"But I had to leave Venice before the ceremony at St. Mark's."
"Yes, yes."
"My question is, does the civil ceremony, without the church ceremony, have any legal force?"
"Not in the eyes of the church," Bellini replied.
"How about in the eyes of the Italian government?"
"Well, it is possible to be legally married in Italy in a civil ceremony."
Stone's heart sank.
"Can you tell me what this is about, Stone? Is something wrong?"
"I don't want to burden you with this, Your Eminence," Stone said.
"Not at all," the cardinal replied. "I have plenty of time."
Stone poured it all out-Arrington; Arrington and Vance Calder; Dolce; everything.
"Well," the cardinal said when he
had finished, "it seems you've reconsidered your intentions toward Dolce."
"I'm afraid I've been forced to."
"Then it's fortunate that this occurred before you took vows in the church."
"Yes, it is. However, I'm concerned about my marital status under Italian law. Is it possible that I am legally married?"
"Yes, it is possible."
Stone groaned.
"I can see how, given the circumstances, this might concern you, Stone. Before I can give you any sort of definitive answer, I'd like to do a bit of research. I'm leaving Rome tomorrow morning for a meeting in Paris, and it may be a few days, perhaps longer, before I can look into this. Let's leave it that I'll phone you as soon as I have more information."
"Thank you, Your Eminence." Stone gave him the Centurion number, thanked him again, and hung up.
He started the car and drove slowly back to the studio. When he reached the cottage it was dark, except for a lamp in the window. Betty had gone.
Stone rarely drank alone, but he went to the bar and poured himself a stiff bourbon. What had he gotten himself into? Was he married? If so, the Italians didn't have divorce, did they? He had not wanted to question a cardinal of the Church about a divorce. He collapsed in a chair and pulled at the bourbon. For a while, he allowed himself a wallow in self-pity.
Chapter 28
Stone was signing documents faxed to him from New York by his secretary when Betty buzzed him.
"Rick Grant on line one."
Stone picked up the phone. "Hi, Rick."
"Good morning, Stone. I had a chat with Durkee about this missing Mexican gardener, and I have to tell you that he and his partner don't seem to have the slightest interest in him."
"I suppose they're not interested in the footprint they found outside the house, either."
"Not much. It's a Nike athletic shoe, size twelve, right foot, with a cut across the heel. I got that much out of Durkee."
"Can you get me a copy of the photograph of the footprint?"