The Parchment by Gerald T. McLaughlin Read Free Book Online

Alzheimer's.”
    For a moment, Barbo stared at a silver icon of Jesus the Panto-crator that hung on the wall behind his desk. Barbo always drew strength from Jesus' eyes — strong but compassionate.
    “Thank you, Roger.”
    When Hendricks left, Barbo buried his face in his hands. As the highest ranked churchman after the pope, the secretary of state would have a decisive say in whether the pope would have to abdicate.
    Alessandri knocked softly at the door.
    “I'm sorry Your Eminence but Signor Visconti is here with two American professors. He has no appointment.”
    “See if you can handle the matter, Enrico.”
    “I tried to, but Signor Visconti insists on seeing you. He said he spoke to you at the reception.”
    Barbo felt the envelope in his pocket. Given the generosity of Visconti's clients, Barbo knew he would have to go through with the meeting. At least, he would keep the meeting short.
    “Show them in.”
    When Visconti and the two professors entered his office, Barbo waved them to a seating area to the right of his desk.
    “Eminenza, thank you for squeezing us into your busy schedule. Let me introduce you to Professor Bielgard from the University of Michigan and Professor Michellini from Bard College in New York.”
    “I am honored. Your biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine was superb. How can I help you? Pietro, you told me there was a matter of some delicacy.”
    “Yes, Eminenza.”
    Visconti removed a document from his briefcase.
    “Eminenza, this is a photocopy of a Jewish census record. Although I know you read Hebrew, I have prepared an Italian translation of the original.”
    Visconti stood up and laid the photocopy and translation in front of the cardinal.
    “Eminenza, I think you will find this manuscript troubling.”
    Barbo's face grew pale as he read down the document. “Where did you get this?”
    “It's a photocopy of a document from the Vatican Library, Eminenza. The original was in a pile of Templar records from the twelfth century. I don't think it's been read in centuries.”
    Barbo looked at Visconti. “Well if the original is from the Vatican Library, then give it to me. I'll see that it gets back into the right hands.”
    Visconti stood up and walked to a window overlooking St. Peter's Square. “The worshippers down there live such simple lives. For us life is not so simple.”
    “What do you mean, Visconti?”
    “You know as well as I that this census record contains information that could be damaging to the Catholic Church.”
    Barbo made a dismissive gesture. “I doubt it. Most of these discoveries turn out to be forgeries, as I'm sure this one is.”
    “Eminenza, this is not just another ‘Da Vinci code’ puzzle. It is a very straightforward document that simply states the facts. The parchment is authentic. Professor Baldini from the University of Rome has carbon dated it.”
    Barbo fingered his pectoral cross. “Look, Visconti. I'm busy. What do you want?”
    Visconti smiled. “Like you, my clients wish to see the document get into the right hands. Still they are academics — and poorly paid at that.”
    Barbo stood up from his desk. “Don't toy with me. What's your price for the original?”
    Bielgard interrupted Visconti. “Ten million euros — and in cash.”
    The cardinal's eyes grew cold. “You realize that I could have the three of you arrested for blackmailing the Vatican.”
    Bielgard responded caustically. “You could but you won't. We've obviously taken precautions.”
    Barbo walked toward the door to his office. “I've dealt with extortionists before, Professor Bielgard. It's one of the more distasteful aspects of being Vatican secretary of state. An expert from the Vatican Library will have to look at it and do whatever testing he feels necessary.”
    Visconti bowed to the cardinal. “My clients have no objection.”
    “I will telephone you as soon as I have made arrangements with the library. Now if you would excuse me, Father Alessandri will see you