“Leo Casselli? That one?”

“That one.”

“But how do you come to be in business with this man?”

“I am not in business with him. I have had nothing to do with him. A friend and associate of mine met Hedy in Rome. Perhaps you know Marcel duBois?”

“You are doing business with Marcel?”

“No, with Marcel’s partner, a very fine man named Stone Barrington.”

“Spell.”

Arthur spelled.

“He and Marcel are building a hotel in Rome, and Casselli is trying to extort money from them, promising to pave their way. They need no help in that regard.”

“Shocking!”

“Hedy is being held at a property belonging to Casselli on the Amalfi Coast. Casselli is demanding a ransom of fifty million euros.”

“No! You must not pay it, Arturo, this will not guarantee the return of your daughter. Have you spoken with the police?”

“Yes, and they are trying very hard to help, but they are afraid to go in there for fear that Hedy will be killed in the assault.”

“Infamous! How can I help?”

“I confess I don’t know, Pietro. I have no ideas. My wife will take her own life if anything happens to her daughter. I am distraught.”

“Arturo, I will call you back in an hour.”

“All right.”

—

The cardinal buzzed his secretary, and the young priest entered his office. “Yes, Your Eminence?”

“That invitation I told you to decline—do you still have it?”

“I made the call—I think it must still be in my wastebasket.”

“Find it.”

The priest left and returned after a moment. The cardinal stared at it. “Call this number and get Leonardo Casselli on the phone immediately.” He sat, tapping his finger, for perhaps a minute.

—

Mr. Casselli, Cardinal Prizzi of the Vatican Bank is on the line.”

“You’re shitting me!”

“I am not. Will you speak to him?”

“Of course I will speak to him, you stupid bitch!” Casselli shouted, snatching the phone from her. “Yes, Your Eminence?”

“Hold for the cardinal,” the priest said.

Leo Casselli was not a religious man, but he was a superstitious one. He feared the Church as a teenager might fear zombies. He was instantly terrified.

—

The phone buzzed, and the cardinal picked it up. “Yes?”

“Casselli on line one.”

Prizzi picked up the phone. “Casselli?”

“Yes, Your Eminence,” Casselli oozed. “What an honor to hear from you personally!”

“What do you know of honor, you pig?”

Casselli made a gulping noise. “I’m sorry, Your Eminence? Have I somehow . . . inadvertently . . . offended you?”

“You offend the human race by belonging to it,” the cardinal spat. “I will damn you to hell!”

“Oh, Your Eminence,” Casselli said, his bowels turning to water, “how have I offended you?”

“You have kidnapped the daughter of my friend Arturo!”