Nun with a Gun

By Linda Arditto

Inspector Martinelli decides to take a vacation after his encounters with the vampires in the Vatican. He leaves Rome and flies to Munich in Bavaria, always hoping to meet a ‘Knight of Christ’ and maybe a few ‘Royal’ vampires. His hatred of vampires has sent him on a quest to kill as many as he can but things don’t turn out the way he planned.
The local priest in the village of Abenderstil is being carefully watched by the Knights of Christ, several unexplained deaths after the priest had visited the victims has stirred the Brotherhoods’ interest.
Martinelli decides to help the Brotherhood and maybe kill a few ‘Royals’ along the way but nothing is how Martinelli expected it to be. Spirits rising from the grave and a Nazi connection has Martinelli baffled until he discovers it revolves around missing Nazi gold.
On top of it all the Brotherhood want Martinelli to leave the Royals alone. Martinelli is horrified when a Knight of Christ tells him the vampires are helping them. And what of the priest who the Brotherhood suspect of being responsible? Is he a villain or a victim?
Martinelli discovers a deadly secret going back to 1942. The Royal vampires are up to more than they’re saying. Helping the Brotherhood has never been their intention....and what of the missing children?
Everything changes when Martinelli finally gets to speak to Sister Maria from the Order of St Hedwig and he’s surprised at her connection to everything going on in the village.
Martinelli has a big decision to make which may upset a few people; but does he care? He decides to do whatever is necessary to kill more vampires and help the Brotherhood of the Sword.
How will the Inspector solve this intricate puzzle?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clover Digital Media
• Release date: Feb 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310942945

Linda Arditto

I am a mystery woman. Older and therefore wiser I hope.

Book preview

NUN WITH A GUN

The Unusual Cases of Inspector Martinelli Series

Book 2

Books in this series

Book 1 A Vampire in the Vatican

Book 2 Nun with a Gun

Book 3 The Aesinas Codex

BY

LINDA ARDITTO

Copyright 2013 LindaArditto

Published by

Clover Digital Media

Cover by

Clover Digital Media

SMASHWORDS EDITION

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please go and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously. Once again no offence was intended against the Roman Catholic Church and any of its associates. No offence was intended against the German people and all historical reference is used fictitiously.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Forward

Due to this book being part of a series ‘The Unusual Cases of Inspector Martinelli’ it is advisable to start at Book1. Each story is independent of each other but there are references included throughout that refer to incidents in previous investigations. The reader may find it confusing from time to time without any background.

Linda Arditto

*Chapter 1*

Martinelli looked at the other passengers as he took his seat in the plane. His flight to Munich would depart soon carrying a full complement; every seat was taken.

He had one month to see the wonderful sites in Germany and finally relax after his encounter with the vampires in the Vatican. Martinelli had taken four weeks long service leave; the Chief Inspector had approved his vacation and here he was; waiting to leave Rome.

It would be less than two hours flight time, and he found himself flicking through a car rental brochure as he waited for the plane to depart. He’d rent a car on arrival and travel to Abenderstil; a small village on the banks of the Mosel river in the Bavarian region. He wanted peace and quiet and decided this was the place to be; but Martinelli had something else in mind.

He’d become curious about the ‘Royal’ vampires in Bavaria. Why hadn’t the ‘Brotherhood of the Sword’ destroyed them? Why did they just keep them under control?

It was obvious to Martinelli that there were ‘Knights of Christ’ in that area and he hoped for a chance meeting with one over the next few weeks.

A voice came over the speaker instructing everyone to put on their seat belts; Martinelli returned the brochure to the pocket of the seat in front before clipping the belt together. He could hear the engines whining as the plane began to role forward away from the terminal.

He sat back and closed his eyes, he hadn’t felt this relaxed for a very long time, and yet he also felt an excitement he’d never known before. Perhaps he had become a vampire killer like the ‘Royal’ had told him that day in Graecos’ office. Maybe it was because of Graecos’ death he now found himself heading for what he hoped to be a rendezvous with these Royals, and a further culling of this evil that possessed the world; but he’d need a weapon. He hadn’t been able to bring a handgun with him, it remained back in his office, locked in the safe.

The plane accelerated down the runway and slowly left the tarmac. They were in the air. Martinelli found himself recalling the last vampire that Matthew had disposed of; an average looking guy that had eluded everyone inside the Vatican. Then his thoughts went back to Basileum; the ‘Royal’ vampire that he’d shot through the heart with a silver bullet. He’d only killed two vampires this way, the other being in the lower cemetery where the Imperials rested; the vampire that had bitten him. He hadn’t realised that the guardians had wings and Martinelli wondered if all vampires had this extra equipment; it would make the job more difficult he thought.

Martinelli looked out the window as they entered German air space; everything looked beautiful; the small villages scattered over the land, the forest areas; the clear blue sky. And yet he knew that there was more going on down there that most of the residents knew about. An evil that roamed their homeland and Martinelli was going to change all that.

He could feel the plane descending as they approached Munich airport, it wouldn’t take long before they were on the ground and Martinelli knew that in a few hours he’d be in Abenderstil.

Disembarking from the plane he headed into the terminal to collect his luggage. He didn’t have to wait long before he saw his two suitcases on the carousel and he grabbed them as soon as he could before a quick check through customs; he then headed to Eurocar where he hired a vehicle.

It was a pleasant drive as Martinelli headed to Abenderstil; he was pleased he’d paid the extra ten euro a day to have the GPS in the car for he’d never been to Germany before; he didn’t even speak their language so asking for directions had been out of the question, but it would give him an opportunity to practice his English. Tourists mostly spoke English and a large number of the German population found in the tourist areas had a fair knowledge of the language. He felt pleased that Franco had told him this before he’d left the Vatican City; but Franco didn’t know he was staying in Bavaria. Martinelli told him he was going to Paris but stopping for a few days in Germany on the way through.

It was almost lunch time when he drove into the streets of Abenderstil; quiet for this time of year and that pleased him. He was glad to get away from the crowds in the Vatican City.

Martinelli found an inn in this quaint little town; it had a medieval flavour to it and that made him smile. There were only a few people in the street and they watched him carefully as he parked his car; removing his luggage from the trunk he nodded to them as he walked into the inn. There were several people at the bar and a few sat at the tables which were scattered around the room. Everyone stopped speaking as he approached the bartender.

I would like a room he asked the man as best he could in English.

How long would you like to stay? the bartender asked.

A few weeks Martinelli replied. Perhaps a little longer he added.

The bartender turned to a rack of keys on the wall behind him. Selecting one he turned back to Martinelli.

Please sign in he said as he pointed to a large open book at the end of the bar.

Martinelli walked down to the book; taking the pen in his hand he wrote Luciano Martinelli, Rome, Italy, before returning to collect his key.

I gave you a room at the back of the inn the bartender said as he handed the key to Martinelli. It has a nice view of the countryside, all the way down to the river.

I would prefer a room at the front" Martinelli said before handing the key back.

There is nothing to see at the front, just old buildings, no view at all the bartender responded.

This is what I want Martinelli said.

The bartender sighed before removing another key and handing it to Martinelli saying, Room number 3, just at the top of the stairs.

Martinelli picked up his suitcases and headed for the staircase but not before he noticed a deadly silence still in the room. A dozen men were watching him as he climbed the steps to the upper floor but not a sound was uttered.

Entering the room, Martinelli put down his suitcases and sat on the bed. He looked at his watch; 12.45 he whispered. He’d had breakfast at 6am this morning and was starting to feel hungry. He decided to walk around the town and grab a bite to eat before unpacking his clothes; he could do that anytime.

Martinelli left his room and locked the door before heading down the stairs to the bar. Once again everyone became silent and watched him walk across the room and out the front door.

In the street Martinelli looked right and then left. Down to his left he noticed a row of shops. He hadn’t noticed them when he drove into the village. Martinelli headed down to the first shop, he saw it was an eatery and decided to have lunch there.

Entering through the open door he looked around the room; no one else was here. Menus were neatly placed on each table; sitting comfortably between the salt and pepper shakers. Martinelli took a seat and started to look at the menu. He felt surprised that it was in English, obviously directed at the tourists but there was no one here except the German residents. Perhaps it was just the wrong time of year.

Martinelli ate his lunch, he’d decided to walk around the village when he left the eatery: checking out all the streets and laneways; watching for those ice blue eyes or a ‘Knight of Christ’ ring. Perhaps this evening he’d walk to the river and watch the sunset from there.

He’d come to the conclusion that German food was just as good as the Italian dishes at home; weight gainers, not exactly what his body needed. German coffee on the other hand is something he’d have to get used to.

*Chapter 2*

The street inclined upwards as Martinelli walked along, he looked at his watch; it was 2pm. The sun was shining and he found himself becoming uncomfortably warm; he removed his jacket and carried it over his arm.

Martinelli turned the corner, there were very few people on the street as he continued into the shade between the buildings. He liked the architecture in this village; the stonework was nothing like he’d seen in Rome.

He turned a corner and to his surprise, Martinelli saw a church. There was nothing unusual about that but he had expected this rural area of Germany would be the Lutheran faith; he found himself looking at a Catholic church.

He stopped and looked at the board which was attached to an old wooden fence. ‘Saint Hedwigs’ the sign read. Martinelli couldn’t recall a saint with this name; but then again there were hundreds of saints he’d never heard of.

As he stood there looking at this medieval structure a nun came out the front doors. She was young, the youngest person Martinelli had seen in the village so far. It’s then it struck him that he hadn’t noticed any children in the village; perhaps they were all in school at the moment.

She walked down the stone path towards the gate; her head down. Martinelli noticed the habit she wore swayed in the breeze; the brown fabric clutching her ankles as she walked. In her hand a crucifix; tightly gripped as it hung from her woollen belt which was tied firmly around her waist.

Good afternoon sister Martinelli said as she exited the gate.

She appeared startled for a moment; for she hadn’t noticed him there.

Good afternoon she replied as she hurried past him and down the street.

Martinelli entered the gate and approached the doors of the church. Pushing gently on the left door it opened easily with no sound, he walked in.

He felt surprised that no one was inside; in Rome and the Vatican City people were always in prayer but this time Martinelli had the church to himself.

He looked around as he stood in the entrance. Stained glass windows were on both the left and right walls; images of saints graced the glasswork. Martinelli walked slowly down the aisle, his footsteps echoing through the building. He stopped halfway between the doors and altar; turning to his right his eyes scanned the windows. A row of saints were before him; brilliantly lit as the sun shone through the windows highlighting the reds, blues and yellows of the glass. Saints that held books in one hand and a staff in the other; saints who held a large cross and saints who held their hands up to Heaven.

Martinelli kept walking forward; his eyes examining everything within his scope of vision. Two candles were lit and were to the right of the stone altar; Martinelli wondered if the nun he’d seen had placed them there. As he looked up at the back wall he noticed something