by Tom Haase
“A clear case of self defense,” Matt whispered in her ear.
Bridget heard Matt call Liz and brief her on what happened. There were now sirens coming from several directions on the upper level above the Factor’s Walk. Matt led her up to meet the local police and FBI.
Karim lay on the ground. He tried to get up but couldn’t. Matt went over to him and put cuffs on him. Local police and ambulances were arriving on the scene.
“I need a doctor,” Karim said.
“You’ll get one soon. I want you to be healthy for your execution. Georgia has the death penalty,” Matt said. He went back to where Bridget stood. He took her arms and moved her to a nearby bench. He placed her on it.
“It’s over,” she heard Matt say. Her adrenaline slowly returned to normal by the time they arrived at the wrecked semi.
Bridget put her hand on Matt’s shoulder. “Thank you.”
He held her close and gave her a hug. She started to cry. Now she could grieve. The tears came.
CHAPTER 58
Savannah, Georgia
After he gave a report of the events to the local police, Matt went over to the Special Agent in Charge of the Savannah FBI office. The SAC informed Matt he’d been ordered to handle the locals and Matt needed to get out of the area as soon as possible. Matt knew there would be a mountain of paperwork generated over the entire episode, but that would come later and this man could now assume responsibility for it. He excused himself and went back to sit beside Bridget.
“Have they taken Scott’s body away?” Bridget asked.
He assumed they had. He went over to the local EMT who was treating Karim’s wound and asked about the body.
“What body? The only body is down on Factor’s Walk and the ME is with it. This wounded man is the only one I’m treating. Sorry, but we’ve got to get him to a hospital.” The EMT moved off with the stretcher to place Karim in an ambulance.
Matt looked around the scene of the shooting as he walked back to join Bridget. He didn’t see the Hummer. The rental car used by Scott and his own FBI car were present, but no Hummer.
He searched the area, scanning up and down the street. Nothing.
“Have you seen Gerti?” Matt asked Bridget as he sat down beside her.
“No, I assumed the police were interrogating her.”
“Listen, I hate to say this, but Scott’s body isn’t here,” Matt said.
“What?” she said in total confusion. “Why not?”
“No one here’s even seen his body. Gerti isn’t here either,” Matt said.
Bridget grabbed for her phone.
Gerti answered on the second ring.
“Where are you?” Bridget blurted out as soon as she answered.
“I’m at Memorial Hospital Emergency Room. Get here now.” The line went dead.
CHAPTER 59
Savannah, Georgia
Memorial Hospital
Bridget thought emergency rooms were about the same all over. Doctors and nurses flitted about, going from room to room. The smell of antiseptic cleansers filled the air. Some patients were on gurneys in the hallway. Another ambulance pulled up to the entrance as Matt and Bridget arrived.
Bridget frantically looked for Gerti. She couldn’t imagine why Gerti would come to a hospital. Perhaps she suffered a wound they hadn’t noticed, or some other calamity befell her after she and Matt took off after Alexandro.
That explanation didn’t ring true in her mind. Here, someone who had never been in combat or never even seen death by gunshot, declaring her brother dead. Maybe she thought he was but something changed her mind while she and Matt pursued Alexandro. This scenario made much more sense. Then she started hoping her brother might yet be alive. She started to believe it as it appeared the only reason Gerti had taken off with the Hummer and Scott to a hospital.
Please, God, let him live.
“Over there,” Matt said. He pointed to Gerti surrounded by medical personnel.
Bridget ran over to her.
“Are you all right? What happened to you?” Bridget asked assuming she had suffered something to warrant a trip to the emergency room.
Gerti held up her hand to stop Bridget. Her white blouse contained blood streaks all over the front. She only nodded to Matt when he arrived.
“These are the doctors working on your brother,” Gerti said.
“What? What are you talking about? You said he was dead,” Bridget said.
“Hold on a minute.” She took a deep breath, exhaled and spoke rapidly. “When you ran off after Alexandro, I knelt down and held Scott’s head. No blood pumping from his wound, so I assumed he was dead. I was wrong. When I took his head in my hands, I thought I felt a slight pulse. I gave him mouth-to-mouth and performed CPR. In a few seconds, he opened his eyes.”
Bridget grabbed her and hugged her.
“I looked around for help but didn’t see anyone. I pulled Scott over to the Hummer and manhandled him in. I was afraid if I waited for an ambulance he would die. So I came to the nearest ER guided by my phone.”
“So, how is he?” Matt asked. He looked at the medical professionals clustered around them.
A man wearing a white coat with the nametag Dr. Watson spoke. “He’s going to be okay. The bullet didn’t penetrate his chest. It glanced off his rib. From what I understand from Miss Schultz, he twisted to get in front of her when he sustained the impact. It ripped open a wound on his chest as it traveled along the rib for a few centimeters. It looked worse than it was. The impact of the bullet appears to have caused a sudden stoppage of his heart, probably due to the force exerted right over his heart. This young lady took the correct action and revived him.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Bridget and Gerti said at the same time.
The doctor smiled and walked off to another room where a new patient arrived on a gurney only moments before.
“This is so amazing,” Bridget said. “I’m having a hard time believing it.”
“They said he’ll have to stay in the hospital for at least a day,” Gerti said. “I plan on being here with him. That dumb bollox jumped in the way of a round meant for me. What the hell was he thinking?
“Probably of you,” Bridget said and gave Gerti an ear-to-ear smile.
“This has all been great,” Matt said. “But we need to return the Hummer to the police. They will understand your action in using the vehicle, but it’s evidence.”
“Let me stay long enough to see Scott,” Bridget said.
“They said it’ll be about an hour before we can see him. He’s in the recovery room now,” Gerti said.
An hour later, after visiting for a few minutes with Scott, who remained very groggy from the anesthesia, they went out to the Hummer. They easily found it in the parking lot outside the entrance to the emergency room. Matt opened the driver’s door and climbed in. Bridget went around to the passenger side.
“I’ve never been in one of these,” Bridget said.
“God, you are a different person now you have Scott back. Did you notice the name of the doctor? Watson. I wonder if Holmes works there, too.”
“Well, yes. But I want to thank you for all you did,” Bridget said as she reached over and squeezed Matt’s hand.
“How much do you want to thank me?”
“You dirty old man. But I’ll thank you later,” she said leaning over to give him a peck on the cheek. As she did, her hand slipped off the edge of the seat and landed on a backpack wedged between the front seats. She pulled it up and unzipped it. Looking inside she saw some clothes. She pushed her hand all the way to the bottom and felt something solid in Alexandro’s pack. She retrieved it.
CHAPTER 60
Savannah, Georgia
Bridget returned to visit Scott in the evening. She knew he would remain in the hospital overnight and then be released in the morning. His spirits were high, and Gerti sat beside his bed holding his hand. On entering the room, Bridget thought she’d interrupted a serious discussion between the t
wo, as they both went quiet.
“What’s the secret?” she asked.
“We were discussing our future, if you have to know,” Scott said.
“So, am I to take it you will be making a trip to New York to ask her father a question?” Bridget smiled as she asked this.
“Maybe,” Scott said and returned the smile.
“You should watch the news in the morning,” Bridget said.
“Why?” Gerti asked.
“You’ll see.” Bridget kissed her brother and then hugged Gerti on her way out. She deliberately failed to mention her conversation with Monsignor Jonathan McGregor. She’d thoroughly enjoyed that conversation.
* * * *
Jonathan answered her phone call on the first ring.
“Hello, Jonathan. I have some news,” Bridget said. She sat on the bed in her hotel room in downtown Savannah, a plain room with a large king-size bed and a view looking out over the Savannah River. A large oceangoing container ship came into view as it proceeded up the river to the docks at the port authority.
“Did you find it?” Jonathan queried.
“I have it.” She paused to hit the send button on her phone. “I just sent you a picture of it taken here in my room a minute ago.”
“Got it. Please send me a picture of the back of the icon. That will convince me you have it.”
“Okay. The front should be enough, but I’ll do it.”
“If you take it now and send it, I’ll have to believe you. No tricks this time,” he said.
She did as he requested.
“Thank you. Now, I’m sure you have something else on your mind,” Jonathan said.
“I told you at the start of this venture what I’ll demand in order for you to get it back. But I’m upping the ante. I want the Vatican — that means you and the Secretary of State — to make a live television acknowledgement validating our finding of the Crown of Thorns, the gospel of Peter and the finding of the Bible of Constantine. I don’t care how you word it, but my brother and I are to be exonerated from all charges of perpetrating a hoax by the Vatican’s admittance of the validity of our previous claims.”
“Is there anything else?” Jonathan interrupted to ask.
“Yes, you will have a check for seven million dollars for me when I hand over the icon after your public announcement. I expect you to do this immediately, before tomorrow morning so it will be on the morning TV shows and in the papers.”
Bridget thought he could accomplish what she demanded. McGregor had to have planned to meet the demands she specified previously. He would have suspected she could succeed and then he would have to deliver. So, now, as far as she believed, he needed to complete his preparations.
“Come on, Bridget. These things take time. I need—”
“You have two hours,” she interrupted, “to call me back saying it will be done if you ever want to see this icon. I have another buyer who is willing to pay me what I want without any questions.” She knew this pushed the envelope, but after the events of the day she didn’t give a damn. “And you know who it is.”
“Okay, I’ll get on it. Just keep that icon in your possession. Wait for my call,” he said and hung up.
CHAPTER 61
Vatican City, Rome
Jonathan made the phone call to the Vatican Secretary of State. He believed the cardinal would be pleased the icon would soon be in their possession, but the public apology would certainly stick in his throat. But he had warned them what the conditions specified by Bridget at the beginning consisted of. This should not come as a great surprise to the Holy See. After telling the cardinal of his conversation with Bridget, he waited.
“Jonathan, we expected to pay, but this public recanting of the previous Vatican position on the Crown of Thorns and the other items could cause immense problems. I know you told us about it before, but this is unprecedented for us to retract a previously stated position.”
“Eminence, I feel compelled to remind you, the possible dragging of the Vatican through the mud for somehow collaborating with the Nazi machine in WWII and hiding the information on the hidden accounts, almost exclusively containing stolen Jewish gold, would be far worse if it were ever discovered than admitting to a technical mistake. Sooner or later it could be out in the open,” Jonathan said.
“I suppose you are correct,” the cardinal said. ”While you have been gone, I found all the synagogues that are still operating in Italy that were here during the war. All the recovered money will be shared with them on a proportional basis. When we recover it, I want you to get that accomplished. They must not know of our involvement.”
“All right, but to the task at hand, wouldn’t it be easier to claim that a reevaluation of the scientific data required the Holy See to issue a correction. Offer a sincere apology to the Donavans, and publically offer restitution to them? This would also allow them to regain their lost positions in academia, lost, I might remind you because of our statements,” Jonathan concluded.
“You’ve confirmed the Donavan woman has the icon?”
“Yes, and I have pictures of the front and the back. The back appears to be intact. If you decide to issue the public statement, I’ll have the icon in my hands before I give them any money. I want to be certain of its validity,” Jonathan said.
“Can we demand to see it first?”
“We have lost that possibility,” Jonathan said. “She will never allow for any circumstances where she could possibly lose possession of the icon before she gets what is demanded. Her past experience would certainly prevent that from ever happening. More specifically, her association with me to be precise.”
“Then we have no choice. I’ll make it happen.” The cardinal clicked off.
Jonathan sent a text to Bridget.
“It will be done. Need icon in my hands by six tomorrow evening.”
* * * *
Bridget stepped out of the shower in her hotel room. She thoroughly enjoyed feeling the gushing hot water to take the kinks out of her muscles. The small bathroom took on the appearance of a steam room. The mirror in the room now possessed no reflective qualities. She took the long towel and wrapped it around her body and swirled a small towel over her hair.
When she exited the bathroom, she heard her phone chirp with the arrival of a text message. She strode toward where it lay on the bureau, but a knock at the door interrupted her steps. She changed course and went over to look out the peephole in the door. Matt stood in the hall. She opened the door, glad to see him. What a day they had survived.
“Hi. May come in?” Matt asked.
She remembered her entire apparel consisted of a towel around her body, one that didn’t cover much.
“Sure, want a drink? I think we deserve it.”
“Would love one,” he said.
“Let me check my phone a second. I’m expecting something from McGregor. You fix the drinks,” she said.
She picked up the phone and read the text message. She let out a cheerleader type yell, causing Matt to spill the tonic.
“Sorry, it’s just we have to be in Washington tomorrow to get the money for Schultz. We’ve done it. You got the bad guy, Mr. FBI man, and I got the icon. Now I can get my life back.”
“Bridget, you look radiant.” He crossed to where she stood and threw his arms around her.
She gasped from the strength of his embrace. She felt warmth flow through her body. Her hands came up to encircle his neck and pull his head down to meet her upturned face. He gave her a light peck on the lips.
What the hell? she thought. Not good enough. She moved his head back to her lips. A long passionate kiss followed. This did not feel like a platonic act. Not at all. She’d already concluded they could work together as an effective team. They had proven that today, but they could do more.
Her mind raced to evaluate her feelings at this moment. She felt the immense attraction to this man. She knew their working relationship could survive, but now she wanted more. Still, she couldn�
��t allow her emotions to override her logical mind.
Her mind raced in many directions at once. What to do? When? Now?
She went through a myriad of thoughts about their relationship, and finally concluded on the right thing for her to do.
Bridget pushed back from his embrace, and let the towel fall to the floor.
CHAPTER 62
Savannah, Georgia
The phone beside Bridget’s bed rang. The clock showed 7:25. She answered it after seeing the ID displayed Scott’s name.
“Sis, turn on the TV. We’re on the news channels,” he said.
She picked up the remote on the stand by her bed and powered on the TV. As soon as it came on, she saw Jonathan McGregor and another man the script below his picture identified as the Vatican Secretary of State. She listened and heard the retraction of the Vatican’s previous denial of their claims. She picked the phone back up.
“We’re redeemed,” Scott said.
“How are you feeling?” Bridget asked.
“Great. They say I have to stay for another day and then I’ll be released. Gerti has been here the whole time. We’ve decided on our future. I have to go and visit Mr. Schultz when I can travel.”
“Glad to hear it. We have to get to Washington today by six to deliver the icon. I’ll get the money and pay off Schultz. Then, perhaps things can return to normal,” Bridget said. “Maybe even a quiet life.”
“That’ll never happen while you’re around,” Scott concluded and rang off.
Matt sat up in bed and watched the news while she talked to Scott. “We have to leave now for Washington?” he asked when she hung up.
“I said six today, not right now.” She rolled over onto Matt.
They arrived at Jonathan’s hotel a few minutes before the appointed time.