“Sir,” said Belloq, “when you know the world of covert operations as well as I do, you understand that very little is certain. We operate on degrees of ‘confidence’ in a thing, and then we are forced to act. If we waited for absolute certainty it would be too late.”

“Yes, yes,” said Vox with feigned distress, “you are right, of course. I don’t understand these things. It’s just that … my God! Bombs? What would vampires want or need with such dreadful weapons?”

He heard Belloq sigh with exasperation. Good. That was the right reaction. He wanted the man to be impatient. Impatience was useful.

“Sir,” said Belloq, “I’ve explained this a dozen times. The Red Order has lost control of the Upierczi. The Kingdom of Shadows is in open revolt and they are about to make war on the world of men. And the human traitors who work for the Upierczi have infiltrated every government, every level of industry and world trade. The launching of bombs will be the first wave … and I believe it will send a signal for a complete takeover of world governments and key industries.”

“You think it will actually come to that? Humans helping monsters to conquer the world?”

“It is happening!” insisted the priest. “And we are running out of time. That list your chief of security provided … We need to act on that immediately. We need to cut off the Hydra’s head before we are overwhelmed.”

Vox almost laughed. The phrasing was so trite, so corny. Belloq might be a ruthless killer, but he was also a complete ham-bone. That was also useful.

“The list,” Vox echoed, as if fretting over a dreadful decision. In truth the list was one he had prepared and added to while still in the good graces of Church and the president of the United States. It was his own version of a nuclear bomb, and once used it would do far more damage than the Teller–Ulams hidden throughout the Middle East. That list would blow a hole in the world and leave nothing but chaos behind.

A very, very profitable chaos.

“I’m sorry,” Vox said contritely. “This is all beyond me, and it terrifies me.”

“We’re all scared,” Belloq assured him. “But courage is defined by acting even in the presence of great fear. God needs us to be courageous. God needs us to be the heroes in this battle against the forces of evil.”

Forces of evil. Vox had to cover the phone while he laughed quietly. He wished he could put that on a business card.

“Tell me what to do,” he said after a moment.

“There is only one thing you need do, sir. You need to give me permission to use that list. I promised that we would do nothing without your say-so. Mr. Verrecchia—now is the time. Search your heart, search your faith … Ask yourself what God requires of you.”