The Magdalene Prophecy by Shams-Tabriz

Author:Shams-Tabriz [Shams-Tabriz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780987891020
Publisher: ESTIECHE MEDIA
Published: 2020-02-21T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 37

Yael slowly circled the perimeter of Sideris’ spectacular property. A grey-pebbled driveway rose from the gate to the front of the house, where it circled around a large fountain. Flowers bloomed everywhere in the manicured gardens, their sweet fragrance mingling with the tree blossoms overhead.

The house itself was a magnificently maintained eighteenth century manor. Through the front windows, Yael spied a woman in uniform dusting furniture, and—as she hugged the property wall around the side of the house, sure to stay well-concealed in the bushes—she spotted another at work in the kitchen.

Google Earth had already shown her what to expect on the backside of the property, but the sight itself was far more vivid. Terraced gardens followed the contour of the land on either side of a narrow grove of fruit trees. Closer to the main house, a massive rectangular swimming pool was filled with the splashing cries of a little girl, no more than five years old, and her little brother. A woman in a bikini with a loose open dress reclined easily just meters away.

Gabriella Mazzuro and her two young children. Who might they be to the celibate Sideris? Tech still had more digging to do.

Yael quickly checked the time. With the woman at home, along with the three workers on the property, this was not the right moment to snoop around inside.

Yael slid back to the front and was just about to scoot over the wall to her ride when a sleek, black limousine nosed its way through the front gate. Two short honks sounded from its hood as it crept slowly up the drive. It was still midday. Who might this be?

A chauffeur pulled open the rear door, and a man emerged, dressed in a light linen suit, peach silk shirt and salmon-colored loafers. It was Panos Sideris, though he looked nothing like the reverend-frocked Cardinal she knew — more of a privileged layman than some austere member of clergy.

Sideris was looking even frailer than when she’d left him at the Vatican, quite the contradiction to the sunny clothes that he wore.

“Papa!” yelled the girl, as she emerged running from around the far side of the house.

The little boy appeared next, a few paces behind, towing his mother by her fingers. “Papa!” he echoed, once he set eyes on the car.

The two children wrapped themselves around his legs as he bent to tousle their hair. The woman pecked him twice on his cheeks, as she whispered some words. Yael was out of earshot but knew it was only sweet-nothings she’d missed.

Yael watched as Gabriella Mazzuro wrapped him in her arms, and together with the children they walked up the stone steps and into the house.

The media had it right. The priestly vow of celibacy meant very little in the long-stained holy walls of the Church. But the need to keep secrets was paramount, especially in today’s world of increasing scrutiny and instant-headlines.

Sideris had secrets — a double life was but one.

Yael stole a glance at her phone.

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