28.- Cyril Markov
It is yet another day in the peaceful monastery of St. George at Kremikovtzi, in the outskirts of Sofia, Bulgaria. Priest Cyril Markov is conducting a Divine Liturgy for the day, and is also praying to God Almighty for the eternal rest of Monk Kalevit, who has been victim of a rather strange murder in the Strahov Monastery in Prague. At least, it was there where the body appeared. And the trail went cold again. Usual business.
Father Cyril is having a conversation with a tourist in her thirties, who's showing particular interest in the iconography displayed at the Church. "Do not be afraid of speaking in Lingua Franca, my child," the priest says. "Your Bulgarian is quite rough." The lady sighs. "OK," she says with a full British accent. "I just was trying to practice a bit. I don't like losing my edge. I'm interested in the stories of the miracles of St. John the Apostle."
Father Cyril is rather surprised at the direct way in which the woman talks. She's dressed in a rather sporty way, but she talks like a refined lady. "Oh, yes…" Cyril says. "A really nice story of fate indeed. Are you a believer?" The woman makes a pause. "I'm actually an archaeologist," she says. "Last time I was tracing some paintings and almost lost my head to the Prague mafia." Cyril thinks about it for a while and recognizes her. "You are Lady Croft…" he says.
The conversation is soon interrupted by shouts. "The mutri!" screams the priest scared. Lara pulls out her 9mm. "It seems we have uninvited guests…" Lara says. "Stay put. I promise I won't damage the iconography." And so, father Cyril sees the exchange between Lady Croft and the Mutri. "I would rather avoid any deaths today," Lara Croft says. "These are hostages!" a member of the Mafia says to make her put down her gun. Yet Lara shoots him at the head. No warning. "I don't care about hostages," she says. "You, the one with only one hand… If you let them go I will fetch you whatever your errand is. I bet you're here on a mafia cooperation deal."
The mafia man thinks for a while. "Cross of St. John, can you get it?" he asks. "Your name, and a contact phone," Lara says. "I think it'll take me about a week. And you don't get to lose any more men. Deal?" The one-handed mafia man puts his gun down. "You have a deal," he says. Then, he hands her over a card - Vasil Borisov, steel salesman -, and the mafia leaves.
"What can I do to thank you?" Cyril asks. "If you have any leads on the Cross of St. John being here, I would like it," Ms. Croft asks. Father Cyril scratches his head. "I have something…" he says. "A tale of a knight of Christ who stopped the heretic Gnostics from taking Sofia out of the path of God." Lara Croft scans the pages. "This is even better than I expected," she says.