The Fifth Gospel(186)

            The presiding judge says, “No. We’ve seen it enough.”

            “But Monsignor—”

            “No.”

            To the judges’ surprise, Mignatto turns directly to Falcone. In a thin voice he says, “Commander, explain what you think happened after Father Andreou passed by.”

            The old judge barks, “Monsignor! You will be seated!”

            But the lead judge waves his colleague off.

            Mignatto continues, “Are you suggesting Father Andreou followed Nogara to his car? Then broke the window to get the gun and kill him?”

            Falcone sits impassive. He doesn’t answer questions from lawyers.

            “Inspector,” says the lead judge, “you may respond.”

            Falcone clears his throat. “Father Andreou knew Nogara owned a weapon. He knew where it was located. It is reasonable to—”

            Mignatto cuts in, waving a hand in the air. “No. That’s an assumption. You assume Father Andreou knew about the weapon. But this is extremely important, Inspector. This man’s priesthood is at stake. If Father Andreou didn’t know Nogara owned a gun, then he surely couldn’t have seen a gun case underneath a car seat. And he wouldn’t have broken a window to remove what he didn’t know existed. So please be clear. You’re making an assumption.”

            Without the slightest change in tone, Falcone says, “I am not. A Swiss Guard has admitted to providing advice to Nogara about the model of weapon and gun case he should buy. It was Father Andreou who solicited this advice.”

            I feel bolted to my seat. I know which Swiss Guard Simon would’ve asked for this advice.

            Mignatto fumbles forward. “Nevertheless, the issue—the issue is the sequence of events: you’re suggesting that Father Andreou broke the window, then removed the gun, then finally shot Doctor Nogara?”

            “Correct.”

            Mignatto’s hand is shaking as he says, “Then, Monsignors, I insist that you play the video again. But this time, instead of watching it, please close your eyes.”



* * *



            THERE IS A SOUND. Late in the footage, I hear a muted noise, different from the deep report of the gunshot. A tinselly pop. I can’t tell what it is. It could be the far-off squeal of car brakes on the public road. The rattle of something hitting one of the chain-link border fences. But with my eyes closed, what it most resembles is glass breaking.

            Instantly I understand Mignatto’s point. If this is the car window being shattered, then the order of sounds is wrong. Gunshot. Then glass breaking.

            Mignatto asks Falcone to stop the tape. The silence in the courtroom swells with uncertainty.

            The old judge croaks, “What does this mean, Monsignor?”

            All eyes are on Mignatto.

            “I don’t know,” he says.

            “The sound could be anything,” the judge snipes.

            “Including,” Mignatto says with feeling, “evidence of Father Andreou’s innocence.”

            Falcone grunts dismissively. “The evidence is clear.”

            Yet he stands corrected.

            “No,” Archbishop Nowak says softly. “It is not.”

            Mignatto checks his watch and says, “Monsignors, I request a recess.”

            “Why?” the presiding judge asks.