nodded. “The ideal rules them all. It’s been done before and quite effectively. Too crazy for Serif to make up.”
“Exactly. And then there’s the main player Serif has had in her sights practically from the beginning, a man she believes to be a member of the group, if not an actual puppet they use to do their bidding. His name’s Gastone Amocacci. Fifty-six years old, citizen of Italy. Former police officer with Interpol’s intelligence division.”
“What’s his story?”
“I checked his background and discovered he quit after an operation went wrong and most of the members in his unit were killed. He moved to Istanbul a short time later and started a business in exports of Turkish goods. The government there loves the guy. Guess he’s made many of their diplomats a lot of money.”
“Probably in kickbacks,” Kurtzman interjected with a snort.
“Probably. He’s also quite the jet-setter. He’s been seen traipsing about Europe and Southeast Asia with Lady Allegra Fellini, who’s practically Italian royalty in her own right.”
“I’ve heard the name.”
“I don’t doubt it. She’s the sole heir to a clothing line empire that makes Armani look like a garment district peddler.”
“Ouch.”
“Yes, ‘ouch’ is right,” Price said. “Fellini and Amocacci are an item and have been for at least a year.”
“Okay, but even if Amocacci’s in bed with this secret council, I still don’t see what that has to do with a compromise of U.S. military intelligence,” Kurtzman said.
“That’s where Alara Serif comes in. Based on her surveillance and the psychological profile she worked up on Amocacci, coupled with his movements, she thinks the Council of Luminárii may be composed of people just like him.”
“You mean former intelligence operatives.”
“Right. And possibly even intelligence officers still currently active with multinational agencies. Can you imagine what such a group could do? And especially when you consider they’re operating in Turkey. The government there would never suspect Amocacci of being involved with international espionage and even if they did, they’d never make the accusation.”
“Because of his connections and the favor he’s found with certain high-ranking politicians.”
Price nodded. “To make no mention that he’s managed to sell a lot of Turkish-made materials. That’s good for their economy. And it’s probably why he’s allowed to move around the country freely, as well as come and go as he pleases.”
“It would be a perfect cover for this Council of... What did you call it?”
“Luminárii,” Price replied. “Serif translates it to mean ‘the Council of Lights’ and often references it as just ‘the Council.’”
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