Chapter Twenty-Nine
Vatican City, Rome
The Dean of the College of Cardinals spoke into the microphone and called the senior Catholic clerics back to their seats. It was time for the conclave to hold their second secret ballot for the election of a new Pope.
Just outside St. Paul’s Basilica, in Bernini’s piazza, the media, the Catholic faithful and the thousands of onlookers caught up in the historic moment waited cheerfully and patiently for the impending announcement to be made. Happily for the masses, it was a glorious late afternoon in June and the square was bathed in sunshine.
From his office window in the tower at the southern end of the square, Colonel Renauld peered at the crowds down below. Again, he contemplated his decision to feed the six Cardinals with bogus information in
