactly what you said about Niklaus Janson.”

“Is it?” Donati smiled. “I’d also like you to bring me proof that the Order murdered my master. And the book, of course. We mustn’t forget the Gospel of Pilate.”

Gabriel stared at the golden cross atop the baldachin. “Don’t worry, Excellency. We haven’t.”

33

Israeli Embassy, Rome

Gabriel dropped Donatiat the Jesuit Curia, then headed to the Israeli Embassy. Downstairs, he locked the first page of the Gospel of Pilate in an Office safe and rang Yuval Gershon of Unit 8200 on a secure phone in the Holy of Holies. It was past midnight in Tel Aviv. Gershon was in bed.

“What now?” he asked warily.

“A German conglomerate called the Wolf Group.”

“Anyone specific?”

“Herr Wolf.”

“How deep?”

“Proctological.”

Gershon exhaled into the mouthpiece of his phone. “And I thought it was going to be something unreasonable.”

“I’ll get to the unreasonable request in a minute.”

“Are you looking for something in particular?”

Gabriel recited several keywords and names. One of the names was his own. Another was the name of the Roman military officer who had served as the prefect of Judea from approximately 26c.e.to December of 36.

“ThePontius Pilate?” asked Gershon.

“How many Pontius Pilates do you know, Yuval?”

“I assume this has something to do with our visit to the Secret Archives.”

Gabriel indicated it did. He also insinuated that while inside the Archives, he had been given the first page of a rather interesting document.

“By whom?”

“A priest named Father Joshua.”

“That’s strange.”

“Why?”

“Because you and Archbishop Donati were the only ones in the Manuscript Depository.”

“We spoke to him.”

“If you say so. What else?”

“The Institute for Works of Religion, better known as the Vatican Bank. I just e-mailed you a list of names. I want to know whether any of them received large payments lately.”