John R. VanBuskirk
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The words of Abbot Alphonsus are precise, 'Brother, the Secret of Fatima has been stolen. You must get the letter back for the Vatican. You must protect the Church and its one billion members.' The Abbot speaks to L.A. Maritain, a former CIA agent, now Trappist monk. Maritain is recruited to manage the operation and keep the Secret from being revealed.
Maritain feels the weight of his past. Thoughts of Merrick Ludlow and Kapryce Meiher emerge. He was Maritain's long-term partner. She was a promising young agent and his past lover. The two tried killing Maritain in the desolate jungles of Northern India a year before.
The Abbot's request will lead the trio to a deadly rendezvous in the Holy City.
Secret of Fatima is an action-suspense novel centered on the eighty-year-old Vatican City mystery. Supernatural events of Fatima, Portugal were authenticated by the Roman Catholic Church in 1930 and the existence of a secret revealed in 1941. On May 13, 2000, the Vatican unveiled part of the Secret and promised to divulge full details and another prophetic vision.
Along with detailing the historic events of Fatima, John R. VanBuskirk describes how the Vatican and CIA battle to recover the Secret that's been stolen from papal archives. The Vatican, fearing that Christianity will buckle, must mask the robbery, silence the thieves, and recover the Secret before it is released to the world. The confrontation pits a monk and former-CIA agent against the partner who betrayed him and the woman he once loved.
'So far, my assumptions about the Secret of Fatima are right-on', VanBuskirk explains. I never thought the Secret was about world-wide annihilation or the Last Judgment. I do believe that it contains even more suffering for John Paul II and will continue to fuel controversy in the Roman Catholic Church.'
John R. VanBuskirk was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He was educated at the University of Kansas in Lawrence and achieved an MBA at Rockhurst University in Kansas City.
'It was exciting writing Secret of Fatima because so much of the story is real,' VanBuskirk explains. 'It's a great benefit that I release my novel just as the Vatican reveals part of the actual Secret. Besides local publicity, I've been on a nationally syndicated talk show and interviewed by the Washington Post. Timing is everything!'
VanBuskirk credits his wife for his success. 'I had a dream to write the 'Great American Novel' and Molly let me pursue it. Her encouragement was as instrumental to me achieving my goal as the keyboard I tapped for so many, many nights.'
John and Molly, live in Kansas City with their four children. He is currently working on his next novel that will reunite L.A. Maritain and Kapryce Meiher, the two main characters of the story.
The Vatican Plan Vatican City, Home for Retired Priests
Father Patrick Callahan took a sip of espresso and listened to his partner reason with the Italian clergyman. He didn't particularly like the high-octane coffee of the Europeans.
'--Monsignor, without a doubt, we're doing the right thing,' Father Dillon Chais stressed. 'Our actions will impact millions of souls and ultimately world history.'
Arturo Capolvetti, the retired personal secretary of three popes, stared grimly at the young priest. The man, who was ninety, didn't like being hard pressed.
He turned slowly to the silent, silver-haired visitor and asked, 'Father, you're the head of the Legion of the Blessed Mother, no?' His English was heavily accented with Italian. 'What do you have to say?'
Callahan looked briefly to Chais as if for permission to speak and then turned towards the feeble Italian. He peered into eyes that looked enormous behind thick wire-rimmed glasses.
He spoke from his heart. 'For forty years, the Vatican has hidden the Secret of Fatima. I have never understood why - given that so many souls could be saved, so many wonderful promises realized. I am inspired by the belief that the Secret, if set free, will change the world.'
'But Father Callahan,' Capolvetti challenged, 'your belief is contrary to Pope John Paul's?'
The American hesitated before replying. 'Monsignor, the Legion does not question our Pope's devotion to the Virgin. It questions his interpretation of Mary's will.'
The monsignor was quick to correct his guest, 'You are questioning not only this Pope, Brother, but all those before John Paul.'
'Sadly, that is true,' Callahan admitted. He then listed the pontiffs. 'John Paul I, Paul VI, John XXIII, and Pius XII.'
He paused and then reasserted his purpose for traveling to the Holy City, 'Monsignor, the Legion's interpretation of the Secret of Fatima is that Our Lady has always wanted the message to be spread throughout the world. Monsignor Capolvetti, we believe, without question, that the Secret must be set free!'
The ancient priest studied Callahan's face. He asked a final probing question. 'And what of the punishment of excommunication, Father?'
Callahan's eyes abruptly shifted to the tabletop that separated the trio. He had pondered this question for months but didn't offer an immediate response.
Father Chais turned to his partner, searching for words.
Finally, Callahan spoke. His words were without emotion. 'God will be my final judge, Monsignor.' His gaze then lifted from the table to the aged priest. 'As He will be yours.'
