Demille, Nelson - Cathedral by Demille Nelson

Author:Demille, Nelson [Demille, Nelson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Thrillers, Political
ISBN: 0759522588
Google: VKhSDYJkRp8C
Amazon: B000FA5SRU
Barnesnoble: B000FA5SRU
Goodreads: 10033772
Publisher: Twtp Assorted
Published: 1981-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 41

Schroeder came through the double doors of the Rector’s inner office. “Look who’s back. Did you call Flynn?”

“Not without you here, Bert. Feeling better?”

Schroeder came around the desk. “Please get out of my chair, Lieutenant.”

Burke vacated the chair.

Schroeder looked at Burke as he sat. “Can you carry a TV set?”

“Why didn’t he ask for a television right away?”

Schroeder thought. Flynn wasn’t a textbook case in many respects. Little things like not immediately asking for a television… little things that added up…

Langley said, “He’s keeping the Fenians isolated. Their only reality is Brian Flynn. After the press conference he’ll smash the TV or place it where only he and Hickey can use it for intelligence gathering.”

Schroeder nodded. “I never know if this TV business is part of the problem or part of the solution. But if they ask, we have to give.” He dialed the switchboard. “Chancel organ.” He handed the receiver to Burke, turned on all the speaker switches, then sat back with his feet on the desk. “On the air, Lieutenant.”

A voice came over the speakers: “Flynn here.”

“Burke.”

“Listen, Lieutenant, do me a great favor, won’t you, and stay in the damned rectory—at least until dawn. If the Cathedral goes, you’ll want to see it. Tape all the windows, though, and don’t stand under any chandeliers.”

Burke was aware that more than two hundred people in the Cathedral complex were listening, and that every word was being taped and transmitted to Washington and London. Flynn knew this, too, and was playing it for effect. “What can I do for you?”

“Aren’t you supposed to ask first about the hostages?”

“You said they were all right.”

“But that was a while ago.”

“Well, how are they now?”

“No change. Except that Miss Malone took a jaunt through the crawl space. But she’s back now. Looks a bit tired, from what I can see. Clever girl that she is she found a hatchway from the crawl space into the hallway that runs past the bride’s-room elevator.” He paused, then went on, “Don’t touch the hatch, however, as it’s being mined right now with enough plastic to give you a nasty bump.”

Burke looked at Schroeder, who was already on the other phone talking to one of Bellini’s lieutenants. “I understand.”

“Good. And you can assume that every other entrance you find will also be mined. And you can assume the entire crawl space is seeded with mines. You can also suspect that I’m lying or bluffing, but, really, it’s not smart to call my bluff. Tell that to your ESD people.”

“I’ll do that.”

Flynn said, “Anyway, I want the television. Bring it round to the usual place. Fifteen minutes.”

Burke looked at Schroeder and covered the mouthpiece.

Schroeder said, “There’s one waiting downstairs in the clerk’s office. But you have to get something from him in return. Ask to speak to a hostage.”

Burke uncovered the mouthpiece. “I want to talk to Father Murphy first.”

“Oh, your friend. You shouldn’t admit to having a friend in here.”

“He’s not my friend, he’s my confessor.”

Flynn laughed loudly.

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