The Patriarch

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.