“Of course,” Claudia said.
“And why this can’t go any further than this room,” Welner pursued.
“I understand,” Claudia said. “Would you and Cletus like me to leave, Father?”
“As far as I’m concerned, Claudia, you’re welcome to stay. But that decision is really Cletus’s to make; he has the responsibility on his shoulders.”
And again: You really are good!
What did Nervo say? “Holy Mother Church—and especially Jesuits like Welner—has been in our business much longer than we have and is much better at it than we are.”
What Welner’s saying indirectly is: “Since Cletus has the responsibility on his shoulders, that makes me nothing more than a simple priest trying to do God’s work.
“Smuggling people out of Europe and into Argentina is handled by people with dirty hands, like Cletus.
“Who, although pretty stupid by comparison, is smart enough to know he can’t ask you to leave. That would hurt you, piss you off, and he knows he can’t do that.”
Well, Clete, it’s back to “When in doubt, tell the truth.”
Frade said: “Claudia, I would have preferred not to involve you in this. But the cow seems to have gotten out of the barn. However, if you leave now, everyone in this room will forget you were ever here.”
“Are you telling me to leave?” Claudia challenged, then before he had a chance to reply, went on: “Like your father, you can at times be truly stupid. Of course I’m staying. I want to help.”
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“Thank you, Claudia,” Father Welner said.
“You didn’t really think I was going to leave, did you?” Claudia asked. “You know me better than that, Father!”
Frade said: “The fewer people who know about this, Claudia, the better.”
“You didn’t have to tell me that,” she snapped. “My God!”
“Sorry,” Clete said.
“So, what happens now?” Claudia asked. “How can I help?”
“Well, as soon as Sister Whatshername and Enrico get back with the clothes, we’re going to fly to Casa Montagna.”
“Sister María Encarnación,” Sister María Isabel corrected him icily.
Welner began: “Cletus, I’m certainly not trying to tell you what to do, or how to do it . . .”
“But?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to wait until after we get your guests’ papers in order?” He turned to Claudia and explained, “Father Pedro has an understanding and discreet friend in the Interior Ministry who’s going to provide National Identity booklets for Cletus’s guests.”
“You better wait until that’s done,” Claudia agreed, “before you go to Mendoza.”
Was that an order, Claudia? It sure sounded like one.
Claudia looked at Father Silva. “How long is that going to take, Father Pedro?”
“About twelve hours after I give my friend the photographs,” the priest said. “I have a camera, but I think we should wait until we have the proper clothing.”
“Clete?” Schultz asked.
He might as well have popped to attention and said, “Sir, permission to speak?”