Six Seconds

76

Lone Tree County Fairgrounds, Montana

Cold Butte came into view as the papal helicopter de scended on the small town.

Below, traffic had swallowed the community. Walker and the others marvelled at the site for the outdoor Mass behind the school in the Buffalo Breaks.

A one-hundred-foot cross had been erected over the stage supporting the altar. The venue was in a valley offering a natural bowl. Walker had advanced the site several times when it was empty, checking vantage points and rises.

Now, over one hundred thousand people were gath ered, awaiting the pope. His stomach lifted as the heli copter swooped and banked for landing at the Lone Tree County Fairgrounds.

After touching down in the rodeo park, the pope and Vatican officials were greeted by an assembly of local dignitaries. Afterward, papal security officials gathered behind closed doors in the main pavilion building.

Walker expected that they would first go through a very quick, final rundown of the pope’s agenda for the visit, assignments and areas of joint and specific respon sibility.

That didn’t happen.

Colby was on his cell phone. He’d been receiving a steady stream of calls from Washington, the gravity of the latest developments weighing on his face as he waved Walker over to join him in a tight group of Vatican and security officials.

The heat of their ongoing debate was intense.

Monsignor Paulo Guerelli, one of the most impor tant members of the pope’s inner sanctum, was shak ing his head.

“What Washington is suggesting is impossible based on the facts, Agent Colby.”

“I am conveying White House concerns, Monsignor. Please understand that in light of the intelligence reports, it is regrettably but strongly advised the Vatican consider canceling today’s events.”

“Is there a clear threat that will result in harm to those around the Holy Father?”

“No, we cannot say that with absolute certainty.”

“Have you found physical evidence or confirmation of some sort?”

“No, Monsignor, nothing conclusive yet, but urgent analysis is ongoing, arising from a number of disturb ing incidents that have the White House concerned.”

“Has the White House no confidence in its Secret Service?”

Colby let that one go. He was in the middle of a po litical firefight.

“Yes,” Guerelli said, “these incidents. You’re refer ring to the strange substances in Washington and here in Montana. And, the alleged plan for a strike extracted from Issa al-Issa.”

“Correct.”

“Have any of these incidents been linked?”

“No, not yet, but it’s felt the risk is extreme.”

Guerelli took a few seconds for consideration.

“Agent Colby, every time the Holy Father meets the public he faces risk,” Guerelli said. “In Seattle, we had two incidents that appeared deadly but ultimately had no impact on the Holy Father’s mission.”

“Yes.”

“The Holy Father has traveled the world and faced many threats. For some two thousand years the papacy has faced wars, attacks, assassination. It is not a weak institution that is easily frightened.”

Colby ran his hand over his face.

“But, Monsignor.”

“Your job is to protect the pope. Your team is doing it well. We request that you keep doing it in order for the Holy Father to complete his ecumenical work. Tell the White House we will now proceed. We’re running behind and the Holy Father is eager to meet the children of the choir.”

Guerelli and the other Vatican officials left to join the pope in a private room where he was reviewing his speech to honor Sister Beatrice.

“I don’t like this.” Lloyd Taylor, a senior agent, shook his head. “Think back to Dallas and how Kennedy refused the bubble on the car. Can we get a vest on him?”

Colby shook his head.

“We tried. He refuses it.”

“To cancel now,” Taylor said, “would not only dent the morale of the Secret Service, but it would embar rass the nation.”

Colby nodded.

“It’s beyond us. This administration is terrified. It would rather send the pope back to Rome pissed off than send him back in a coffin.”

Colby called a quick last-minute briefing of all the senior security people. They went through the pope’s itinerary and everyone’s responsibility.

Then they secured him into the popemobile and mar shalled the security vehicles.

Amid several streams of radio cross talk by the Secret Service, FBI, Lone Tree County sheriff’s dep uties and Montana Highway Patrol, the motorcade left the fairgrounds.

Walker was in the second SUV behind the com mand vehicle.

As the parade moved through streets lined with cheering crowds, his heart started beating faster.