The White Lady: Fletch Book 3 (Fletch, Thriller Series) by Neil Howarth

Author:Neil Howarth [Howarth, Neil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-08-12T00:00:00+00:00

33

“Izzy, what is going on?” Enzo called out.

“I am sorry, Enzo.” Isobella shook her head. She had a pained look on her face. “I had no choice.”

Franco stepped in front of her. “She did what she had to do for the family. You should remember that.”

The door at the top of the stairs creaked again, followed by a clicking sound and a shuffle as someone moved down the steps. A man dressed in the black garb of a priest and leaning on a black walking stick appeared in the doorway. There was red piping on his cassock and he had a red zucchetto on his head. Fletch had never seen him before, but he recognized the dress of a Roman Catholic Cardinal.

Was this the Vatican coming to collect?

Two men appeared behind him, dressed all in black. They were both armed. They looked like the men Fletch and Enzo had met back at Father Frederico’s cottage, the Ordo Verae Crucis. Except they were not the same men. Maybe this was not the Vatican coming to collect. No, this was worse than that. This was trouble — big trouble.

“Bring it to me.” The Cardinal stood swaying, gesturing with both hands.

Fletch was still holding the White Lady. One of the men in black detached himself and approached him. Fletch handed her over. He was reluctant to let her go, but what could he do? He still had the Beretta tucked in the back of his trousers. But he knew he would struggle to get to it, and it would only be a gesture. Enzo had been right. He wouldn’t stand a chance.

The man took the painting. There was no point resisting. As he turned, Fletch could see the tattoo of the cross on the man’s neck.

He handed the White Lady over to the Cardinal, who stood there swaying, holding it in both hands. He was not interested in the front of the canvas, only the back.

He smiled and looked across at Franco.

“Excellent.” He nodded towards Enzo and Fletch. “You know what you have to do. We have to close this down now.” He handed the painting to one of his men and headed back up the stairs. His men followed close behind.

Isobella looked across at Franco as the Cardinal disappeared.

“Franco, what did he mean?”

Franco nodded at one of his men. The big one — Marco.

“Marco, you heard his Eminence.”

“Franco?” Isobella called out.

The big man walked across and stood in front of Enzo. His massive fist moved fast and smacked hard into Enzo’s damaged ribs. Enzo screamed and collapsed to the floor.

“That one is for Carlo. But do not worry. There is much more where that came from.”

“Franco,” Isobella screamed out. “You promised me you would not hurt them.”

Franco looked back at her. “Do not worry, my dear sister, I will not lay a finger on them.” He nodded at two of his men, who took her by the arms.

“Take her to the boat.”

“No, Franco,” she called out as they dragged her away. “You cannot do this.

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