an international figure is involved, the state becomes involved.'
Hood noticed Mike Rodgers's instant message about the church on his computer.
'Edgar, let me ask you something,' Hood said. 'Is there a church in Maun proper?'
'There's a multidenominational chapel,' Kline replied. 'It started out as a Catholic church. We opened it to other faiths when we established the Church of the Holy Cross at the tourist center. It was a show of good faith.'
'Do you happen to know if the church has Internet access?' Hood asked.
'I can find out for you,' Kline said. 'Why do you ask?'
'If the police are closing in, we may need to send our people data at a place where they won't have to look over their shoulders,' Hood said. He did not want to tell Kline about Maria's photographs. The Botswanans might want to confiscate the camera.
'Hold on,' Kline said.
'While you're looking,' Hood went on, 'what is the name of the dead security guard?'
'Festus Mogami,' Kline said.
'Are they sure that's his real name?' Hood asked.
'Pretty certain,' Kline said. 'He's been at the airport for at least two years, according to one of the ticket agents.'
Hood instant-messaged that name over to Bob Herbert. It sounded, on the surface, like the kind of mob hits he used to see in Los Angeles. An outsider was hired to kill an important figure. Then he was shot by the backup gunmen or the people who were supposed to get him out.
'The church in Maun does have an E-mail address, so obviously they're on-line,' Kline said.
Kline provided the E-mail address. He also gave Hood an up-to-date list of the pastors who held services at the chapel.
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Hood sent all the information to Herbert as well.
'Is there anything else you can tell me?' Hood asked.
'What are you looking for?' Kline asked.
'Details about the shooting, anything about what our people might be facing over there,' Hood told him. 'Because we are in this now. Not just Op-Center but the United States. I don't think the president will do anything except condemn the action, but you never know.'
'Paul, I don't have any other information right now,' Kline told him. 'I wish I did.'
'Can we talk to the leader of the Spanish team?' Hood asked.
'I'll find out for you,' Kline replied. 'Your agent in Maun is Spanish, isn't she?'
'Yes.'
'Depending on what region of the country she's from, that could work for her or against her,' Kline said. 'The soldiers are serious loyalists.'
'Maria's not a separatist, if that's what you're asking,' Hood said. 'She was with Interpol for years.'
'That's good,' Kline said. 'I'll call over there. They may want to talk to her directly. I'll let you know as soon as possible.'
Hood believed that Kline would press the soldiers to cooperate. He would want all the help he could get.
'Before you go, Edgar, there is one more thing I would like to ask you,' Hood said. 'Does the Church believe that what's happening in Botswana is the will of God?'
'That's an odd question,' Kline said.
'Not from a doctrinarian member of the Episcopal Church,' Hood said. 'We believe that God's hand is in everything.'
'Catholics believe in free will,' Kline said. 'It is the privilege of an intelligent being to act or not act. There is no compulsion from outside. God did not will the kidnappers to do what they did nor the assassin to do what he did. The choices were their own.'
'And God would not have intervened to stop either of those events,' Hood said.
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'He would not have,' Kline said. 'He did not save His own Son. Murder is the province of-'
Suddenly, Kline stopped.
'I have another call,' the Vatican official said. His voice was noticeably different now. It was clipped, urgent.
'Is everything all right?' Hood asked.
'I don't know.'
'Then we'll talk later,' Hood said.
