CHAPTER 125

CHAPTER 125

— FIRE! SCREAMED A VOICE apparently smothered by the flames. The two Swiss guards stationed at the door of the Governorate looked at each other the instant they noticed a column of black smoke rising into the sky.

— My God! The Sistine Chapel — shouted one of the guards as he, followed by his companion, ran at full speed towards the historic building of Christianity.

When they got close to the building, their eyes narrowed as they observed the focus of the fire.

Who could have done this?

WHILE CLIMBING THE STAIRS that led to Cardinal Messina's office, Nicole Hulmann smiled as she imagined the look of astonishment on the Swiss guards' faces when they realized that the fire was not the Sistine Chapel, but a large garbage can deposited beside it.

The young woman, with her back against the wall, peered into the access corridor...

Great, the way is clear!

But her blood ran cold as she heard the angry murmur of voices below. She stood there in silence, eyes closed, as if at any moment those Swiss Guards would come up the stairs and meet her, now in a rage at having been tricked.

However, the voices ceased, and when Nicole opened her eyes, she realized that no guard had appeared to arrest her. When he tried the doorknob, he found that the door was unlocked and that Joseph Messina's office was completely silent.

Peering into every corner of the spacious room, a chill ran through his body, as if the Brotherhood of the Serpent were waiting for him. The room, however, was free. With renewed spirits, Nicole went to Joseph Messina's desk, and then, repeating what she had seen the last time she was there, pressed a button partially hidden under the Secretary General's desk. At the same moment, gears began to work and the wall covered with books was slowly rising.