Chapter 59

           ThemalereceptionistinthelobbyoftheOpusDeiheadquartersonLexingtonAvenueinNewYorkCitywassurprisedtohearBishopAringarosa’svoiceontheline.«Goodevening,sir.»«HaveIhadanymessages?»thebishopdemanded,soundingunusuallyanxious.»Yes,sir.I’mverygladyoucalledin.Icouldn’treachyouinyourapartment.Youhadanurgentphonemessageabouthalfanhourago.»

           «Yes?»Hesoundedrelievedbythenews.«Didthecallerleaveaname?»«No,sir,justanumber.»Theoperatorrelayedthenumber.

           «Prefixthirty-three?That’sFrance,amIright?»

           «Yes,sir.Paris.Thecallersaiditwascriticalyoucontacthimimmediately.»

           «Thankyou.Ihavebeenwaitingforthatcall.»Aringarosaquicklyseveredtheconnection.

           Asthereceptionisthungupthereceiver,hewonderedwhyAringarosa’sphoneconnectionsoundedsocrackly.Thebishop’sdailyscheduleshowedhiminNewYorkthisweekend,andyethesoundedaworldaway.Thereceptionistshruggeditoff.BishopAringarosahadbeenactingverystrangelythelastfewmonths.

           Mycellularphonemustnothavebeenreceiving,AringarosathoughtastheFiatapproachedtheexitforRome’sCiampinoCharterAirport.TheTeacherwastryingtoreachme.DespiteAringarosa’sconcernathavingmissedthecall,hefeltencouragedthattheTeacherfeltconfidentenoughtocallOpusDeiheadquartersdirectly.

           ThingsmusthavegonewellinParistonight.

           AsAringarosabegandialingthenumber,hefeltexcitedtoknowhewouldsoonbeinParis.I’llbeonthegroundbeforedawn