Page 103 of The Medici Return

She and the other men left.

The prior seemed agitated. How could he not be? The entire essence of the order had been violated. And especially so here, where precious records were kept and maintained. The treachery of the lay brother was particularly disturbing. That man might well be expelled.

“I assume, Eminence,” the prior said, “that you are not going to tell me the significance of the stolen document.”

“I do wish that I could but—”

“I know. I know. It is Entity business.”

“I will say that every effort will be made to locate it.”

“That is appreciated.”

“Now we must take our leave.”

Ascolani motioned.

And they both headed for the church doors.

THOMAS INFORMEDASCOLANI BY TEXT THAT THE DOCUMENT HADbeen retrieved and was intact. He’d then asked what to do next and the instruction was clear.

Make sure they are not found alive.

The easiest way to do that seemed to be to take advantage of the situation itself. A car had gone over the bank, rolled, then crashed into a tree. The gas tank had ruptured and the inevitable had occurred.

A fire.

Only this one needed a little help.

He retrieved the rifle and aimed for the car’s rear end, which he centered in the nightscope. He fired one round.

Then a second.

And the car ignited in flames.

CHAPTER 70

COTTON’S ATTEMPT TO FIGHT BACK TO CONSCIOUSNESS WAS LIKEpeeling a scab from a sore. Every heartbeat sent new waves of pulsating pain through his skull.Breathe. Keep the lungs in rhythm. Check the extremities.Both arms and legs moved and had feeling. As did his fingers and toes. Nothing seemed broken. But bouts of pain came from bruised flesh. Relief, disbelief, and a touch of anger all tumbled through his mind. He recalled the drop over the side of the road and the tumbling. Then the crash. And stillness. He’d partially come to once before with a light piercing his face. Bouncing on and off. He’d managed a peek through a tight squint and caught sight of someone inside the car. Searching. And the face. Seen only for an instant. But enough. The same man from the train and in Siena. Here? He hadn’t been able to stay awake long and had lapsed back into the darkness.

Now he forced himself to come awake.

“Cardinal,” he said. “Can you hear me?”

“I… hear you.”

“You okay?”

“I think so. But my arm hurts. I smell gasoline.”

He did too. The odor hung heavy in the air, clammy and close.

Not good.

“Do you have the pledge?” he asked Richter.

“It has to be in here somewhere.”

But he knew that was not going to be the case. The man from the train had come and retrieved it. Why else would he have searched? He released his seat belt and slipped out of the harness. Which hurt. He was below Richter, the driver’s side of the car resting on the ground. “You need to climb out first.”

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