The next day, Santiago and the Cardinal sat before the flat screen in the videoconference room, waiting for the call from Moscow. Belial had summoned a meeting, and both men waited, seated and impatient.

  “Did he tell you what this is about?” the Cardinal asked, annoyed.

  “No… only that it was urgent,” the Camerlengo replied.

  “Perhaps they’re ready to propose a search strategy. I’m sure that ill-bred witch finally bent the knee.”

  Santiago cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t be so sure, Your Excellency… I have a bad feeling.”

  “You always have bad feelings,” the Cardinal muttered—just as the connection came through. Lilith appeared on-screen with Belial and Bafomet.

  “Good morning, gentlemen,” Lilith said pleasantly. “I hope all is well in Rome.”

  “How are things in Moscow?” Santiago asked with practiced diplomacy. The Cardinal stayed silent, arms crossed.

  “We’re below zero and a polar storm is hammering the city,” Lilith said. “But nevertheless, we’re cheerful and optimistic. Aren’t we, boys?” She glanced sideways. Her aides smiled and nodded.

  “Oh, yes—springtime at DRACO,” Belial chimed.

  “With a bright, beautiful sun,” Bafomet added.

  The three of them laughed. The Cardinal shot the Camerlengo a suspicious look at such inexplicable good humor.

  “What is it, Lilith? You look like you’ve won the lottery—or is this your last day at DRACO?” he asked, dripping sarcasm.

  “Better than that. Let’s begin,” Lilith said, smiling.

  The Cardinal cut in, brusque. “Am I finally getting resources to find the Pope? Or what is the point of this? I have Mass in an hour, then the auditorium of pilgrims, then state meetings… Keep it brief.”

  “Well, Cardinal,” Lilith began, “we need your help locating the records for a possible parcel shipped by Victor Walder.”

  The Cardinal snorted, answering with matching arrogance, “We discussed this yesterday. My answer is no—unless you’re providing resources to find Lázló.”

  “We’re not negotiating, Cardinal,” Lilith said evenly. “We’re proposing that you help me—and perhaps I can help you with a few hunters. But for now, we urgently need your support on this task.”

  “Would you like to hear my answer again?” the Cardinal asked.

  “By all means,” Lilith said. “I only hope it differs from yesterday’s.”

  “Oh, it doesn’t,” he replied, folding his arms. “But I’ll repeat it: no… and no.”

  “Final?” Lilith asked.

  The Camerlengo’s gaze bounced between the faces on the screen and the Cardinal as if watching a tennis match. A creeping dread tightened his chest.

  “No. An emphatic no. If you’ll excuse me—” The Cardinal began to rise.

  Lilith glanced at her aides, a mischievous smile touching one sculpted brow. When she spoke, her tone was graceful and slow.

  “Very well, Your Excellency. If you refuse, I’ll have to inform Merkel that Cardinal Wozny accepted several million euros from RAGNOK to grant a certain Victor Walder access to the Vatican Archives for research on the very book Merkel is interested in finding.”

  Both the Cardinal and the Camerlengo blanched and looked at each other.

  “I have no idea what book you’re talking about,” the Cardinal stammered. “And you have no proof—”

  “Merkel can obtain proof if he wishes,” Lilith warned. “He has eyes and ears everywhere.”

  “If it happened, it was because the Pope authorized it,” the Cardinal snapped. “I had nothing to do with it.”

  “Wow. That’s extraordinary influence for a mere academic,” Lilith said lightly.

  “So your supposed accusation or blackmail is irrelevant,” the Cardinal said, petulant.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Lilith replied. “We understand it was you who gave the authorization.”

  “We have it on good authority that you received a modest two million euros to approve his access,” Belial said. “Funds that helped purchase votes.”

  “And that should enrage Merkel once he hears,” Lilith added.

  Sweat beaded on the Cardinal’s brow. The Camerlengo sighed and gave him a “told you so” look.

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  “Well, Cardinal,” Lilith said, sighing, “I don’t know why I’m surprised… but accepting a payment and keeping Walder’s presence in the archives secret is rather compromising. Imagine what Merkel will think of that. Do you know what we call that?”

  “Treason,” Bafomet said. “And it won’t end well. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes, Your Excellency.”

  “You have no evidence,” the Cardinal barked. “And I’ll speak to Merkel now about this shameless blackmail by a pack of mediocre underlings trying to pin their incompetence on me—today.”

  The Camerlengo cleared his throat nervously. “Perhaps there’s no need to escalate. We can reach an agreement—”

  “Are you sure you want to do that?” Lilith cut in.

  “I will. If I have to go to Moscow, I will,” the Cardinal snapped, slamming his palm on the table. “And you’ll regret crossing me.”

  “Perfect,” Lilith said. “We’ll await you in Moscow. Meanwhile, I’ll file my report so Merkel knows the reason for your visit.”

  “And regarding proof,” Belial added, “I’ve obtained a video, which I’ll forward as well—so everything is ready for your audience with the prince.”

  “It’s obvious you’ll lose Merkel’s support,” Bafomet said with a sly smile.

  “Believe me, Cardinal,” Lilith said, “I doubt Merkel’s ears will be open to your excuses. This may be the last day you wear red and enjoy the pontifical palace.”

  The Cardinal’s face flushed crimson. He slowly lifted an accusatory finger toward the screen.

  “He’ll send us to break rock in the Nevada mines,” Bafomet went on, “but you he’ll send straight to—”

  “Excuse us a moment,” the Camerlengo interjected, hastening to the console. He pressed “End.”

  Rome’s image disappeared. Only Lilith, Belial, and Bafomet remained on-screen in the Moscow boardroom.

  “He’s finished,” Bafomet said.

  “He’s dialing,” Lilith murmured. “Give it a moment.” They all pulled out their phones and idly scrolled.

  In Rome, the Cardinal was incandescent.

  “FIGLI DI PUTTANA! YOU’LL LEARN WHO I AM—CARDINAL KAROL WOZNY!” he roared. Santiago raised a calming hand. The prelate drew a long breath and sipped water. The Camerlengo took the opening.

  “Your Excellency… I think it’s best to negotiate,” he suggested.

  “NEVER!” the Cardinal thundered, slamming the table. “THAT STUPID—! SHE’S A BITCH, AND SO ARE HER LACKEYS! BASTARDS! I WILL NEVER ACCEPT IT! NEVER! NEVER!”

  “Your Excellency,” Santiago said, keeping his composure, “they have us. Merkel can remove you. His wrath will be terrible—he may go to the very end. It’s better to negotiate than face the consequences.”

  The Cardinal rose and paced like a caged beast. “She wouldn’t dare…”

  “She will,” Santiago said. “We are in the weaker position. We didn’t just accept RAGNOK’s bribe—we concealed Victor Walder’s presence.”

  “We didn’t know,” the Cardinal objected. “How many scholars have requested access in exchange for a modest donation?”

  “This case is exceptional—and Merkel won’t see it your way. To the Grand Prince, this is high treason…” Santiago sighed. “But it’s your decision.”

  The Cardinal’s features tightened. He pressed a chubby finger to his mouth, staring at Santiago. “Call Moscow back,” he said at last—resigned, but still holding his dignity—as he sank into his chair.

  Lilith, Belial, and Bafomet were smoking calmly when the conference request chimed again. The Cardinal and Santiago reappeared.

  “This has placed us all in a critical position,” the Cardinal began.

  “More so you,” Lilith said. “Well? Will you help us?”

  The Cardinal stared at the screen. “I’m listening,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “We need shipping logs,” Belial said. “Packing slips, tracking numbers—ultimately, the recipient’s identity.”

  “Titanic, but not impossible,” Bafomet added.

  “How simple,” the Cardinal sneered.

  “As Bafomet said—colossal, not impossible,” Lilith replied smoothly.

  “Fine. Where do I start?” Wozny asked. “We don’t know where he sent it from.”

  “That’s the part you will handle,” Lilith said. “How does that sound?”

  The Cardinal swelled, went red, and exploded. “OH, THAT’S RICH! WE’D HAVE TO COMB EVERY CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE, AND HAMLET IN ITALY! DO YOU THINK I’M MADE OF EYES? DO YOU THINK I HAVE THE RESOURCES?”

  Lilith and her aides were silent. Lilith finally said, simply, “Yes.”

  The Cardinal seethed. The Camerlengo raised a hand to calm him.

  “All right… What exactly do you want us to find?” Santiago asked, glancing sideways at the Cardinal, who sat rigid, struggling for control.

  “The book Victor Walder carried,” Belial said.

  “Find the book—or where it was sent?” Santiago asked.

  “The book.”

  “A moment ago you said you only wanted to know where it was mailed,” the Cardinal snapped. “Now you want us to find it?”

  “Considering the magnitude of the favor,” Lilith said, “and the magnitude of what we’re keeping quiet—yes.”

  The Cardinal clenched his fists, ready to bark back, but Santiago gestured for restraint. The prelate deflated and slumped into his chair.

  “What book are we talking about, Lilith?” the Camerlengo asked.

  “An ancient manuscript,” Belial said.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the Cardinal protested. “I know nothing about any book.”

  Belial rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Victor Walder consulted your archives. You should, in principle, know what he was researching.”

  “First things first—who the devil was Victor Walder?” the Cardinal asked.

  “An academic retained—so to speak—by DRACO for an important investigation,” Belial said.

  “What investigation?” the Camerlengo asked.

  “I can’t say,” Belial replied.

  “And what became of Walder?” Santiago asked.

  Lilith and her assistants exchanged glances. “He’s dead,” Lilith said.

  An uncomfortable silence fell.

  “And where, exactly, am I supposed to begin?” the Cardinal said at last.

  Lilith slid her glasses back on. “Cardinal, in exchange for our silence—and your continued support for your cardinal’s seat—I trust you’ll know how to begin.”

  “I believe we understand,” Santiago said quickly. The Cardinal nodded, furious, pressing his lips tight to keep from speaking.

  “Your help will be appreciated,” Lilith said. “And as a show of good faith, we’ll keep our promise to keep this matter quiet.”

  “How kind,” the Cardinal said drily.

  “We appreciate your cooperation,” Santiago added.

  The call was about to end when the Cardinal raised a hand. “One request: this remains between us. Merkel mustn’t hear about that… little chapter.”

  “So it shall be, Cardinal,” Lilith said. “He won’t—so long as you cooperate. Good day.”

  The screen went dark. Lilith and her aides sat a moment longer—then burst into laughter.

  “Well, he took the bait,” Lilith said, in high spirits now. “You surprised me… Do you really have that video?”

  “I have a friend in the Swiss Guard,” Belial said. “As for the video—that part was inspiration. It worked.”

  “He has no choice,” Bafomet said. “The Cardinal’s so terrified of Merkel he’d foul his cassock at the sight of him.”

  “And he’ll cling to that red hat at all costs,” Belial added.

  “My question is… does that book even exist?” Lilith asked.

  They all shrugged.

  “Who cares,” Bafomet said. “As long as Merkel’s guns swing toward Rome.”

  “Will you keep your word about the secret?” Belial asked.

  “Of course,” Lilith said. “For a time. It will always be our ace up the sleeve.”

  The three of them left the conference room in good humor.