Chapter 81

           ThetelevisionintheOfficeofthePopewasanoversizedHitachihiddeninarecessedcabinetoppositehisdesk.Thedoorstothecabinetwerenowopen,andeveryonegatheredaround.Vittoriamovedinclose.Asthescreenwarmedup,ayoungfemalereportercameintoview.Shewasadoe-eyedbrunette.

           "ForMSNBCnews,"sheannounced,"thisisKellyHoran-Jones,livefromVaticanCity."TheimagebehindherwasanightshotofSt.Peter’sBasilicawithallitslightsblazing.

           "You’renotlive,"Rochersnapped."That’sstockfootage!Thelightsinthebasilicaareout."

           Olivettisilencedhimwithahiss.

           Thereportercontinued,soundingtense."ShockingdevelopmentsintheVaticanelectionsthisevening.WehavereportsthattwomembersoftheCollegeofCardinalshavebeenbrutallymurderedinRome."

           Olivettisworeunderhisbreath.

           Asthereportercontinued,aguardappearedatthedoor,breathless."Commander,thecentralswitchboardreportseverylinelit.They’rerequestingourofficialpositionon—"

           "Disconnectit,"Olivettisaid,nevertakinghiseyesfromtheTV.

           Theguardlookeduncertain."But,commander—"

           "Go!"

           Theguardranoff.

           Vittoriasensedthecamerlegnohadwantedtosaysomethingbuthadstoppedhimself.Instead,themanstaredlongandhardatOlivettibeforeturningbacktothetelevision.

           MSNBCwasnowrunningtape.TheSwissGuardscarriedthebodyofCardinalEbnerdownthestairsoutsideSantaMariadelPopoloandliftedhimintoanAlphaRomeo.Thetapefrozeandzoomedinasthecardinal’snakedbodybecamevisiblejustbeforetheydepositedhiminthetrunkofthecar.