Free James Acton 03 - Broken Dove by J Robert Kennedy Page A

off his face. There were dozens of officers, Swiss Guard, K-9 units, and priests, sweeping the area, obviously searching for something or someone. Would they risk this much publicity for Chaney? He hoped so. If Chaney were indeed missing, he would hope they would spare no effort, and risk any negative press, to find him.
    But that means Chaney is missing.
    His thoughts turned to his longtime partner and friend. And the dead Father. He looked up at the heavens and said a silent prayer as a young man in a suit ran across the cobblestone of St. Peters Square and came to a stop on the other side of the fence. “Let Agent Reading in, please,” he said to the guards manning the gate. One opened the iron gate and Reading stepped through, shaking the man’s hand. “I’m Francesco Greco, sir, I don’t know if you remember me from when you were last here—”
    “Of course I do.” He glanced quickly at the balcony then at the surrounding area. There was no evidence of what had happened here just a few short months ago. “What’s going on?”
    “I think it’s best Monsieur Giasson tells you that, sir.”
    He quickly began to walk back across the square, and Reading had to trot to keep up with the clearly agitated man. “Is Detective Inspector Chaney okay?”
    “I really cannot answer any questions. Not here. Not now.” He glanced over his shoulder at the main gate. “Too many cameras, too many tricks.”
    Reading was really curious now. What could possibly have this young man, so full of confidence the last time he had met him, so nervous now, to the point he didn’t want to risk his lips being read by someone behind a high-powered camera? As they crossed into the main administration building, it suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks. This has nothing to do with Chaney.
    He grabbed Greco by the shoulder, spinning him around. “Hey, mate, what’s going on?”
    “Hugh!”
    They both turned as Giasson walked up to them, arms extended. Hugh hid his grimace as Giasson leaned in, planting a kiss on both cheeks. It was a habit he had never become accustomed too, and refused to return, instead shaking Giasson’s hand on the rebound and slapping his shoulder.
    “Good to see you, mon ami.” Giasson lowered his voice. “Come with me, and I’ll bring you up to date on everything that has happened.” He nodded to Greco, dismissing him, and took Reading by the arm, leading him deeper into the complex.
    “What the bloody hell is going on? Is Chaney alright?”
    Giasson raised his finger, silencing him. “Wait just a minute, mon ami.”
    It was more than a minute before they reached Giasson’s office. He motioned to a seat and closed the door. Reading sat, now ready to explode, the sheer volume of people running around, searching, moving things, sweeping things, too much for this old cop to handle without knowing the purpose.
    Giasson dropped in his chair and leaned back, sighing. “Mon ami, you would not believe what is going on.”
    “Try me.”
    Giasson smiled, as if he knew exactly how Reading felt. He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “When we could not find your friend last night, we initiated a search, and around half past midnight I decided to wake His Holiness to make him aware of the situation, and to gain any insight into why DI Chaney was here, as it may provide a clue as to where he went.” Giasson paused, looking up at the ceiling, then down at his desk, almost as if searching for words he himself could believe.
    “What is it? What did he say?”
    Giasson raised his head and looked directly at Reading.
    “Nothing.”
    Reading wasn’t expecting that. His eyebrows narrowed. “What do you mean?”
    “He wasn’t there.”
    “You mean—” Reading stopped, unable to say the words.
    “His Holiness is missing.”
    Reading’s jaw dropped. “You don’t think—”
    “I pray not, but with the Father having been murdered just the day before, I can’t help but think the worst.”
    “Any leads? Any