Sins of Our Fathers by A. Rose Mathieu

Author:A. Rose Mathieu [Mathieu, A. Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626398740
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2017-02-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-one

Bishop Pallone knocked on the ornately carved door, and a thin, frail man with white hair who had Pallone beat by at least twenty years in age pulled it open. Pallone entered and crossed the room. “Your Eminence.”

“We can dispense with the formalities. Please have a seat and join me,” said Cardinal Ryan. The cardinal sat savoring his tea from a delicate floral-patterned cup, his beloved morning routine, as he basked in the warmth radiating from a fireplace at his side. Pallone took a seat in an antique floral-patterned chair opposite the cardinal. He pondered whether the teacups and the chairs were meant to match. A silver tea set sat on the table between them, and the white-haired man stood beside Pallone and wordlessly bent to pour him some tea.

“Thank you.” Pallone accepted the cup, trying to keep a neutral expression. He detested tea but couldn’t refuse the cardinal’s invitation to partake in his favorite ritual.

“Thank you, Edmund. That will be all,” Cardinal Ryan said to the man.

With a slight bow, the man slowly but steadily moved to the door and securely closed it behind him. The cardinal waited until he left before he spoke. “So tell me, have you spoken to the police?”

“Yes, I have a meeting arranged for Friday and have put the necessary documents in order.”

“Excellent. I know you don’t agree, but it’s the best thing. We should have done this thirty years ago. We must accept our responsibly in all of this.”

Pallone offered an insincere smile and then released a violent cough, spilling some tea on his lap. He leaned forward and set the cup on the table.

“Are you all right?” the cardinal asked with concern.

Pallone waived his hand in embarrassment. “Yes, I’m fine,” he choked out and felt his face flush. “I seem to have swallowed wrong.” He relaxed back into his chair and calmed his breathing.

“Let me get something to help clean you up,” the cardinal offered.

Cardinal Ryan rose and crossed the room to a side door and disappeared. Pallone took advantage of the cardinal’s departure and removed a small glass vial from the folds of his robe. He poured a generous amount of its contents into the cardinal’s cup and a fraction of the amount into his own. He threw the empty container into the fireplace, shattering the glass against the back wall. He watched as the flames momentarily flared, licking at the shards of glass, devouring the chemical traces.

“Here you go,” Cardinal Ryan said as he reentered the room with a small white towel dangling from his hand. Pallone graciously accepted it and wiped at his lap. After he reseated himself, the cardinal picked up his cup and resumed their conversation. Pallone followed and lifted his cup, taking small sips.

Cardinal Ryan spoke of the integrity of the Church at a time when there had been much scrutiny and scandal. “I alone shall bear this cross.”

Pallone found the cardinal’s words poetic and ironic.

Having said his peace, the cardinal moved the conversation on to more mundane Church matters, and Pallone welcomed the change.

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