ADDAIO WAS WORKING IN HIS OFFICE WHEN his cell phone rang. The conversation was brief, but by the time he hung up, he was red with rage. He shouted for Guner, who came running.
"What is it, pastor?"
"Find Bakkalbasi at once. I don't care where he is, I have to see him. And I want all the elders here within half an hour."
"What has happened?"
"A catastrophe. Now get them."
When he was alone, he put his hands to his temples and pressed hard. His head hurt all the time. For days he had been experiencing terrible, almost unbearable headaches. He was sleeping badly, and he had no appetite. More and more, he felt it would be a blessing just to die now. He was tired of the lifelong trap he was in-the trap of being Addaio.
The news could not have been worse. The Bajerai brothers had been found out. Someone within the prison had learned of their plans and blocked them. Perhaps the two had talked too much, or someone may simply have been protecting Mendib. It could even be them, them again, or that cop, sticking his nose in everywhere. Apparently in the last few days he had been in and out of the warden's office constantly. He was planning something, but what? It had been reported that he met a couple of times with a drug capo, a man named Frasquello. Yes, yes, the pieces fit-no doubt this Valoni had put the mafioso in charge of protecting Mendib. He was their only lead-a lead that could bring them here, to Urfa-and they had to protect him. That was it, yes, that was it.
Pain was eating up his brain. He searched a moment for a key and opened a drawer, took out a botde of pills, gulped down two, and then sat with his eyes closed to wait for it to pass. With a litde luck, by the time the elders arrived it would be better.
Guner knocked softly at the office door. The elders were waiting for Addaio in the large meeting room. When there was no response, Guner entered and found Addaio with his head on the desk, his eyes closed, motionless. Guner approached with trepidation and shook his master gendy until he awoke. The servant breathed a soft sigh of relief.
"You were asleep."
"Yes… my head hurt."
"You should go back to the doctor; this pain is killing you. You need to have a brain scan."
"I'm fine." Addaio brushed aside further discussion.
A few minutes later he strode into the meeting room. The eight members of the council made an imposing picture, arrayed around the heavy mahogany table in their black chasubles.
Concern filled their faces as Addaio informed them of the events in the Turin prison.
"Mendib will be released in four or five days and will attempt to contact us," Addaio went on. "We must prevent that; our people cannot fail again. That is why it is imperative that you be there, Bakkalbasi, coordinating | the operation, in constant contact with me. We are on the verge of disaster."
"I have news of Turgut."
All eyes turned to Talat, their main conduit to the porter in the Turin Cathedral. His piercing blue eyes were fixed on Addaio.
"We should get him out of there. He's becoming more unhinged by the day. He swears he is being followed, that they no longer trust him in the bishop's offices, and that Rome police officers have remained in Turin to arrest him."
"That is the last thing we can do in the middle of all this, Talat," Bakkalbasi replied.
"Is Ismet ready to travel?" Addaio asked. "He was to prepare himself to take his uncle's place at the cathedral. That is our best course for now."
"His parents have agreed, but the young man seems reluctant. He has a girlfriend here," Talat explained.
"Girlfriend! And because he has a girlfriend he would endanger the entire community? Call them. He will leave today, with our brother Bakkalbasi. Tell Ismet's parents to call Turgut and tell him they are sending their son to reside with him while he looks for a future in Italy. And do it now."
Addaio's peremptory tone left no room for hesitation or disagreement. A short while later, the eight left the mansion, each with precise orders to carry out.