That’s what I was thinking. I can’t see a game mechanic that would allow the book to be taken. There are very specific options and rules laid out by Story, and I saw nothing that would indicate that the book could be taken if you tried to use it.
But, a scum NAF could have grabbed the book and went all noble with the “I’ll sacrifice my self for the greater good schitck” only to end up with it “stolen”.
I’m having a hard time swallowing that one. Sounds like a carefully connived scummy plan to me.