The Vatican
A ngelo Cardone, also known as the Cheshire, sat with his whiskey bottle, watching the news on TV. The priests and nuns were sprawled around him. Most of them unconscious.
It hadn’t been a challenge to convince them that drinking can purge the soul. He was in a position like no one in the world. With his cattish devilishness, he could have convinced them he was a prophet.
The BBC news, not broadcasting frequently anymore, as their headquarters was under attack, announced the escape of the Inklings. An unprofessional reporter — a trainee maybe — standing with a mic in one hand, the world in chaos behind him, reported the sighting of a soundless helicopter saving Alice and some of the Inklings.
“However, it’s confirmed that the Queen of England is dead,” the reporter said. “And it’s presumed that her killer Pillar da Killa has been killed in the asylum when it burned down to the ground. Margaret Kent, the famous parliament woman, is also presumed dead.”
“Huh,” Angelo gulped. “Looks like I missed a Game of Throne’s finale. That would have been fun.”
“Two girls by the name of Lorina and Edith were also found dead,” the reporter said. “It’s rumored they were Alice’s sisters. Most probably partners in crime. Interpol has found evidence of Alice’s secret headquarters in the basement of their house.”
“I love the news. They pretend they know everything,” the Cheshire talked to his silent, drunk, and unconscious friends. “Sometimes I think the BBC, CNN, and especially Al Jazeera know more than God.”
He gulped again, toasting with the reporter on the screen.
“As you see can see behind me, the world is in chaos. It’s hard to tell who is fighting who. But electricity isn’t available in many places in Britain at the moment. Robbery is just the norm right now. So many people got killed, and no one has any idea who did it. It’s madness. If the world is fighting the Inklings, it also seems it might be at war with itself.”
“Touche,” the Cheshire said, as his phone rang. It was a Red from the Black Chess office.
“Mr. Jay wants you to do a speech, encouraging people to kill Alice so he will have greater power over her when he catches her.”
“I assume he hasn’t found the Six Keys yet then,” the Cheshire said.
“No. The Pillar is dead. The Asylum is gone. Only Alice knows.”
“Didn’t Mr. Jay implant an imposter among her group?”
“Yeah,” the Red confirms.
“Did the imposter contact you to tell you what’s going on with the Inklings?”
“Not yet.”
“All right, I will do the speech,” the Cheshire hung up, “I need another drink.