Gia watched in shock as Bishop Ramirez removed his vestment, exposing the suicide vest. He held the bomb’s plunger straight over his head.
“Jay said there was a plan B. Is that you?”
“No, I am plan C. The sniper was plan B. You must bring the Pope to me, or I will detonate this bomb and the five other bombs in downtown Rio.”
“But why Bishop?” Gia asked. “I thought you were a loyal member of his inner circle?”
“I was loyal to God. Now I am loyal to a new leader—The Master. He believes religion is the real evil, and I agree. We cannot have a Pope from an evil country that spreads war around the world.”
“But the college of Cardinals voted him in. If there were any questions about his integrity or faith, they would have known.”
“They did not know him as I do,” Bishop Ramirez said. “We grew up together. Went to the same Catholic high school and seminary. He was my best friend. Then he moved up in the Boston archdiocese, and he left me behind in Fall River.
Jay listened from behind the light stand. He needed to figure out a plan.
“Kyle, are you there?” Jay whispered into his radio.
“Yes, Jay. Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Do you have control of the helicopter?”
“Yes, I’m flying it away from the harbor.”
“What happens if you cut the satellite link?”
“I lose control, and it crashes.”
“Are you far enough out to sea?”
“Not really. I’m only a mile east of the airport. The helicopter can go in any direction.”
“You need to cut the feed. Now. We’ll have to take our chances with the helicopter.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You tracked Kathleen’s yacht using the satellite link, right?”
“Yes,” Kyle said. “That’s how we were able to link her to the Boston and New York bombings. The satellite link relayed through the seagull drones and triggered the bombs.”
“Exactly. Now I have Bishop Ramirez and five suicide bombers standing in the middle of two and a half million people. There is a remote control helicopter packed full of liquid TNT providing that same relay. I need you to kill the link. Now!”
“Got it, Chief. It’s done.”
Jay stepped out from behind the tower and pointed his gun at Bishop Ramirez.
“Drop the trigger, Bishop. It’s all over.”
“You’re right, Jay. It is over.” Instead of dropping the trigger, the Bishop pushed the plunger down.
Gia screamed.
Nothing happened.
Nobody moved until Ernesto Cabral emerged from behind Jay and grabbed the Bishop’s wrists. “You’re under arrest, Bishop Ramirez.”
Gia ran over to Jay and hugged him. “How did you know they were using the satellite link to trigger the bombs? What if they were directly wired?”
“I didn’t know,” Jay said. “I had to trust my instincts.”
There was a loud explosion in the distance.
“What was that?” Gia said.
Jay looked at the mushroom cloud, “Kathleen’s helicopter going down in flames.”