The Secret of Fatima Read Free

privately with Father Thrall.”
    â€œHmph!” said Mather. “That’s fine. Well, I have things to attend to.” Flustered, Mather busily gathered up an eclectic assortment of gewgaws from his desk.
    When Mather was gone, Monsignor Massimo Drotti removed a leather attaché from his briefcase and held it on his lap. “Kevin … may I call you Kevin?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œI don’t want to be overly dramatic. I’m not sure where to begin. I guess it’ll be in the middle.”
    â€œI’m all ears, monsignor.”
    â€œThank you. First, I know Massimo is a bit of a mouthful. Please call me ‘Max’. If you agree to what I’m about to ask of you, we’ll be spending some time together.”
    Kevin said nothing. Maybe his reserve would have an effect, would draw out this seriously bottled-up dude. An old CIA trick.
    â€œThe directives and information I’m about to share with you come directly from the church’s highest source. If you assume that’d be His Holiness, you’d not be wrong. I say this not to get the drums rolling, but to emphasize both the urgency and the importance of our mission. In short, we’re facing an immediate crisis which threatens the very core of our Catholic Church.”
    â€œThat’s unquestionably dramatic,” Kevin exclaimed dryly.
    â€œIt’s true, I’m afraid. You’ve been the subject of the most detailed and extensive investigation ever undertaken by the Church. I’m happy to report it was the right thing to do: you’ve been cleared. You’re being reassigned to the Vatican. This’ll mean dropping what you’re doing here and coming to Rome immediately. Of course, you’ll be held to our strict rules of confidentiality far more stringent than those in the military and the CIA.”
    â€œI was never a direct employee of the CIA,” Kevin said.
    Max looked down at his notes and continued, “Yes, I see that. You were officially employed by a paramilitary group called ‘Grey Associates’ assigned to the CIA under contract, correct?”
    Kevin nodded. “Correct.”
    â€œThen—” began Max.
    â€œExcuse me, Max. What if I were to turn down this assignment?” Kevin’s head was reeling.
    â€œNot an option, Kevin.”
    Kevin couldn’t argue. Not now, anyway. “What else can you tell me?”
    The monsignor stroked his chin. For a moment, he was contemplative as he looked out at the barren street. Pink buds and young leaves hinted of the coming of spring. On the horizon, clusters of smoky storm clouds were congregating.
    â€œWe believe there’s a serious threat to the leadership of the Church. It’s coming from within. I’m afraid that’s all I’ll disclose now.”
    â€œAnd how was I so lucky to get tapped for this special—ah, dangerous—assignment?”
    â€œYou came recommended by a highly-placed source—His Eminence, Cardinal John Porter,” Drotti said.
    â€œWhen I was studying in Rome, Porter was a bishop, and my mentor.” Kevin nodded. He didn’t add that Porter also happened to be his savior. After his snafu in the army had gone public, if it hadn’t been for Porter, he might have been defrocked as a priest.
    â€œThen you know he’s now a cardinal. He runs the Instituto per le Opere Religiosi, the Vatican Bank. He’s a powerful man and His Holiness has great confidence in him and his judgment. Besides his vote for you, our investigation into your military background also confirmed you’re precisely the person we need.”
    Kevin cleared his throat. “You thoroughly checked my background?”
    â€œIf you’re asking if we’re aware of your army court martial, the answer is yes, of course.” Drotti glanced at his notes. “According to the Code of Canon Law, Canon 1040, paragraph 4, a person who has committed