February 16, 2006

In a hidden catacomb deep beneath the Vatican, a group of Papal scientists, calling themselves The Knights Timber, have conducted illegal experiments on their darkest treasure--the preserved right big toe of Leonardo Da Vinci. Through cutting-edge cloning technology, they clone the brilliant Renaissance thinker and implant the embryo into the womb of an Italian super model, Jezebel.

Unbeknownst to The Knights Timber, a cabal of Neo-Impressionist Art Critics, calling themselves The Blue Periods, have hatched a diabolical scheme to track down Jezebel, steal the baby for themselves, raise him and indoctrinate him into their society and take over the art world. They are funded by a sect of reclusive billionaires known as the Sotheby's.

Into this comes Robert Lametree, art critic for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and expert on psycho-sexual symbolism in the paintings of Picasso. While on a medical leave in Tuscany where he is restoring a villa he bought on a wim from what was left after his divorce settlement, Lametree finds himself drawn to Dr. Annetto Illuminattio, who is conducting research for the World Health Organization into a lethal form of foot fungus that is threatening to wipe out the grape stompers of Italy.

In a race against time, Lametree and Illuminattio must team up to track down Jezebel, stop her from giving birth to the Leonardo clone before The Blue Periods can kidnap her and the child and bring coherence to the world of art criticism and cause a calamitous plunge in the price of art worldwide.