Vatican Ambassador by Mike Luoma

lost as the war continued, escalated. But maybe it’s my chance to do some good. It seemed like it was right... the right thing to do. I can't say I always know what the right thing is any more. Maybe the Peace Conference is my stab at it
    BC watches McEntyre laughing, greeting newly arriving conference attendees. I still want to hit him. Just one more time! He’s been good, though, supporting the peace conference. I haven’t had to dig up the dirt on him, yet. Not that I won’t. Maybe I shouldn’t. I don’t know.
    Could I just hate McEntyre out of my own guilt?
    Nah!
    He's genuinely despicable in his own slimy right. Look at him. Wait a minute!
    Who was that just behind him?
    A familiar looking woman arrived with one of the delegations and passed just behind McEntyre. Her?! No fucking way! Nita fucking Bendix?!
    BC swears he just saw Nita Bendix, behind McEntyre, only visible for a second, then gone. I haven't forgotten that face! You try to kill me, I remember you!
    Instincts flood back for BC. It's all he can do to stand still as the "unofficial" gathering and greeting continues. He wants to get on the hunt. Find that woman!
    Was it really her? Would she dare? Why would she come back here? Huh, why wouldn't she? She got away with a lot! What's stopping her? I wonder if she's still wanted for Meredith McEntyre's death? I'm not sure if she was actually brought up on charges for that, officially. They had no hard evidence, only suspicion. And her absence. Which I appreciate. BC finds himself rocking on his heels.
    Gotta try to relax. Look like a good host of this informal formality of a gathering. No cocktails present out of religious concerns. I could use a drink myself!
    Never mind. Just nod, be gracious... Funny, I never used to attend one of these things unless I was killing someone. Now it's killing me! Well, not literally...
    Everyone's a little stiff, over formal. Well, except for Hardwick and McEntyre... strange they'd get along. Wonder if there's anything to that.
    Gotta suspect everyone, dontcha BC? You bet your ass. Everyone here looks suspicious. Suspicious of each other, and suspicious in their own right.
    BC enjoys a chuckle under his breath.
    Maybe it will get easier when the actual talks start tomorrow. Right. Somehow, I don't think so. At least I won't have to be there the whole time. That's why entourages and delegations were invented! The leaders paint policy with a wide brush. Then the career boys from the diplomatic corps step in and work through the fine filigree of the knotty details. We get to step back in at the end, make final adjustments, say yea or nay and sign the papers with a flourish!
    I've organized the whole shebang, and gotten the agendas approved by all parties involved. I'll facilitate the process over the next three days, best I can, try to shepherd them along to an agreement, and try to keep the church truly neutral as we go along. There’s not much else for me to do.
    Except to try to find Nita Bendix, if she's really here. In all my spare time. Right. Oh, God... Cardinal Hardwick is waving at BC, trying to get his attention, apparently to call him over to speak with him and McEntyre.
    No thanks...
    Luckily, BC is saved by the approach of the head of the UIN delegation.
    "Father Campion?"
    "Hello, Sir. Yes, I'm Father Campion, how can I help you?"
    "Mohammed Ibn Al Sere , Father, the ranking UIN Representative," he says as an introduction. "I am glad to meet the madman who thinks he can forge a peace!"
    Woah...
    "Nice to meet you, too," BC says warily.
    "Do you know, Father Campion, I am still not sure why I am here?" Al Sere challenges BC.
    "I hope you're here because you're as tired as we are of people dying. We have a new Pope, a new head of the New catholic Church. He’s declared the NcC neutral and he wants peace. Maybe the time has come when we can finally end the killing?" BC answers.
    "Peace? How can there be peace when we cannot go home?" Al Sere asks.
    "We understand