“The motorcade of visiting heads of state usually enters the Holy See through St. Anne’s Gate, then heads up the Via Belvedere to the San Damaso Courtyard. He’s met there by the commandant of the Swiss Guard and escorted into the Apostolic Palace. The bodyguards of the visiting heads of state have to stay down in the courtyard. Vatican protocol. The head of state goes up alone, protected only by the Guard. I’ll let you in on a little secret, though. Secret Service always stashes a couple of men in the official party—nice Catholic boys who want to meet the Holy Father.”

“So what sort of changes are you making?”

“The president is going to chopper to the Vatican and land on the Pope’s helipad.”

“It’s in the far western corner, right against the wall. If someone is waiting down on the Viale Vaticano with another missile…”

“Secret Service says the area can be secured.”

“How many nice Catholic boys are you going to stash in the president’s official delegation?”

“More than usual.” Carter looked at his watch again. “We should probably enter the airport a few minutes apart. Langley booked us in separate seats.”

“You’re ashamed of me, Adrian?”

“Never prouder, actually. You and your boys showed a lot of guts going into the chalet.”

“We didn’t have a choice, Adrian. We never have a choice.”

Carter closed his eyes for a moment. “You know, it’s possible bin Shafiq was just shooting off his mouth, or bluffing for some reason.”

“Why would he bluff, Adrian? He was going to kill her.”

37. Vatican City

Vatican City

IT’S A GOOD THING your friend the monsignor asked us to give you a lift,” the Carabinieri captain said. “Otherwise you would have never made it from Fiumicino to the Vatican.”

Gabriel looked out the window of the helicopter. Rome lay beneath him. The Villa Borghese had been taken over as a staging area by the demonstrators and was now a sea of humanity. The first marchers were spilling from the bottom of the park into the Via Veneto.

“Can you keep them away from the Vatican?”

“We’re going to try.” The captain pointed out the window. “You see those barricades down there? Our plan is to herd them up the hill into the Janiculum Park. But we’re expecting two million protesters. If things get out of control…” He gave an Italianate shrug. “I’m glad I don’t do riot duty anymore. It could turn into a war zone down there.”