41
41Giani"s footfalls echoed on the marble flooring of the Apostolic Palace. He spied a flurry of a cassock as Cardonza turned a corner. Giani sprinted, sliding around the bend. Cardonza had vanished. Giani took the stairs two at a time, bounded to the ground floor, drew the attention of two Swiss Guards.
"Have you seen Archbishop Cardonza?"
Their faces asked: what has he done? They said, "No, sir."
what has he done?Giani brushed by. "Come with me!"
The trio stepped out into the courtyard. To the left was the entrance to the Apostolic Palace, more Swiss Guards, and crowds jostling into St Peter"s Square. And a group of priests in cassocks, crossing away from the Apostolic Palace.
Giani chanced it. "Cardonza!" he yelled. One of the cassock-attired priests hesitated. Got you! "Stop!"
