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Olivetti drives Langdon and Vittoria at high speed through Rome toward Santa Maria della Vittoria, the suspected Fire marker. Traffic is moving toward the Vatican, increasing Langdon's anxiety about how soon the camerlegno will warn the crowd in St. Peter's Square. Langdon also remains troubled by the mistake in the Vatican archives.

During the drive, Langdon reflects on the newly revealed murder of the Pope. The idea seems horrifying but historically plausible to him because the Illuminati have always worked through infiltration, and rumors of papal murders and Vatican-linked conspiracies have long existed. His thoughts are interrupted when Vittoria receives a call from Maximilian Kohler.

Kohler says he has seen the news and is relieved CERN and the antimatter have not been publicly mentioned. Vittoria begins updating Kohler, but Olivetti stops her because the cellular line is open. Before hanging up, Kohler tells Vittoria he may know whom Leonardo Vetra told about the antimatter, contradicting Leonardo's claim that he told no one; Vittoria is visibly shaken.

As they near Piazza Barberini, Langdon realizes that the location strengthens the Fire-marker theory: in Bernini's time, the piazza had an obelisk, later removed during subway construction and replaced by the Triton Fountain. Olivetti kills the siren, parks nearby, arms himself, and orders Langdon and Vittoria to watch the front of the church from across the piazza while Olivetti enters from the back. He gives Langdon a pistol and confirms Vittoria can silently call him if needed.

Nearby, the Hassassin receives a call from Janus, who warns that the killer's position may be known. The Hassassin says preparations are already complete, and Janus tells the killer to escape alive because more work remains. When Janus mentions Langdon and Vittoria as knowledgeable threats, the Hassassin promises to eliminate them if necessary and privately anticipates taking Vittoria as a prize.