Scene excerpt from the book...

Carlo Gambrielli sat in his spacious study, looking out the large, glass doors which led to the patio. He watched his three grandchildren playing on their swing set and monkey bars. More thananything else, he loved to watch them play and hear the sound of their childish laughter. Mario, theyoungest at three, was only learning to swing without the aid of an enclosed seat. Carlo watchedintently as the youngster kicked his legs and inched higher with each movement of the swing.Ah yes, thought Carlo, he's a Gambrielli. He's terrified, but more of failing than of trying andgetting hurt. He sat back in his overstuffed chair and slid his fingers up under his glasses, rubbing hiseyes to chase away the tiredness. The kids were all that brought him pleasure anymore. Running thehuge Gambrielli crime syndicate no longer brought him satisfaction, as it once had. What werechallenges in his youth were now simply problems. And I'm growing too old for all these problems, hethought.His mind wandered to the current problems all the families faced. Someone was killing off theleaders of the families, and it appeared the Catholic Church was involved. They don't stand to gainanything, and surely they don't want to muscle in on our businesses, he thought, what is it they want,and why don't they deal. They always have in the past. He reclined in his comfortable chair and closedhis eyes tight, feeling the sting beneath his eyelids. He rubbed his forehead and eyes, trying to make theache go away.A knock on the door, and the sound of it opening brought him around in his chair."I'm sorry to disturb you, Mr. Gambrielli," said the old man in a dark blue suit and tie. Hecarried a large package in his hands. "I just got back from St. Domenics. The pastor blessed the clock for you, and I thought you might want it.""Ah, thank you, Julius. Take it out of the box and hang it will you."Julius lifted the lid off the box, and carefully removed a large, beautiful wooden painting of theCrucifixion. A small clock was fixed to the upper left-hand corner above an image of Jerusalem."Where would you like it hung, Mr. Gambrielli?"

"On the wall beside the door there, Julius. The last image people have leaving this office will beour Lord.""Yes, sir," said Julius. He set the painting on a small settee against the wall and left to get sometools. Carlo turned once again and watched his grandchildren playing in the yard. He heard Juliusreturn and the thump of hammer and nails, as the major domo worked to hang the art piece. Somethingclicked in Carlo's mind as he heard the man mutter under his breath."What's that you say, Julius?""Nothing, sir, it's just the clock seems a little loose. Nothing serious. It will be fine."Something gnawed at the back of Carlo's mind, as he concentrated his attention on the childrenagain."There, Mr. Gambrielli, how's that sir?"Carlo tore his attention away from the kids and turned."Excellent, Julius, you did a superb job. Now, we just have to set it, and we're done."Julius placed the tools on the settee, and reached up and gently began to adjust the clock."Tell me, Julius," said Carlo, "you were present when Fr. Matthew blessed the picture, weren'tyou?" Like all old world Italians, Carlo would not place a religious article in his home without having it blessed by the parish priest."Yes sir," he said, "I was there.""Good, I just wanted to make certain it wasn't out of your sight.""Well, I mean Fr. Matthew was still in bed when I arrived, but that new priest took it into him tohave it blessed. And I was right outside in the vestibule all the time," said Julius. He turned the knobslowly as the small hand arrived at the one and the large hand touched twelve."Julius, wait," said Carlo, as the sound of young laughter rang in his ears, "I think we..."Outside the children laughed and yelled, as they played on the swings and monkey bars.Suddenly, the ground shook beneath them. Mario toppled backward from the swing he rode, landing