Mass Market Paperback published in 2004. The Da Vinci Legacy by Lewis Perdue.
Vance Erickson is given the task of tracking down some missing pages from a Da Vinci Codex. The chase leads to Italy and involves many twists and turns. With church and military manufacturers intertwined in a relationship to to develop a new super weapon.
"Perdue makes superb use of apocalyptic themes in what is an outstanding thriller on every level. This one will cause a lot of sleepless nights." - Booklist