Rachel’s gaze flickered to Alice, questioning.
“He said, ‘You are beautiful.’”
Rachel clamped a hand over her mouth and turned red. The tears overflowed her eyes. “Thank you, Your Holiness.”
The Pope raised his hand, a finger extended. “No need to be so formal. Call me ‘Bob’”
Rachel blanched. “Bob?”
He nodded. “That is my name.”
Rachel giggled. “Bob. Okay then.”
Rafferty eased close to the table and set the box of donuts gently on the top.
“Ah!” Bob said. “I had better take my apple fritter before someone else does.” He threw the box open, scanned the contents and plucked the only apple fritter from the box. He bit into it and chewed with relish.
“Speaking of which,” Rafferty said and looked at Mike, “We should get out of here and let these two make their plans.”
“What do you mean?” Mike asked.
“Their plans for next week,” Rafferty said.
“I think we should stay, Raf. They might need our help.”
“We can’t. What they’re planning is illegal. We can’t be in on it.”
Mike shrugged. “All I heard was them planning how to keep Alice safe from Buscaglia and his cronies.”
Rafferty scowled. “C’mon, Mike. You know that’s not true.” He indicated Bob. “He wants them eliminated. We wouldn’t sit in on a group of gangsters planning to take out their competition in case we could help. This is no different.”
Rachel looked from one to the other. “What are you guys talking about?”
Rafferty looked down at her. “Trust me, Rach. You don’t want to know.”
“If there’s some threat to Alice or the Pope...Bob, then I definitely want to know.”
Rafferty growled in his throat. “Have all of you lost your minds? We’re talking about killing someone. Several someones. Mike and I took an oath to uphold the law. Even just knowing about it and not doing anything about it makes us parties in a conspiracy. We can’t just--”
“Now hang on, Raf. That’s not how I see it,” Mike said.
Rafferty’s eyes blazed. “You know that’s how it is.”
“No, I don’t.”
“You’re just siding with your latest booty-call.”
Mike’s jaw dropped open. So did Geri’s.
“Marty!” Geri protested.
Mike moved so he was right in Rafferty’s face. “Say that again,” he growled.
Alice stepped between them, a hand on each chest. “Michael, sit down.”
“Why should I?”
“Because he is quite correct. You cannot be a party to this. You have to leave it to me.”
Mike’s face fell. “But I can’t just...”
Alice looked up into his eyes. “You can and you will. You cannot put your career in jeopardy for this. For me.”
Bob watched all of them. “She is right. This is something for Alice to deal with on her own. It is our problem. We will take care of it.” He popped the last bite of apple fritter into his mouth.
Then Bob whipped the tea towel out of his pants and tossed it on the counter. “It’s time for me to leave. Detective Fredericks, can you walk me to my car?”
Mike stared daggers at Rafferty. “Sure, Bob. Just give me a minute to stomp down on my indignation.”
Bob gathered his jacket from the back of a chair and moved around the kitchen saying goodbye.
As he took Alice’s hand, he said, “You know what to do, my dear Alice. I will see you next week at the Ritz-Carlton here in town.”
“Yes, Your Holiness. I will be there.”
Mike and Bob stepped outside. Alice watched them through the living room window.
They stood by the the car for a long moment. The Pope laid a hand on Mike’s arm and patted him on the shoulder before handing Mike something and getting into the back of his car.
The driver pulled away from the curb. Mike watched until the car turned the corner at the end of the block and moved out of sight.
Then he shook his head and walked slowly back to the house. When he entered, he handed Alice her reinstated Vatican passport.
This would be a long week, indeed.
* * * * *
Right on schedule, the Pope and his entourage arrived in Philadelphia with the usual fanfare, news coverage and crowds of people.
The crowds were always present when the Pope toured a city. It didn’t happen often, so when he was in town, he drew thousands of people. Some just wanted to see him in person, some wanted the touch of his hand, some actually hoped they’d speak with him. He had the same level of security as the President of the United States, when he travelled.
Alice and Mike watched on Mike’s television. Buscaglia was there, right by the Pope’s side. Alice knew Bob well enough to see he was uncomfortable conferring with Buscaglia. That would end this week. Bob would never have to feel that discomfort again.
She pointed out Buscaglia to Mike.
Mike shrugged. “I’m not supposed to know about it, remember?”
Alice pursed her lips. “Michael, there is no need to be churlish. You and I both know you are going to be there.”
“We do?”
“Quite right.”
“I thought you didn’t want me there.”
“Quite correct. I do not. But I also know that particular expectation is folly. There is no way you will agree to remain behind. So let us dispense with that and get on with it.”
Mike sat forward. “What’s the plan?”
“There is no plan aside from taking them out. His Holiness has people who can handle the clean-up. I just need to reach them in their rooms, probably at night. There cannot be any witnesses.”
“Right. So where do I come in?”
Alice looked at him as if he was an amusing little boy. “You do not come in. In this, Constable Rafferty is quite correct. You cannot be a party to the murder I will do this night. That is non-negotiable, Michael. I must do this myself.”
Mike looked like a chastised little boy, disappointed that he couldn’t do the thing he most wanted to do.
“I know it is difficult for you to hear, but I have been taking care
