GENESIS (GODS CHAIN) (35 page)

‘
Si
,
I understand.’

‘I must remind you that Vatican policy
requires
every page
to
be turned
;
nothing must
be
held back
or
else it could result in serious breach of discipline.
Your full honesty is essential.
And er
,
’
he
lower
ed
his voice, ‘you must
not
speak to anyone
of this matter
,
as
doing so
would
open up
another
disciplinary matter.
N
o disclosure to anyone
—am I clear?
’ he looked about.
No one was in earshot.

‘Crystal
,
’ she stated soberly
.
L
ittle shit head
,
she thought.
H
er first impression of the man was completely wrong
.
Francesca suppressed her rage
at being treated like such a child
.

Agent Schiavone
then
spoke to Francesca
.
‘As
do
The Vatican
Gendarmerie
— Police
,
we have control and authority
over
security matters within the City.
I am sure you understand the gravity
of the situation
.
If this information was exposed
,
then there would be repercussions for his Holy Office worldwide in terms of confidence
,
to say the least.
We
have
already spoken to your manager and he has given us a summary of what seems to have happened
. W
e now need more specifics from you, Miss DeRose.’

‘Can you to tell us everything you know about th
e
Apostol
account?’
Agent Zito smiled politely at Francesca,
knowing
that she was in no doubt of the full implications and gravity of the security breach and their absolute right
to question her
.

Francesca took an instant dislike
to
being threatened with reprisals in this manner
.
S
he well knew about privacy and confidentiality
,
as they were the focus of
each day
of
her working life
, and certainly didn’t need to be reminded or coerced
.
These two meant business
, however, and Francesca didn’t want to make trouble for herself just because she felt miffed
.
The next hour past slowly for the systems administrator as she disclosed as much
information
as possible
while making sure
not to compromise her or anyone else’s delicate positions.

Everyone wanted to find out what was happening,
but
she needed to protect
Michaelangelo
first and foremost.
He was not going to be some kind of a
s
capegoat!
Francesca
knew that she
would have to watch out
so that she did not become a scapegoat, either!
She knew that eventually everything would be disclosed
,
including
the
breaching
of
Noah.
Absolutely everything
,
that is
,
except the
e-mail
.

Francesca
had long
thought the Vatican had given
VIA
far too much power and the arrogance
of the two agents proved it
.
She glanced over at her co-worker.
Paulina was not at her desk and Francesca had not seen her leave
, and so Francesca
surmis
ed
that he
r co-worker
was likely looking for a spare
s
erver to use as a replacement box for Noah and
as
her new “Confessional Box”.

Agent Schiavone
was silent for the rest of the interview
,
g
i
v
ing only
a cursory nod from time to time,
mainly
listening and making
notes on all Francesca’s responses—
from body language to any hesitation in
speech
.
Francesca felt that the electrodes would be out next!
She is so rude
,
thought Francesca
,
even
though
she
i
s wearing a lovely crucifix around her neck
.
The
a
gent also wore a fine
,
small
-
faced silver analogue watch with fine Roman numerals and a small symbol
that looked
something like a setsquare and compass replacing the XII.

Too perfect
,
thought Francesca
,
flushing
with female jealousy
.
H
uh
,
“looks” are only skin deep
,
especially with her model feature
s
, sensual full lips and blonde hair
...what a
cow.
At least t
he guys have somebody
new
to look at today
.
She smirked,
feeling little more vulnerable than usual.
Agent Schiavone spoke at last.

‘I have listened to you with interest but I feel
...
there is something you are not telling us
,
si
?
’
The woman
paused and licked her lips
slowly, as though
tasting Francesca’s discomfort. An answer did not come
, and
so the agent studied the girl
carefully.
Francesca recognised th
e
woman’s
look
as the same one given her by
the contractors
every
morning
.
she felt naked and disturbed at the close attention.
The woman continued her questioning
.
‘Was this
Michaelangelo
something more than a colleague,
to you,
more than a friend?
Are you in a relationship with him,
Francesca
?’
the woman asked
with clinical
clarity
.

‘I don’t think you should be speaking to me in that way
,
Ms Schiavone
.
’
Francesca felt herself growing
red in the face with a suppressed anger, ‘I am a good friend
of
Michaelangelo
’s, as I am with all my team members,
and
his departure
has come to me as a complete surprise!’ Francesca retorted sharply.

‘
Agent
Schiavone,’
the woman
corrected the girl
.
‘Come on
,
Miss DeRose, do you expect me to believe that? What
do you know
about his substantial financial debts?’
Schiavone looked down her nose at Francesca
,
her dark glasses
slipping down the bridge of her nose a little.
The agent edged closer to the girl
...
.

‘He is a good friend,
si
, as I said before
,
and
I do not care what
you
think! What has his finances and my personal life to do with
VIA
,
anyway?’
she shot
a glance directly at her adversary
,
h
er composure
lost in outrage.
‘Who do you think you are speaking to?’ She then looked at the male agent for support
.
‘Signore Zito, put your cat back in a cage! I will not put up with these insults any longer.’
Francesca was up for it now, livid and with good cause!

Agent Schiavone seemed unperturbed
,
almost
as if she
enjoy
ed
ba
i
ting her subject. The
a
gents were about finished.
This was what she had been waiting for
...
this moment
,
when Francesca was at her most vulnerable.