Book 1 of the MAURO BRUNO DETECTIVE SERIES
The Patriarch – DIALOGUE & PLACES
Piazza Medaglie d’Oro – Milan
The cab took him to the Europcar rental office in the Piazza Medaglie d’Oro
Milan City Hall
Driving to the inspector’s office, which was in a government building several hundred yards from City Hall.
TAC-338 sniper rifle with folding bipod
There was a McMillan TAC-338 sniper rifle with folding bipod under his religious garment.
Beretta 92FS
Bruno looked at the Beretta 92FS.
Bellagio, Italy
The plan for getting onto the patriarch’s Bellagio property turned out to be a matter of using common sense.
Mezzegra, Italy (Town in Lake Como area)
Mezzegra is a lovely town in the Lake Como area, approximately 40 miles from Milan.
Lake Como
The thousand residents of the Italian town of Mezzegra, on the northwestern shore of Lake Como.
Park Hyatt Milan
His target was the mayor, who had a well-known daily routine of walking from his office to the nearby Park Hyatt Hotel for lunch.
Four Seasons La Veranda restaurant – Milan
The call that Duke Rizzo received caused him to abruptly walk away from the table at the Four Seasons La Veranda restaurant.
Red Fiat Panda auto
It was late at night as Bruno’s tired red Fiat Panda grudgingly wove its way along the winding mountain road.
Fiat Grande Punto auto
Sartori followed and watched through the agency’s large window as the chief inspector filled out several forms and received a key to a red supermini Fiat Grande Punto.
Black VW Golf auto
The black VW Golf that was parked across the street.
Gray Lancia Ypsilon
The gray Lancia Ypsilon remained a steady hundred yards behind the BMW.
G65 AMG Mercedes SUV
They took the elevator down to the garage, where he selected a G65 AMG Mercedes SUV.
Holland & Holland Range Rover
“It’s part of the front grill of a 2018 Holland and Holland Range Rover.”
Cathedral at Orvieto, Italy
The cardinal had a planned trip to Orvieto.
Vatican
He concluded that these were ledgers of the Vatican’s finances from the early 18th century.
Sistine Chapel
Casaroli was walking back from the Sistine Chapel.
Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Peter’s Basilica
Tomorrow he’d transfer Clement’s body to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Chapel of the Canons
At the end of that time he’d be brought to the Chapel of the Canons.
Saint Peter’s Basilica
Hunkler had sent several Swiss Guards ahead to unlock Saint Peters.
Papal Grottoes (under St. Peters)
They then descended a marble staircase to the level immediately below the basilica floor to the Vatican Grottoes.
Vatican Necropolis (under St. Peters)
They entered the Vatican necropolis which the pope, continuing to act as tour guide, explained was originally a Pagan and Christian burial ground.
Field P (under St. Peters)
They passed what the pontiff referred to as Field P.
Oltramontano clock tower (besides St. Peters)
The clock on the right is known as the Oltramontano clock, while the one on the left is called the Italian clock.
Italian clock tower
The clock on the right is known as the Oltramontano clock, while the one on the left is called the Italian clock.
Swiss Guard
He asked the Swiss Guard patrolling the interior of the administrative building to unlock the cardinal’s office.
Casa Santa Marta – Vatican City
He elected to reside in Suite 201 at the Casa Santa Marta, a residence that’s used for visiting clergy and lay people.
Secret Vatican Archives
Once a cardinal ascends to the Throne of Saint Peter he’s given a letter by the prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives.
Cortile del Belvedere – Vatican City
The three then proceeded through the Cortile del Belvedere.
Cimitero Monumentale – Cemetery
When Italy became independent in 1861, Milan decided to consolidate the smaller cemeteries within the city into two – the Cimitero Monumentale for the wealthy and the Cimitero Maggiore for commoners.
Chinon Parchment
The Vatican’s original reference number for the Chinon Parchment, which is accurately described, is Archivum Arcis Armarium D 217.
Milan’s Malpensa airport
Gismondi raced to Malpensa, arriving 20 minutes prior to departure.
Ciampino airport outside Vatican City
If his plane arrived on time, he’d be at the Ciampino airport 40 minutes prior to Bruno and Donati’s, arrival.
Chinook helicopter
Four Italian army ICH-47F Chinook helicopters, twin-rotor behemoths capable of carrying up to 55 men each, lifted off from the Ciampino Airport.
Regina Coeli prison in Rome
The Regina Coeli prison was a convent in 1654 and didn’t become a prison until 1881.
Hennessy Beauté du Siécle Grand Champagne Cognac (comes in a spectacular case)
The patriarch was sitting in his study, celebrating what he believed would soon be the death of Bruno and Donati with a spectacular Hennessy Beauté du Siécle Grand Champagne Cognac.
Cohiba 1966 Edicion Limitada 2011 cigar
He was addicted to double espressos, without milk or sugar, and Cohiba’s 1966 Edicion Limitada 2011 cigars.
Tibaldi Fulgor Nocturnus fountain pen
His $8 million Tibaldi Fulgor Nocturnus fountain pen.
Colmello di Grotta vineyard of Francesca Bortolotto Possati
Bruno fired the first salvo by ordering a bottle of merlot from the Colmello di Grotta vineyard of Francesca Bortolotto Possati.
Pio Cesare Barolo DOCG (wine)
The Milan inspector settled on a Pio Cesare Barolo DOCG.
The Ritz Paris
Six months and two weeks after Bruno and Donati last saw each other they met at the Ritz Paris for a one-week celebration.
Hotel Bauer in Venice
Francesca Bortolotto Possati, owner of the Hotel Bauer in Venice.
École Normale Superieure in Paris
He had one son, who was now attending the École Normale Superieure in Paris.