“It’s by far the most fun thing I’ve done in a long time.”
He paused, “In a situation like this, what are the finder’s legal rights? Could it be now considered that the sister had an estate? What if some unknown relative appears out of the woodwork, like the man who came snooping around after she died? My intuition tells me if I am successful, it would be better if this whole thing, including my name, remained anonymous forever.
“I agree.”
He fiddled with his jacket zipper. “I’d rather get it into Ireland’s hands—let them worry about it. If this became public before the final placement, it could take decades to finalize things. At the minimum, I’ll need a safe place to keep anything I find until lawyers and authenticators weigh in on this. I’d like a tentative and reasonable plan for all possible scenarios, in case I am successful.”
“I wonder if Sister was an American or a legal immigrant. You never know... she came straight over from Dublin into a convent and never needed a social security card or an income.”
“Never thought of that one. It shows how complicated this could be. Should destiny be on my side, the quandary of who to contact will be the next hurdle.” Michael spoke with a newfound certainty. “This discovery would be monumental.”
“True.”
“I think I’ll take a walk to think this through.” Michael waved goodbye and headed out. The rest of his day was foggy. That evening, he had trouble focusing on his conversation with Adam. The day ended with restless sleep; there were too many unanswered questions. He was a proponent of firm plans—no surprises. He would need several scenarios in place due to the heap of unknowns. On the bright side, this was a significant challenge.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The day started with a message from Mrs. De. The offer had fallen through. Everything was happening in rapid fire. He would now move into Mrs. De’s apartment. The next few days were filled with lawyers, power of attorney papers, and conversations with Mrs. De and her son. The little lady looked tired; however, she put on a game smile. Although it was bad news for Mrs. De, the good news was that Michael was no longer homeless. He assuaged his feelings of elation; her place had a better chance of a sale with a facelift.
“I would like to go over some details with you, Michael. Please come for tea.”
The apartment appeared much less crowded. It did lack personality at this point, but space was more important. The cat seemed extra anxious; she sensed the modifications were part of a greater scheme.
“I know this move is best at my age.”
“You never know; perhaps I will visit you one day.”
They shared an affectionate smile, knowing there was little chance they would ever meet again.
“Sara will make your train reservation. You’ll have a sleeping compartment.”
“I’m so glad you’ll be staying here, Michael. I don’t want the place to be vacant.”
“I’m looking forward to sprucing the place up.” Michael looked at his watch; he needed some time alone. “Well, I’ll be off now. I’ll stay in touch every day. What will you do with the clock, Mrs. De? I can ship it; it’s a beautiful piece.”
“I will leave it with you, Michael. Do as you wish.”
“I hope I will be able to keep it; it will remind me of our visits together.”
*******
The gym was a welcome respite. He couldn’t help but notice a renewed energy in his exercise routine. It was all due to his new digs and planning the quest for the cover. He had regained a purpose in life.
His next stop was indulging in meatloaf with all the trimmings at Mel’s. He ate at the bar while he and Adam discussed Mrs. De’s plans. He left earlier than usual; he was unsettled and wanted the day to be over. Patience was not his virtue.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Hey, Boots. I’ll be moving out soon.”
Boots looked up from his latest read. “I’d keep that under your hat ‘til you’re sure.”
“It’ll be in about two weeks.”
“I wish you well. You are the best resident this joint has ever had.”
Boots showed no emotion or eye contact. He announced the end of the discussion by burying his head back in his book. Michael smiled inwardly. This guy was something else.
*******
Michael brought Sara up to date on Mrs. De’s plans. He knew Sara had offered to take Mrs. De’s cat. A mature cat would be a perfect companion for her.
It was obvious she was bursting to discuss the upcoming venture; however, Michael was content to keep the subject on the back burner. Mrs. De’s departure was in two weeks, and for the time being, that was first on his list.
*******
Before Mrs. De left, she was given a farewell tea at the convent that everyone enjoyed. She appeared content as the time drew near. Michael, Father, Sister Bernadette, Danny, and Sara took her to the train. There were no tears, although many lingering hugs occupied the next few minutes. Michael and Danny escorted her to her en-suite compartment and made sure she was oriented to the dining room. Pauley had cautioned Michael and Father not to tell her how much the train ticket cost—she would have a fit!
The farewell waves from the station were lengthy; the train pulled out at 10 p.m. sharp. The darkness obscured the overdue tears shed by the farewell party. Michael recalled a Japanese farewell tradition: when waving goodbye, even for just a day, one stands visibly waving until the person is gone from their sight, and the departing person looks back and waves in return. In this situation, it conveyed a certain finality. On the other hand, it was a new beginning for both Michael and Mrs. De.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Michael kept his routine. The subject of enlisting was put on the back burner. Thanksgiving came; Michael and Sara cooked a turkey with all the trimmings. They shared many laughs, including a near-mishap with the mashed potatoes. Danny splurged for the occasion and bought a special bottle of Pommard wine; it went down like velvet. Michael helped with the dishes, said his goodbyes, and walked back to his new home. Life was good.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Christmas was looming on the horizon, and the usual sentimental thoughts became more palpable, even at Mel’s. Michael took Joey to visit a few local jewelry stores and helped him find a necklace for his sister. It contained a miniscule diamond embedded in a golden-colored heart. Joey was hung up on the idea of a diamond. He was proud Michael had accompanied him. The necklace was gift wrapped in silver paper. Since Joey had been one of the first customers of the day, the store had included a little stuffed bear to hold the gift. Michael noticed a spring to Joey’s step as they left the store.
“Gee, Michael, do you think Adam could keep the necklace ‘til Christmas?”
“I’ll keep it for you, Joey.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Over the next few weeks, Michael refused to start the “what if” mindset. If the cover was in place now, it would still be there in a couple of months. After all, what were the chances? He and Sara continued to discuss the upcoming trip and enjoy each other’s company.
*******
“Hey, Adam.”
“Michael! How goes it? Getting pretty chilly out there, huh? G and T or beer?”
“How about some Christmas cheer? A rum and eggnog, kind sir!” Michael played a couple of games of pool with Joey and ended with a nightcap of brandy. In New York City, there was no concern about drinking and driving since most people walked or took public transportation.
“Going anywhere for Christmas, Adam?”
“Nah. Bar business is too good, except Christmas Day; Joey’s sister invited me for dinner. What are your plans?”
“I’ll be serving dinner at the Mission on Christmas Day and a classic Italian dinner on Christmas Eve with Sara and Danny. You know... that seven-course meal with fish, fish, and more fish. Father may drop over after Mass.” Michael finished his drink and set the glass on the bar. “Hey, Joey, let’s meet for lu
nch on the twenty-fourth. I’ll bring the gift for your sister.” Joey confirmed with an enthusiastic nod, he was engrossed in another game of pool. “I think I’ll head home.” Michael gave a half-salute. “Later, guys.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Michael and Sara made their way to Manhattan to shop for Danny’s gift. They purchased an impressive wallet. In some circles, a wallet was a symbol of a man’s status. There was no doubt that Danny needed an upgrade. They purchased a Bosca Italian wallet, which was a definite step up the ladder for Danny. After an afternoon of shopping, they returned to Sara’s and discussed the upgrades for Mrs. De’s apartment.
“By the way, Sara, if it doesn’t sell, Pauley wants it off the market in a couple of months.”
“That fits into your plans for Ireland.”
“It seems to be falling in place, doesn’t it? I’ll check back with you tomorrow.” As he got up, he adjusted the blanket by her feet, and accidentally brushed the side of her cheek before giving her an affectionate hug. He felt that faint flicker again, which surprised him, as well as Sara. He tried to make light of it, concluding it was his gratitude for her efforts. He walked home in the chilly evening and re-played their hug over again in his mind. Once more, he brushed his emotion aside.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The following day, Michael headed over to Sara’s. “Hey, what’s new?”
Without looking up from her computer, Sara muttered, “Nothing much, just researching. Let’s get some fresh air.”
Michael gave her a reassuring smile; he sensed frustration in Sara’s demeanor. “Do you need to do some shopping?”
“Yes, the drugstore for some embarrassing odds and ends and wrapping paper for Dad’s gift.”
They had been through this before. Her demeanor would change; it was obvious she would rather do this type of shopping alone. Having everything delivered to her door gave up too much of her fragile independence. Sara did not want her dad doing her personal shopping. Michael knew he was the best choice. He took her to Duane Reade’s and sought out the familiar female salesperson. He read magazines from a distance. She enjoyed the shopping experience and lingered during her errands. Christmastime brought a new dimension to the store. She had told him the store decorations brought back memories of her childhood. She made a great effort to focus on the positive memories of her mom and brother. Each passing year had become a little easier. Christmas was also a tough time for Michael, although, he was beginning to cope with his situation as well.
“I’ll take you to lay your wreath on Tuesday.”
“Sure, Michael. Thanks for remembering.” She took a wreath to her mom and brother’s gravesite every Christmas.
Danny chose to visit the graves alone. Michael thought it was probably his pride—not wanting to go all “mamby pamby,” or being seen as he talked to his deceased wife and son.
They headed back to the apartment, both wrapped in their thoughts. In Michael’s case, he wanted to handle his upcoming quest through to the end. The hurdle—if he found the cover—would be finding that honest someone with experience in this type of discovery. When all was said and done, many folks put their own interests above the primary goal. This “find” could be a big deal. He felt an enormous obligation to act on behalf of the late sister. There had to be someone who would be professional and trustworthy, but who? And how would he find that person? He needed to get away from this somber day. “Hey, Sara, I’ll be going now. See you soon.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The days crawled by. Michael was able to change the first thousand dollars into traveler’s checks with no difficulty. He stored the checks, letters, and map in a safety deposit box; and he visited Sara the following evening.
“Michael! I have more information.” Once more, her eyes were glued to her computer.
“County Meath claims the title of Ireland’s Heritage Capital. The history dates back almost to prehistoric times. These relics and structures are within the county you will visit.”
Michael looked over at Sara; he enjoyed watching her excitement and energy. “Yes, one of the sisters mentioned County Meath as being the seat of the High Kings.”
Sara continued, “There are megalithic tombs—”
“Yup, she mentioned that too.”
Michael was mesmerized by Sara’s zeal. She was describing County Meath, knowing she would not be part of the trip. How selfless! A fleeting thought crossed his mind—if this ended up being a colossal find, and if she was up to it, he would figure out a way to take her there—and Danny too.
She continued, “There are moderately priced B&Bs near Slane.” She looked up and added, “You might want to rent a bicycle first…to scope out the area. Of course, a car would be necessary in the rain and once you have found the cover. Anyway, I have some really astounding information for you.”
“Go on.”
“There was a similar manuscript of the four Gospels called the Quedlinburg Manuscript. It also had a jeweled cover. A soldier smuggled it out of Germany during World War II and hid it in Texas. The details of the sale of the manuscript may be a big help.”
Michael straightened up in his chair. “Are you serious? A similar manuscript?”
“The Swiss were involved in the transaction, including their art dealers, lawyers, and such. It pretty much lays out a blueprint on how the case was handled.”
“Was the German manuscript intact?”
“Yes, this one had all four chapters and the cover. It looks like Zurich is the place to go with this type of thing. I’m researching for the top authenticators of religious manuscripts; also for lawyers who handle such cases, both here and in Zurich.”
“It’s incredible to find a documentation of this. It makes sense that the neutral Swiss would be in the picture.”
“It would be great to have the names of the authenticators and lawyers.”
“The article in the Texas paper does mention the names of some of the professionals. I suppose they are all deceased now. Perhaps a foreign paper will describe the whole thing in more detail.”
They stared at each other, deep in thought. Sara broke the silence, “This might be a big help, assuming we find it.”
“I like the Buddhist philosophy, Sara. It is more about the journey than the completion of the task. I think that viewpoint will help maintain me.” He hesitated for a few moments. “You are also looking for lawyers in the States?”
“Yes, tax consultants and international lawyers with experience in this area.”
“Although I had heard of the Book of Kells, as far as the monks saving the Bible during the Dark Ages, that’s news to me.”
Sara turned to Michael, “I think we forget how much history there was before Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”
“By the way, would you mind keeping the second key for the safety deposit box? It would be good to have you as backup. Maybe tomorrow we could make a trip to the bank. I’m off now, see you tomorrow.”
“Sure, Michael. See you then.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Hey, Danny. I’ll take Sara out for a bit. I need to go to the bank.”
“Sure, here’s a little extra...treat yourselves to some goodies.” Danny had noticed a difference in Sara’s body language lately. She had become more energetic and particular about her personal appearance. Her hair was braided in a new way that was very pretty, and Michael seemed to visit more often. He hoped she was just teaching him how to use the damn computer. He hated those contraptions; something was always going wrong. He’d stick with his old-fashioned cash register and regular mail.
His mind returned to Sara and Michael; he tried to stay positive about the whole thing, but he had concerns. He didn’t want Sara to have a big letdown in the future. He’d overheard Michael talking to Father at Sara’s birthday, saying somethin’ about joining the military. He wondered if Sara knew…probably not, he figured. She would have said something. Danny forced himsel
f to acknowledge that her handicap might affect any budding relationship she might develop.
He watched Sara and Michael head out to the bank. His eyes moistened up as their silhouettes disappeared around the corner. It was a big damn deal just for her to go out on a simple neighborhood errand. How unfair! It was tough to see his little girl’s life change forever in one horrifying moment. For that matter, his life continued to be shadowed in grief. He had chosen to keep his emotions tucked away, never letting them visibly surface. He was sure he would collapse if he ever did let his guard down. Coping with Sara’s situation and the store was all he could handle. Sometimes he had chest pains, just skimming the surface of that fateful day. It was better to just block the whole thing.
*******
The bank was gracious and gave Sara a warm welcome. She hated those prolonged sympathetic glances. She gave her signature for the box, and Michael put half of the remaining cash in the vault. The quest seemed more real every day!
“I’ll keep transferring the money to traveler’s checks and get a debit card.”
They gave each other a tentative hug that revealed emotional confusion for both of them. For Michael, the timing was confusing. He had no idea how Sara felt. It just seemed different.
*******
“Hey, Adam!”
“How goes it, Michael?”
“Great! I’m enjoying my stay at Mrs. De’s. The holiday season is the icing on the cake.”
Adam peered up from his work, “Signed up yet?”
“I came close, but selling Mrs. De’s place is first.” Michael fidgeted with his glass. “There may be another hitch; I may need to leave town for a while.”
“Life has its twists and turns, Michael.”
“Luckily, I’ve nothing to prevent me from keeping the wind at my back.”