Shrouded In Silence

38





Father Donald Blake strolled up Via di San Cosimato at a leisurely pace, keeping his eyes fixed on the Da Vittorio café across the street. At a table on the sidewalk, Tony Mattei sat hunched over a plate of food he appeared to be devouring in record time. Periodically, he stopped and took a big gulp of wine from the large glass sitting on the table in front of him. Thick, black hair hung down over his eyes as his heavy cheeks rolled with each inordinately large bite. Even from across the street, Blake could see that Mattei wore his usual three massive diamond rings, flashing in the bright sunlight with the sparkle of elegance.

Breaking through the traffic, Blake continued his casual stroll across the street and walked up behind Mattei. "Buonasera."

Mattei jumped. "What?"

"It's your old friend." Father Blake sat down across from him.

For a moment Mattei glared and then burst into his usual jubilant expression. "Ah! God has blessed me with a visit from heaven! I am being graced by his Excellency, Father Blake."

Blake smiled pleasantly. "Tony, you are an old-fashioned sack of . . . sayings."

"Of course. Of course. What else can I be when I stand before the radiance of the sun shining down on me with the light of eternity."

"You ever think of running for political office?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I have. The time has come for someone to straighten out the economic mess this country is in. I think I could be just such a man."

"Indeed." Blake kept smiling.

"Someone must shoulder the responsibility that the import situation has placed on small merchants like myself. We need relief."

Blake looked at Mattei's diamond rings. "I wasn't aware that you were having a hard time. You look prosperous to me."

"I must maintain appearances." Mattei raised his shoulders as a sign of resignation. "It is only appropriate for business."

The waiter stepped to the table. "You wish?"

"A cup of coffee will be fine," Blake said.

The waiter hurried away.

"I suppose you've already heard about the shooting at the church last night," Blake said.

"Terrible! Who could imagine such a thing?" Mattei kept eating.

"Did you know that one of the parishioners got shot out in the narthex trying to stop the attacker?" Blake folded his arms over his chest and leaned back in the chair.

"That is what they told me. Sad situation."

"Apparently, the gunman ran Michelle Townsend and her assistant around the church before the police appeared."

"That is the rumor," Mattei said.

"Why do you think anyone would want to hurt such lovely people as my friends the Townsends?"

Mattei's eyes narrowed and he looked pointedly at Blake. "Now, you've become the questioner?"

"Just asking," Blake said.

"I didn't know we were in an examination," Mattei answered.

Blake laughed. "How quickly matters can change in Rome."

"You should try the Neapolitan pizzas they have here. The oil-drenched crust is called pizza bianca. Magnifico!" Tony shook his fingers in the air. "Excellent! Da Vittorio restaurant not only sprinkles mozzarella cheese across the top, but they create a sauce with a festive bouquet of arugula and cherry tomatoes on the top. This is a wonderful café."

The waiter set a cup of coffee in front of Blake. "For you, padre. On the house." The man moved on to the next table.

"Thank you," Blake said.

"My father brought me here when I was a boy," Mattei continued. "So many good memories associated with this little nook."

"Let's get back to the shooting in the church last night." Blake stirred his coffee slowly.

"Yes," Mattei said. "Why do you think anyone is attacking Americans?"

"Americans?" Blake rubbed his chin. "You are among the first to use the term Americans in speaking of these attacks."

"What else would you call the Townsends? Are they not your countrymen?"

"Yes," Blake said. "I didn't think of their nationality as being distinctive in these attacks."

Mattei shrugged. "Seems evident to me. Someone doesn't like Americans."

"Hmm. Appears their old offices were wired for surveillance before the bombing. I wonder if their new office inside the church has the same problem."

"Anybody find evidence of it?" Mattei asked.

"Wouldn't know," Blake said.

"I can only hope for the best for my friends," Mattei said and took another large bite of the pizza. "If you find any inside information, please let me know."

"And what would you do with such information?" Blake asked.

"Why, I'd go straight to the police!" Tony clapped his hands. "Yes, I'd want to report the same immediately."

"Interesting. Well, I'm sure you'd be among the first to know."

Tony Mattei smiled. "What more can a humble jewelry salesman do but keep his ear to the ground?"

Blake finished his coffee. "We shall see what the day brings." He nodded and started back down the street.