Tel-Aviv
B ack in his Tel-Aviv hotel, Giorgio Felici watched a re-run of the interview between Tom Schweiker and the CCN anchor on International Correspondent. There was still no word on the condition of the Italian scientist. He thought back to the time he had those pert little breasts in the cross-hairs of his sniper sight. It would be a pity if she survived, but the announcement that Donelli was attending the peace ceremony had given Felici an idea. He had been wrestling with the problem of how to eliminate Cardinal Donelli and at the same time avoid getting caught up in the aftermath, and this plan might just work. If a cardinal was to die as a result of an attack on the Prime Minister of Israel, the inevitable investigation would remain focused on the death of Prime Minister Kaufmann. The death of Donelli would be dismissed as an unfortunate coincidence. Giorgio knew that Yusef Sartawi had a deep-seated hatred of the Israelis but was it enough to kill the Israeli Prime Minister, along with Donelli? Of all the countries in the world, Israel had to be one of the toughest in which to carry out an assassination.
Felici picked up his mobile and punched in the code to the Cardinal Secretary of State’s secure phone, anticipating that the Cardinal would be in a black mood. He was not disappointed.
‘Petroni!’
‘Giorgio Felici here, Lorenzo. I have just seen the announcement that Cardinal Donelli has been invited to the signing of the Peace Treaty at the ceremony in Jerusalem,’ he said, keeping the recovery of the Omega Scroll to himself.
‘An invitation that he will not be keeping, Giorgio. It hasn’t been approved by the Holy Father and it certainly hasn’t been approved by me.’ Petroni was livid and his words hissed over the phone line.
‘I would suggest you allow the visit to go ahead, Lorenzo,’ Giorgio replied evenly. ‘It will give me an opportunity to enlist the support of those I need to meet our requirements.’
Petroni didn’t answer immediately. He was in a corner and unable to do anything about it. ‘Judging from the results of your efforts so far, Giorgio, I have no option,’ Petroni replied acidly, and he slammed the handset on to the phone’s cradle.
Giorgio smiled. Petroni would be useful as Pope, but if not, there were others on P3’s list. In the meantime, he took great satisfaction from letting the ruthlessly ambitious Petroni stew for a little while longer over the whereabouts of the Omega Scroll.
David reached the third-floor ward of the vast Hadassah Hospital and knocked on the small outer office.
‘For me, Dr Kaufmann. You shouldn’t have!’ The ward sister smiled at the handsome visitor. His head was lightly bandaged and he held a dozen roses.
David returned the smile. ‘How is she?’
‘Much better this morning. Still a bit shaken so we’ll keep her under observation for another night but you should be able to take her home tomorrow.’
‘I know it’s not visiting hours but could I see her?’
‘Of course.’
David followed the ward sister down the corridor. A Shin Bet security agent was sitting unobtrusively near Allegra’s private room. Shades of things to come, David thought ruefully.
Allegra’s face was bruised and flecked with small cuts. Her arms were heavily bandaged, as were her feet. Fortunately her wounds looked much worse than they actually were. She still managed a smile for David as she supervised him with the roses and a vase. Arranging done, he gently kissed her unscarred lips.
‘David, the roses are beautiful. Even I didn’t think you were that romantic,’ she joked, then her mood became serious.
‘How is Elie’s family?’ she asked. ‘Is there anything we can do to help?’ Allegra’s heart ached for Elie, she owed him her life.
‘I spoke to his wife,’ David replied softly. ‘She’s coping as best as she can. Are you sure you still want to be part of this?’
Allegra pushed herself off the pillows and leaned towards David, taking his hand. ‘If you were like those who wanted to fight violence with violence and you thought that there was no other way, I might have second thoughts. I whole-heartedly believe in the peace that you, Yossi and Ahmed are brokering. I also know that I love you very much, and I won’t let you go that easily.’
David’s eyes were misty as he looked at Allegra, smiling across at him. There would be time enough to tell her about the break-in at the university when she was fully recovered.