10:33 a.m. Passion Ministry

“Go on!” Oscar hissed, shoving her towards the man sitting on the grass. “Get it over with.”

“All right, already,” replied Virginia, struggling for balance. What am I gonna do?

Oscar cleared his throat. “John?”

John turned, fingers clutching a knotted string.

A few minutes earlier, Virginia had threatened to expose Oscar unless she was given an audience with the Apostle. Oscar had hurried her outside, supposedly to look for John. She knew it was just a delaying tactic and was as stunned as the security chief when they happened upon the man himself.

“My apologies for disturbing you.” Oscar tightened his grip on Virginia’s arm. “But Ms. Darrow insisted.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Virginia said, stepping quickly. “I won’t keep you. I...I just wanted to thank you for…oh!”

She stumbled. Deliberately flung herself forward, arms stretching for at the Apostle.

The pair collapsed in an heap. Virginia yanked at John’s neck in a frenzied pretense to scramble to her feet. Fingernails grasped at the chain.

“Ms. Darrow!” Oscar barked. He grabbed at her, then twisted. The locket plummeted. Oscar grunted and released her.

In a flurry of apologies, Virginia dove into the lawn. “Got it!” she shouted triumphantly.

The Apostle just stood, gasping for breath.

“It’s fabulous,” she said, turning the locket in her hand.

“Gimme that!” Oscar snatched.

The sun sparkled against the metal to reveal a single word: sindon.

Virginia grinned.