As they mulled over this conundrum a tall, dark suited gent walked into the victim’s room.

“Yashish sir at your service.”

“Assistant head of Vatican security?” the sergeant asked.

“I am here to help. This murder has hit us all hard.”

Salini stood and pointed to the wall safe.

“I need this to be opened sir.”

Yashish wandered over and fiddled with the barrel until it clicked loudly. The detective glanced inside and pulled out a sheath of papers.

“Those will be security arrangements for the Holy Father sir.”

The detective glanced through them.

“I suppose there have been changes.”

The gent nodded.

“We have no option sir. The arrangements may have been compromised.”

“I tell you what I think,” Salini said.

“Go ahead.”

“We now have three deaths. I strongly suspect that the killer is after certain information. Can you think of what that may be?”

The gent shook his head.

“Nigella always kept everything under his hat so to speak.”

“So in your opinion, he would not have discussed his job with others?”

“He certainly would not have done sir.”

The sergeant’s radio suddenly crackled into life. As he took the call, his jaw dropped.

“Problem sergeant.”

“We need to visit the boy’s mom sir. Our officer has been told some disturbing information.”

The detective nodded and said, “We may need to talk to you again.”

“You know where to find me.”

The detective handed the papers back and followed his sidekick out.
They fought their way through the heavy traffic until the squad car drew up outside the family home. When they entered the pretty lounge, they found the boy’s mom bawling.

“What’s the trouble?” Salini asked the officer.

“She swears that he was picked up by one of us sir.”

Salini sat opposite and waited for the tears to stop.

“Can you tell me exactly what happened?”

She wiped her red eyes and nodded.

She identified herself as Rome police sir. Wanted some more information in regard to the priest’s death.”

“Then what happened?” the sergeant asked.

“She followed him to the black car before driving off. I thought that they were heading for the station.”

“Did you get the registration number?” Salini asked.

“No sir. I didn’t even think.”

“You must have got a good look at her,” the sergeant suggested.

The woman nodded and gritted her teeth.

“To my grave sir, I won’t forget that woman.”

They waited as she paused.

“She was dressed in a dark dress sir. She had very strange green eyes and long black hair. She was tall and very convincing.”

Salini turned to his sergeant.

“Issue an APB with those details. We are finally on her track.”

After this was done, they left the woman with the bereavement officer.

As they sat in the squad car, the sergeant said, “She must have had a nerve sir. Posing as one of us.”

“Quite a cool customer too sergeant. However, her arrogance could well be her downfall. I think she has made a mistake.”

“Where to now sir?”

“Back to the station sergeant. Sadly, the next move is up to her.”

The desk sergeant smiled as they entered.

“You have a visitor Salini.”

When he opened the door, a short, well-built man was waiting for him.

“Commissioner?”

“You may go sergeant,” his guest said.

As the door closed, the commissioner invited the detective to sit.

“I’ve had Vatican security on the line. They are very concerned by
this break-in.”

“As am I sir.”

“Our PM has even had to answer questions in parliament.”

“I am not a politician sir.”

“You would make a lousy one if you were. What’s your take on the break-in?”

The detective thought quickly.

“It is obvious that it was carried out by a young and fit woman sir.
Though robbery was not a motive.”

“Hmm.”

The commissioner gave him a steely look.

“I know your history Salini. If I find out that you were behind it...”

“What me sir? Even if I had wanted to, I’m not fit enough now. I do have some good news though.”

He then told his boss about the woman.

“At least it’s a start Salini. Your reports indicated we were looking for a bloke.”

The detective nodded.

“A bloke certainly attacked the head of Vatican security sir. They must be working together. A woman killed the priest and it would have taken two to nail that boy up.”

“Just keep me in the loop eh?”

“I had intended to sir.”

When he departed, the detective sighed with relief.

“Any trouble sir?” his returning sergeant asked.

“Nothing to worry about. It’s that priest’s funeral tomorrow.”

“Yes I know sir.”

Salini smiled.

“I think we should attend that.”

“You don’t think the killer will turn up sir?”

The detective shook his head.

“People say the most strange things at these events sergeant. I want to be there when they do.”

A light drizzle was falling as the mourners stood weeping at the graveside. Standing at a discreet distance, the two officers listened to the proceedings with deep respect.

When it was over, the sergeant pointed to a short, elderly man who needed a stick to support himself.

“That is his brother sir.”

“Let’s go and have a friendly word eh?”

“Sorry for your loss sir. We are the investigating officers.”

The brother glared at them.

“When you catch him, string the coward up.”

“I understand that this is a bad time sir but we really need your help.”

The brother nodded.

“What do you need to know?”

“Anything unusual about his behaviour perhaps?”

The brother shook his head.

“We had not spoken for three years sergeant. Something I will always regret.”

“Is there nothing you can give us?” the detective asked.

“I just hope it wasn’t over that wretched book.”

This was news to them.

“A book sir?” the sergeant asked.

The gent huffed.

“About ten years ago, my brother told me a great secret. Apparently the Vatican has a book that it would rather keep out of the public eye.”

The officers glanced at each other.

“You wouldn’t know the title by any chance?”

The gent grinned.

“Of course I do. It’s the Neo Clasico. I even joked at the time that the pope would bump him off.”

“Is it valuable then?” Salini asked.

“Beyond value I should think. It’s written in Latin and contains certain letters that never made it into the New Testament.”

“So it’s apocryphal?” the sergeant asked.

“My brother indicated that it was downright heretical.”

“Not enough to kill over surely,” Salini muttered.

“I don’t think so. No one has seen it for at least a century, and those who know of it are sworn to secrecy.”

“Thanks for your time sir,” the detective said.

As they reached the squad car, he was smiling.

“Come on sergeant. I want a word with the pope’s security boys. We have just been given a clue that could crack this case wide open.”

Their entry into the Vatican was far easier than last time. Once their intentions had been made clear, they were taken to a third floor office where Vatican security was located.

The dark suited gent smiled as they entered his opulent office. The wall was brightened up by two religious paintings, and he invited them to sit.

“How can I help you detective? Any news on the break-in?”

“I have been informed of a certain book sir. I just wanted your thoughts upon the subject.”

The assistant head smiled sweetly.

“The Vatican has over a thousand books detective.”

It’s called the Neo Clasico sir.”

The gent’s face hardened.

“There is such a book.”

“What does it contain?” Salini asked carefully.

“I actually don’t know detective. You see, I have never seen it.”

“It still exists?” the sergeant asked.

“As far as I’m aware yes.”

The detective noted the gent’s nervous posture.

“Would your predecessor have known about it?”

“The head of our security would have done. You think he was killed for that?”

“It’s a possibility sir,” the detective replied. “I take it that this book is under lock and key?”

“It’s securely guarded.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” the detective said. “One last thing. Does it contain anything that would provoke three murders?”

The gent grimaced.

“I’ve already told you sir that I have never seen it.”

The detective smiled.

“I think that is all. You were very helpful.”

The gent gave him a grim look as they left. After a few minutes of thought, he pressed a buzzer and an aid entered.

“Have detective Salini watched twenty-four seven.”

The aid nodded and promptly left. The worried officer then left himself. He found his way onto the ground floor and took a staircase down to the floor below that.

Along a dim corridor, he stopped and noted the gold plate.

The Holy office of the Inquisition.

He rapped twice.

“Enter.”

Sitting behind an enormous desk sat Bishop Brentburg. A typical hardliner, his job was to keep the mother church in line. His hard face broached no compromise.

“Welcome Lutini.”

“We have a problem sir.”

He sat down and whispered, “Detective Salini knows about the book. Naturally I’ve placed him under surveillance.”

“That is a good move Lutini. Any further action can only be taken by my express order.”

“I understand sir.”

“You may go and thanks for keeping me informed.”

When the officer left, he opened a drawer and removed an ancient key.
Sighing to himself, he walked to one of the paintings and pressed a hidden button to the right. As the door opened, he stepped through.

A spiral staircase took him down fifty feet and into a well-lit corridor. At the end of this stood an armed guard. The trooper saluted as the Bishop inserted the key.

After switching on the light, he found himself inside a bare room. Only a single filing cabinet stood here. He tapped the code and opened the top drawer.

His sweating hands drew out the book, and he opened it to the three Latin letters.

As he read the contents he hissed, “This must never get out.”