The Omega Factor(115)

“None of which makes her any less holy,” Kelsey added. “But it does make the men who made her into something more look foolish.”

“That it does,” the abbess said. “We are a place on a hill to which the world never comes. We would like to stay that way.”

The abbess pointed at the ossuary.

Below the epitaph was a symbol cut into the limestone.





“Omega,” the abbess said. “In the original tomb it was used as a way to covertly identify the occupant. For them, Mary was Omega. The end. The last vestige of Christ that remained on this earth. When this chapel was conceived, we created a plan, based on deception, playing off the wants and fears of those who might come here in search. It became our armor against failure. Twice before it was almost implemented. Today, it was finally used. We called it Omega.”

“It was ingenious,” he said. “And well played.”

“Maidens,” the abbess said. “Please excuse us. I need you to bring things to a close and secure the premises back to normal.”

All of the other women, except for Sister Claire, left the chamber and headed back up to ground level.

He entered the shallow apse and admired the wall niche where the urn rested.

“That’s the other maiden,” Claire said. “Joan. Brought here in 1431. Unfortunately, she’s proven a bit of a problem. She’s the reason all of this happened.”

“Jan van Eyck,” the abbess said, “was the last person, not of this order, who knew some of our actions. He did not know a thing about the Blessed Virgin, but he helped us secure the ashes of the woman who came to be known as Joan of Arc. Then, for some inexplicable reason, he left a way for the world to find those ashes. We effectively hid that path for centuries, making moves on the Ghent Altarpiece, from time to time, through the centuries. But our luck ran out with the two of you. So we’ve decided to take you both into our confidence. Please do not make us regret it.”

He knew the comment was directed straight at him. He was the official eyes and ears in the room, and they were surely wondering what he was going to do. But he’d already decided. “I won’t say a word about any of this to anyone. It never happened.”

He caught the relief in both the abbess’ and Claire’s eyes.

Kelsey’s too, and she mouthed, Thank you.

He still had some issues with the Ghent police in the matter of stealing a body. Hopefully, Reynaldo would handle that. But he was going to take a hit, especially after he told his boss there’d been nothing to find.

“The tomb that was blown up. It was the original?” he asked.

Claire nodded. “Sacrificed for the greater good.”

“A shame,” he said. “Its historical and religious significance was immeasurable.”

“I’m sure, in your line of work, you’ve witnessed many precious things destroyed,” the abbess said.

“Sadly, I have.” He paused. “The maidens rebelling was part of the show too?”

Claire nodded. “There was a division among us. A deep difference of opinion. Me on one side, the abbess on the other. Many of us thought our mission was no longer necessary. We decided to use that debate as part of Omega. But today proved us wrong. I was wrong. We’re united once again. No debate. No dissension. Maidens, one and all. Our purpose reinvigorated.”

“You made sure Friar Dwight heard you,” Kelsey said to the abbess. “You wanted him to know that you guarded the Virgin.”

“It only reinforced what he wanted to believe. It was a good addition to the plan.”

“I assume I almost messed things up?” he asked.

“Your presence did add another dimension,” Claire said. “We left all of the outer doors open, hoping you’d find one for entry. Sister Ellen was tasked with keeping an eye on you, and tried to dissuade you from interfering in the chapter hall, but I knew you would anyway.”

He hated to be so predictable.

Claire smiled. “It seems your nature to jump right in. And, with Sister Deal involved, I realized you couldn’t resist. So we made you part of what was happening. I think it all helped cement things in the cardinal’s mind.”

“Who speared the friar with the arrow?” he asked.

“That was me,” Claire said. “The abbess was trying to send a message for you not to interfere.”

“And I didn’t. Not then, anyway. Again, you seem to know me real well.”

“Good guesses is the way I look at it,” Claire said. “One of the side benefits of being a nun. You learn a lot about people.”

He told them about Andre Labelle and his connection to Bernat de Foix and Archbishop Vilamur.

“They’re both dead,” the abbess said. “When the main contingent headed for the chapel, I sent maidens out as lookouts. One of them watched as Labelle took Vilamur over a cliff.”

He hated to hear that. But wasn’t surprised.

“I suspect Bernat de Foix is dead too,” he said. “There seemed a lot of issues going on with Labelle.”

“How are you going to explain those deaths?” Kelsey asked.

“A hiking accident,” Claire said. “They happen in these mountains all the time. We’ll allow the bodies to be discovered by others. And they will. It won’t involve us.”