She would never desecrate the Basilica.
They knew that as long as they were within the cathedral or on its holy land, they were safe.
But heaven help them the moment they stepped off that hallowed ground.
Alice pulled to a stop right out the front of the cathedral. She had known this day would come. She had been braced for it for the last two weeks. Of course, they would catch up with her eventually.
What she did not know was what they planned to do. Surely Romano knew the folly of trying to eliminate her?
As she reached for the door handle, her cellphone buzzed on the passenger seat. She snatched it up and thumbed the screen. “Constable?”
“We were too late,” Fredericks said. “They’ve been taken.”
“Thank you, Constable. I will ring you back.” Alice hung up and tossed the phone on the seat.
There was no other way to deal with the matter than to step into the so-called trap.
Alice left the car at the curb and walked up the stone steps to the front doors. She left her bag and the Tanfoglio inside it, on the passenger seat. She would not need them.
Inside the foyer, she saw the long, black and white aisle which stretched the length of the cathedral. Row upon row of pews filled the space. Ornate pillars and archways edged the enormous room, reaching up to the high, domed ceiling.
There were plenty of places to conceal oneself if surprise or ambush were on the agenda. While Alice would never desecrate the cathedral, she was not sure Romano and his men were of a similar mind.
She stepped quietly through the foyer and into the Cathedral. It was so silent, Alice was sure she would hear the flames burning the wicks of the candles if she were close enough.
Alice stood at the back, her gaze roaming over the pews.
“You came alone.” Romano’s voice echoed through the chamber.
“As instructed. I want no harm to come to the Raffertys.”
“I am a man of my word, Sister. As long as you follow my directions, they will not be hurt.”
“They will not be hurt under any circumstances, Signore Romano, whether I follow your instructions or not.”
“I think you misunderstand the situation, Sister. I have the power here. You are in no position to be issuing threats.”
“I issue no threats, Signore Romano. I simply state facts. Geraldine, Susie and Christine’s continued well-being are the only things which keep you alive.”
Romano chuckled. “I could shoot you right now, Sister.”
Alice made a sour face. “So, in addition to your deplorable conduct, you would add the desecration of a cathedral to the list? His Holiness will not look favorably upon such behavior.”
“An odd response to being threatened, Sister.”
“You are no threat to me, Signore Romano.”
“You might be able to fool His Holiness with your immortal deception, Sister, but it will not work on me.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I am not a doddering old fool.”
Alice stifled her gasp and her smile. Romano had just signed his death warrant, regardless of how the situation with Geraldine and the girls played out. He was a non-believer and there was no room for non-believers in His Holiness’ inner circle.
“Very well, Signore Romano. Shall we get on with it, then?”
Romano stepped into view from behind one of the pillars at the side of the cathedral. “Yes, we shall. By now, my car has arrived. Let us take a ride.”
* * * * *
The Papal jet, a converted Alitalia Boeing 767, sat in front of its assigned hangar at the Philadelphia International Airport, being readied for takeoff. The portable boarding stairs rested in place against the front access door of the massive airplane.
Three men in suits and sunglasses stood at the bottom of the stairs and watched Romano’s limousine as it pulled to a stop nearby. Even from the backseat, through the blacked-out windows, Alice could see the bulges under their jackets.
This will not be easy.
Alice could not ascertain whether there were more men like them within the airplane with, she assumed, Geraldine and the girls. If the women were on the airplane, would they be guarded? Yet there was nowhere they could go without using the stairs where the three men waited at the bottom.
The driver scurried around the limousine to open the rear door. Romano stepped out. “Come, Sister. Your audience with His Holiness awaits.”
Alice got out and stood by the back corner of the limousine while Romano and the driver stalked toward the airplane. When they noticed she was not with them, they turned to look at her.
“This is not the time to stop doing what you are told,” Romano mocked.
“I need to know the Raffertys are unhurt and see they have been released before I proceed,” Alice said.
To Alice’s right, one of the monstrous engines on the Papal jet cranked to life as Romano spoke. His lips moved but she could not hear him. When she did not react, he gestured over his shoulder.
A fourth guard walked toward the aircraft from the hangar. Geraldine and the girls walked just ahead of him, holding hands. They looked frightened and Geri had a black eye.
Alice stepped closer to Romano. She shouted to make herself heard. “Are you sure you would not rather just drop this entire business, Signore Romano? His Holiness will be seriously displeased with you. Not only have you grievously wounded a member of Philadelphia’s constabulary, but you have raised your hand to his wife.”
“His pleasure or displeasure does not concern me, Sister. Get on the plane,” Romano shouted back.
“Only after the Raffertys have been released.”
Romano shook his head. “You do not make the rules here. They will be released after we have landed in Rome. Get on the plane.”
Alice knew that if Geraldine and the girls got on the plane, they would never leave it alive.
As Romano signaled the guard to get the Raffertys on the plane, Alice
