Chapter Forty-Three
Vatican City, Rome
There’s no point in delaying, thought Colonel Renauld; after all, the Pope himself had sanctioned the strategy. He stretched back in his chair, a study of concentration, contemplating the finer points of his master plan while rolling a pencil between his fingers. The only unsatisfactory aspect of the scheme was the risk to the life of the Supreme Pontiff. He mulled over whether he could dress up a decoy – but he knew if he was going to draw out the impostor then it would have to be convincing.
His quiet reflection was disturbed by a forceful rap on his office door. Sitting upright, he casually tossed the pencil on to the top of his desk.
“Come in, Major,” he beckoned loudly. He knew who it was; he had been patiently waiting for the arrival of his
