The Judas Gospel

Marcus finds Gambetti's body at St. Peter's Cemetery — killed with surgical precision by the Sword of St. Michael. Human violence, not supernatural. Among Gambetti's effects: research notes tracing the Iscariot bloodline from first-century Jerusalem to a seminary student in Chicago.

Six months after the Commission vote. Marcus files reports, cares for baby Rachel. A package arrives: ancient Iscariot manuscript fragment and thirty silver coins stained with ancient blood. Vatican archivist Father Gambetti calls, says he is about to be killed, directs Marcus to St.