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of loneliness crept into his soul.

Chapter 4
    In Vatican City, thick maroon drapes were drawn in front of a row of tall windows, blotting out the lights illuminating the Basilica. Inside the darkened room, a man dressed in the long black cassock of a priest paced in front of a gilded Italian desk and stared at the phone. He walked back and forth with his hands behind his back before finally coming to a decision and lowering himself into the chair behind the desk. He glanced at a heavy bronze clock next to the phone. It was time to make the call. His pulse quickened as his breath came in shallow gasps. With hands shaking in nervous anticipation, he dialed the number.
    A deep voice with the slight hint of an accent answered. “Yes?”
    “It appears that Morelli has enlisted the help of an old friend, sir.”
    “Who?”
    “Father Leopold Amodeo. He arrived today from America.” The priest shifted uneasily in his seat. He was talking to his master.
    “Is he a part of this?”
    “I don’t believe so, but he could be. He and Morelli have been friends for years.”
    “Do you think Morelli knows where it is?”
    “No, he doesn’t even know where the chapel is.”
    The voice sounded distrustful, almost angry. “Are you certain?”
    The priest felt a surge of panic rising in his throat. “Yes, sir. So far we’ve been able to prevent them from finding it without raising suspicion. There’s no way they can get to it without our knowledge.”
    The voice seemed more relaxed. “Good.”
    The priest started to breathe normally again. “Thank you, sir. What would you like me to do next?”
    “Now that they’ve discovered the code, it will only be a matter of time. We’re going to have to take more aggressive steps to make sure their search stops now.”
    Panic again seized the priest. “What should I do if they discover the chapel?”
    The voice became angry. “It’s your job to keep that from happening. The possibility still exists that they may find some clue there that will lead them to it. You will do whatever has to be done to assure that it remains safe. Anything! Is that clear? Morelli must not be allowed to continue.”
    The priest’s body trembled behind the desk. “Yes, sir. I understand.” He heard breathing on the other end of the line. After a brief pause, the voice became soothing, almost fatherly. “Our work here is far from over, and you will have to find the strength to carry on.”
    “My life is devoted to you, sir.”
    “Your dedication has never been an issue. You’ve always been one of our most faithful servants, and your reward will come in time.”
    Excitement replaced fear within the priest. His master loved him. “Thank you, sir. I will call you tomorrow and let you know of my plan.” The phone went dead in his hands as he leaned back in his chair and gazed up at the hand-painted ceiling covered with images of angels and saints. Below that, a crucifix hung on the wall over his bed. Soon he would paint over this ceiling and replace the crucifix with a symbol of his own. One his master would approve of.

Chapter 5
    It was still dark outside Saint Peter’s Basilica when Father Leo arrived the next morning and ascended the steps. In front of the enormous open doors, a brown-robed figure stood framed by bright yellow light streaming from inside the Basilica, making it difficult to see the face under the hood. “Father Leopold Amodeo?”
    Leo looked up at the monk. “Yes.”
    “Hi. I’m John. John Lowe. I work with Father Morelli. He just called to say he’s running late and asked me to meet you here for Mass.”
    The monk brushed the brown hood from his head to reveal a young man in his twenties with soulful eyes, long black hair, and a short, trimmed beard. They shook hands and turned to enter the massive church created by Michelangelo and Bernini.
    “I see you are a Franciscan, John.”
    “My sense of fashion usually gives me away,” John laughed. “Actually, the Franciscan