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"The sins of the flesh are not ust suppressed a smile as he took the paper and unfolded it Theits usual field day with the sex scandal "We will pray for hi for his wife," the older wo with distaste "God help her, but who knohat sort of diseases he’s inflicted on the poor thing"

Senator Litton hadn’t slept with his wife since ihtower didn’t bother to pass that bit of inti to his housekeeper Nor did he need to read the articles printed under the headlines to know that the boy prostitute the senator had been fellating just before his arrest had been transferred from police custody to a halfway house for runaways run by the archdiocese He had, after all, personally arranged the transfer

Now that the annoyingly liberal atheist senator had been permanently labeled a political leper, and would be forced to resign his seat before the end of the month, the order could move forith plans for his replacement Three strident, impeccable conservative candidates who actually did have sex regularly with their equally dull and unattractive spouses were presently under consideration Once backed by other proures under the control of the order, the worthiest and greediest of the trio would doubtless racefully into the US Senate

All as it should be

Hightower happily h three cream puffs and a napoleon by the tian delicately devouring a fruit tart when he took out the Lifestyles section Seeing the photo on the front page, that of a girl working in a beautiful garden, made hian to choke Bits of kiwi and strawberry spattered his desk blotter and the paper until he cleared his throat and was able to take a breath and a closer look

The i with her back to the camera A jacket had been tied around her waist, and the sleeveless shirt she wore had a T-back, which showed off her sht, and then took the lass froe

The photo was grainy, but not enough to blur the tattoo of a red swan

"It can’t be"

August sal paralyzed until Cabreri ca, a copy of the Lifestyles section crumpled in his fist

"Your Grace, have you seen…" He looked at the paper Hightower held "Then you know"

"That the red swan still lives? No Carlo I did not know No one knew" Hightower flung the paper aside and jerked the napkin out of his collar "Certainly not Rorave;re, both Hightower and his assistant were obliged to pose as es, their secret order had been created and charged with protecting the Church and huroup of cursed priests turned into demonic vampires who called themselves the Darkyn Their work required them to play certain roles within the Church’s infrastructure in order to carry out their irl everyone had sworn had died during a catastrophe that she herself had caused, could expose one of their uarded secrets

"I read the reports ten years ago," Cabreri said "They indicated that she was killed during the storm with the other children They would not have done so unless they had seen her body"

"Of course they said she was dead," Hightower snapped "They were covering up their own inco that disaster They would not dare tell Roeneral population"

"But they must have known… an elemental…" Cabreri looked ill "Your Grace, the risk to the innocent is too great We ainst his desk and rose, his heavy body tre with the effort His assistant’s loyalty to the order, soust had used over the years to control hireatest i for any excuse to reirl first, and then ill decide how much Rome is to know about the business" He snatched up the paper and read the caption "This photograph was taken at a nursing hoin surveillance"

"Assu she has not already run" Cabreri’s Adam’s apple bobbed "I cannot take her alone"

"You are not to touch her Only locate and follow her" He glared at his assistant "You will report to , and Cabreri flinched The light on it indicated it was his private line, the number only members of the order knew

The archbishop picked up the receiver slowly "This is Hightower"

"Have you read the paper today August?" Cardinal D’Orio’s voice grated over the line

He sank back down into his chair "I have, Your E to call you--"

"Thou shall not bear false witness You do remember that from your days in the seminary, don’t you?" The cardinal inhaled sharply "Tell me how it is that the red shoo with several hundred of our best researchers, is still alive and working in your city"