Chapter 59 Chapter 58

"7:46:30...departure." Even speaking into the intercom, Olivetti's voice sounded like a whisper. Langdon sat in the backseat of the Alfa Romeo in Helix tweed and thought he was sweating as the car wandered three blocks from the Pantheon, with Victoria sitting next to him, watching the rapt Olivetti, he's giving his final orders. "Our forces are deployed at eight points," said the commander, "surrounding the Pantheon. There is a slanted path leading to the entrance of the Pantheon. The target may see you, so you are passive. You can only Use less lethal weapons, keep alive. We also need some people to watch the roof. The target first, the hostage second."

My God, Langdon thought, Oliverti's recounting that his men could sacrifice the cardinal just now had frightened Langdon.Hostage second. "I repeat, live. We want the target to live. Go now." Olivetti slammed the intercom off. Victoria looked stunned, almost outraged. "Commander, will anyone go inside?" Olivetti turned his head and said, "Inside?" "Inside the Pantheon! We speculate where the incident happened." "What?" said Olivetti, staring at her. "If anyone from my army sneaks in, my men will be recognized at a glance. Your colleagues have warned me that this will be our target." The only chance I have. I'm not going to have my men drive in and scare people away."

"But what if the killer is already inside?" Olivetti looked at his watch. "The goal has been stated. At eight o'clock, we have fifteen minutes." "He said he was going to kill the cardinal at eight o'clock, but he probably got the victim inside. What if your guys see the target coming out but don't know who it is? Be sure. There's no one in there." "It's too dangerous." "It's not dangerous if people who go in are not recognized." "It takes time to put on makeup, and—" "I mean I'll go," Victoria said.

Langdon turned to watch her. Olivetti shook his head. "Absolutely not." "But he killed my father." "That's why he probably knows you." "You heard him say on the phone that he didn't even know Leonardo Wittler had a daughter. He must not know what I look like. I can walk in like a tourist. If I see something suspicious , I'll go out into the square and signal to your people to come in." "I'm sorry I can't let you do this." "Commander?" Olivetti's receiver crackled. "We've reached a point on the north side, the fountain is blocking the view, and we can't see the population unless we move to a prominent place in the square. How do you see it? Do you want us to hide or be defensively weak?"

It's clear Victoria has had enough. "That's it, I'll go." She opened the car door beside her and went out. Olivetti dropped his walkie-talkie, jumped out of the car, and walked around in front of Victoria. Langdon also got out of the car.Is she there?Olivetti blocks Victoria's way. "Ms. Witler, your idea is good, but I can't let a commoner interfere with our actions." "Interference? You are all messing around, let me help." "I'd love to set up a scout out there, but..." "But what?" Victoria demanded, "but am I a woman?"

Olivetti said nothing. "You'd better not say that, Commander, because you know very well that it's a good idea, and if you're going to let some old-fashioned man talk nonsense—" "Let's do our part." "Let me help." "That's too dangerous, we won't be able to contact you. I can't let you go in with a walkie-talkie, that would give you away." Victoria reached into her shirt pocket and pulled out her phone. "A lot of tourists have mobile phones." Olivetti frowned. Victoria turned on her phone and pretended to be on the phone. "Hey, honey, I'm standing in the Pantheon. You should come and see this place!" She snapped off her phone and stared at Olivetti. "Who would know? It's not dangerous at all. Let me find out for you!" She pointed to the mobile phone on Olivetti's belt and said, "What's your number?"

Olivetti did not answer. The driver had been watching and seemed to have his own opinion on the matter.He got out of the car and called the Commander aside.They talked for ten seconds in a low voice, and finally Olivetti returned with a nod. "Remember this number." He said the number. Victoria wrote down the number on her cell phone. "Dial this number now." Victoria pressed the autodial button.The phone on Olivetti's belt rang.He picked up the phone and spoke into the receiver: "Ms. Wittler, go into the building, look around, come out, and call me and tell me what you saw."

Victoria snapped the phone off. "Thank you, sir." Langdon felt a sudden urge to protect unexpectedly. "Wait," he said to Olivetti, "you just let her go there alone." Victoria showed displeasure at Langdon. "Robert, I'll be fine." The Swiss guard driver spoke to Olivetti again. "It's too dangerous," Langdon said to Victoria. "He's right," Olivetti said. "Even my strongest men don't act alone. My deputy just pointed out that the two of you go together. This disguise is more convincing." two go together?Langdon hesitated.In fact, I mean — "You two go in together," Olivetti said, "that way it looks like a couple on vacation, and you can take care of each other, so I feel more at ease."

Victoria shrugged. "Okay then, but we've got to hurry up." Langdon sighed.Good move, boy. Olivetti pointed in the direction of the street and said: "The first street you pass is Via Degliofani. Go left and you'll come to the Pantheon. It's only a two-minute walk, which is great. I'll be directing my men here, and I'm waiting for your call. I thought you'd be on your guard," he pulled out his pistol, "does either of you know how to use a gun?" Langdon's heart was pounding.We don't need guns!Victoria held out her hand. "I can stand on the bow of the bumpy boat and put a sign on a porpoise that jumps out of the water 40 meters away."

"Okay." Olivetti handed her the gun. "You guys have to keep your guns hidden." Victoria glanced down at her shorts, then at Langdon. Oh, don't you!Langdon thought, but Victoria was too quick.She lifted Langdon's coat and slipped the weapon into one of his breast pockets.He felt as if a stone had fallen into his coat, and luckily the Diagram was in another pocket. "We won't hurt anyone," Victoria said. "Let's go." She walked down the street, taking Langdon's arm. The driver shouted, "It's nice to hold hands. Remember, you are tourists or newlyweds. Maybe you can still hold hands!"

As they turned the corner, Langdon dared to say he saw it on Victoria's face, a hint of a smile.