The Vatican Knights

CHAPTER THREE

When Shepherd One landed at Dulles, the plane taxied under the watchful eyes of thousands who waited to gaze upon the pontiff from cordoned-off areas within the terminal. Hand-painted signs waved, people cheered, and the air became electric as the pope exited the plane and made his way down the breezeway in full decorative vestments. After reaching the terminal and giving the sign-of-the-cross as a papal blessing to the masses, he then offered his hand to the political principals who either kissed the Piscatorial Ring in greeting or simply shook his hand.

In an area set aside for the media, cameras and news networks recorded the moment of the pope’s arrival, capturing the pontiff’s first celebrated appearance upon American soil, as he and his papal team made their way to a procession of limos.

Raising an arm toward the masses, Pope Pius XIII waved, inciting a cheer, before ducking into the governor’s vehicle.

One man, however, appeared indifferent.

From the crowd’s front line, a man of light complexion neither smiled nor showed any emotion as he studied the pope. He gave the impression of being deep in thought, an effect caused by the act of tracing his fingers over the scar beneath his chin.

Just prior to the pope’s arrival, Team Leader received intel that the president of the United States had assigned a detail of four battle-tested agents, a highly skilled contingent team, along with the usual police security, to guard the Governor’s Mansion where the pope would be staying.

But Team Leader’s unit was honed to the level of an elite force. And despite the president’s confidence in the capabilities of his agents, Team Leader knew that taking the Governor’s Mansion would be nothing more than a nominal exercise performed at minimal risk. By morning, Pope Pius XIII would be within his authority, and the president’s detail would be nothing more than a list of names on the obituary page of the morning news.

With inwardly-turned enthusiasm, Team Leader envisioned his unit moving through the halls of the Governor’s Mansion with stealth and precision. He had trained his team repeatedly until their motions became involuntary acts rather than practiced maneuvers. This, in turn, developed a higher degree of instinct in decision-making, which now took nanoseconds rather than moments. The infinitesimal time difference could mean the difference between success and failure in such an operation.

As the Governor’s limo and its supporting motorcade started toward the airport exit, Team Leader began to move against the crowd and toward the terminal doors.