Chapter 3 Summary

Paul suddenly understands why JFK is assassinated. He has always seen mental images that he pieces together, as when writing a poem. He realizes that political murders are usually about vengeance and, without anger, sets about discovering the details needed to tell the truth. He knows who to contact and realizes he may die trying—although three days in Siena with Molly have convinced him that he loves her and wants to live. Earlier, Tom had spoken about Soviet paranoia about Lee Harvey Oswald's past and their desire to distance themselves from him. On Tom's orders, Paul contacts Cremona, who mentions the Tass agent, Klimenko.

Oswald is dead when Paul runs into Nguyên Kim in Rome and introduces him to Molly at lunch. Drinking heavily, Kim talks about his family's royal history, his present poverty, his service to the exiled Mme...