CHAPTER 87

CHAPTER 87

THE DAY DAWNED SLOWLY. When Nicole entered the suite, she found Gregory standing next to Roman Green. Both, along with Antoine, were conferring with Victoria.

— Good Morning! — Said the young woman.

— Come, daughter — said Victoria — join us!

Nicole made herself comfortable on the couch across from her mother.

— Well then, said the hostess, we have two matters to discuss. And I want to hear everyone's opinion.

— Until now we have always been together: Antoine, who has been with me for a long time; Nicole, my daughter, who with her privileged intelligence allowed us to get where we are; Gregory Evans, whose watchful presence always made us feel a little safer; and you, Father Green, who, although you joined this very heterogeneous team at a second moment, committed yourself like few others. It was thanks to all of you and your efforts that we eventually solved my father's riddle and found the Golden Book. Thank you all.

Everyone's attention converged on the woman, who continued her speech.

— As I said, we have two things to deal with. According to the deliberation of the first, the second will be disregarded.

— We're all ears — joked Green.

The woman then continued:

— Our great goal, thanks to everyone's intelligence and persistence, was completed. We found the Golden Book, and now I think it's common opinion that we should hand it over to Cardinal Messina in the Vatican. The question I ask everyone is whether we should stop here. Take a good look: we found the book before the Brotherhood of the Serpent, our mission was a success. By handing over the book to the Cardinal there will be nothing else to do...

— What about the Interpol agent, Fernando Dante, who asked for our help? Gregory interrupted.

— Well — Victoria smiled — that would be the second question. What I mean — cut the woman short — is do you want to stop here or continue?

— You, Victoria, what will you do? — Asked Roman Green.

— I've already talked to Antoine. We decided to stay and help Greg and agent Fernando Dante.

— So, I think that for Greg this subject was not new, is it?

— Unfortunately not... yesterday they found the body of agent Pietro Ferri, murdered here in Rome.

— I thought he died in New York... I...

— I think they used that to throw us off, the same way they sent me to watch out for you.

— Well then — said the religious -, I'll stay with you.

— Nick? — The woman's voice was soft with what she considered her child.

— I stay! — Said the young woman almost in tears — I won't leave you right now!

— Well then — he resumed the word Victoria — then it's decided. We'll all stay and help Gregory unmask the Serpent Brotherhood.