“Have you always hated them?” Kendall asked.
“I loved them when I was a kid. The ones my father would let me see. Thomas did too. His dream was to follow in his footsteps. But afterward . . . we couldn’t even bear to mention relics and antiquities. You don’t know what it’s like seeing your family murdered.”
“You saw it?” Kendall asked.
Brandi nodded. “We found the bodies.”
“I’m so sorry.” Kendall put her hand over Brandi’s.
At least she remembered them. Jake had nothing, just some mixed-up dreams about a grave. The same damned grave he’d dreamed about all his life. “Was your father’s entire collection stolen?”
“All of it.”
“I remember it,” Nathan said. “I was interested in buying it just before he died.”
“When was this?” Jake asked.
“I don’t know, maybe seven years ago.”
“You were collecting relics back then?” Jake asked.
“I’ve always loved relics, even when I was a kid.”
So had Kendall. And Adam. Nathan was remembering his life before. Jake wished he could remember his. He and Nathan had more in common than just their feelings for Kendall. They both had blank spots in their pasts.
“Did your father buy from the black market?” Kendall asked.
Brandi shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. He may have bought some things illegally, but I know his collection was the envy of the relic community. He had a lot of rivals. There was always a race to find the rarest object, and then a battle to see who could win the bid. He was really excited in the weeks before he died. He’d found something important and was worried about two other bidders. I believe one of them must have been the Reaper.”
Jake scratched his jaw. “Wonder what the object was?”
“You mean you wonder if it was the Holy Grail?” Nathan asked.
Jake lifted a shoulder. “Obviously the Reaper lost it at some point. Someone had it. The prince got it somewhere. Maybe he was the second bidder.”
“I remember my father telling my mother that he would need enough money to beat royalty. I thought he was joking. If the Reaper killed my parents to get the Holy Grail, maybe the prince stole it from the Reaper. Then the Reaper hired you to get him into the prince’s palace to steal it back.”
“Sounds like a chess game,” Jake said.
The town house was in a middle-class section of town. The yards were small, the buildings old. Thomas’s looked blank. No personality.
“I assume he didn’t spend much time here,” Nathan said as they approached the front door.
“More than you would think. But he wasn’t really living.” Brandi pulled out a key and opened the front door.
It looked more like an office than a home. There was an old couch, a chair, a desk, a computer, and maps everywhere. Europe. Asia.
“I told you he was obsessed,” Brandi said.
“Knowing his sister, I’m not surprised,” Nathan said.
“Like you’re not obsessed about anything,” Brandi said, glancing at Kendall.
Nathan scowled at her. “Where do we start?”
“Here.” She walked over to a bookshelf that held magazines—National Geographic and travel guides among them—as well as an old set of encyclopedias that looked like they’d never been used. She pushed a section of books, and the shelf started to turn, revealing a door. “This is where he kept most of his research.” She stepped into the room, and the others followed. Brandi walked over to a desk and turned on a green banker’s lamp.
The room was small, with dark walls covered in more maps. A long table was pushed against the wall. It was littered with papers and a few candy bar wrappers. Brandi sighed. “He loved junk food.” She cleared her throat. “Any files should be here in the desk. He kept pretty good notes.”
“What about the computer?” Nathan asked. “Or a laptop.”
“He didn’t trust computers. He kept that one but rarely used it.”
“How did the Reaper contact him?” Jake asked.
“He didn’t say. By phone, I would guess.”
They found a notebook that contained a page of names. “These must have been his Reaper suspects,” Jake said.
“He started looking for the Reaper a few years ago. He researched the biggest collectors, even from a few decades ago. He didn’t know how old the Reaper was. If someone was interested in relics, he went on Thomas’s list.”
“Your name’s probably here,” Jake said to Nathan.
Nathan tilted his head and examined the book. “Blimey. It is.”
“Are you the Reaper?” Brandi asked with a tilt of her lips. “Maybe that explains those eyes.”
Nathan frowned and continued scanning the list. His finger stopped underneath a name, and his frown deepened.
“John Whitmore,” Jake said, following Nathan’s index finger.
“That’s Uncle John,” Kendall said. “And my dad’s here too. William Morgan.”
“Was he a collector?” Jake asked.
“Somewhat, but he was more involved in the archaeological side of things. He handled the digging. Uncle John handled the finds.”
“Thomas made notes of their activities,” Brandi said. “I’ve never seen this book, but he told me about it. He put together dates and places where different collectors had traveled. He wasn’t sure about the Reaper’s identity until recently.”
“Is there a name?” Kendall asked. “We still don’t know the name the Reaper’s using now.”
“Could be more than one name,” Jake said. “He may have several identities.”
“We need to search the rest of the house. I want to see Thomas’s bag,” Nathan said.
“I left the bag in his bedroom,” Brandi said.
“Kendall can stay with me,” Nathan said. “We’ll keep searching this room.”
“Or she can stay with me,” Jake said. “You both have habits of falling through portals.”
Brandi grabbed Jake’s arm. “It’s my brother’s house. I choose you. Your eyes don’t glow.”
He didn’t argue. He’d wanted an opportunity to talk to Brandi. She probably knew more about what happened in Iraq than anyone besides Thomas and the Reaper.
She led him upstairs to the bedroom, sparsely furnished with a bed, a chair, and one chest of drawers. A few items of clothing were thrown about the room. Brandi picked up a flannel shirt. “I didn’t have a chance to do anything with his things.”
“I’m sorry he died,” Jake said. “I didn’t really know him. Just the brief contact when he hired me, but I guess it turns out we were on the same side. I wish I’d known. We could have combined our resources.”
“He didn’t trust you. Not then. I think he did later, after the girls.”
Jake’s jaw tensed. The girls. He hadn’t wanted to talk about them.
“Thomas didn’t know the prince was involved with human trafficking. He said the Reaper didn’t either. Thomas admired you for saving them.”
He hadn’t saved them all.
“Thomas was coming to help you get the girls when he saw someone beyond you getting ready to take a shot. He thought the man was aiming at your back, so Thomas shot at him. Turned out the guy was actually getting ready to shoot at Thomas. He’d found out what Thomas was up to.”
“I thought your brother was shooting at me. I never saw the other guy. Who blew up the helicopter carrying my team?”
“Thomas didn’t know if it was the Reaper or if it was the prince protecting his collection of relics.”
“Did Thomas kill the prince?”
“I think he did. He was very upset over the whole thing.”
“If it was him, he did the world a favor,” Jake said. “It took a lot of balls to double-cross the Reaper.”
Brandi pi
cked a leather bag off a chair. “This is it. His bag.” She ran her hand over the leather, and her face tightened. “I hope Kendall can find something from this. I want this bastard dead.”
“That bastard is old and powerful. You’d be better off if you got out now. I know he killed your family, but he’s dangerous. Let us get rid of him. That’ll be your revenge.”
“I can’t back off until I see those relics destroyed myself. The Reaper isn’t the only one who would misuse them. Half the population would probably kill to get their hands on items like that.”
She had a point, but it wasn’t his call. “It’s not up to you or me. The Protettori is in charge.”
“Nathan is the one who has the Spear of Destiny.” Her eyes narrowed with speculation. “Tell me where he hid it, and I’ll tell you a secret.”
“About what?”
“The Reaper. Do you ever wonder why he hired you?”
Jake had spent dozens of hours wondering about the mission in Iraq. He’d never met the client, just the man who made the arrangements. That hadn’t bothered him. These rich guys usually had someone to do everything for them but wipe their ass. “Maybe.”
Brandi’s eyes narrowed further. “I think I know.”
The way she said it implied she knew something he didn’t, but he didn’t have the info she needed, and he didn’t have time for her games. But still . . . it couldn’t hurt to ask. “Why did he hire me?”
“First tell me where Nathan hid the Spear of Destiny.”
“Nathan’s keeping that a secret.”
“Then I’ll keep mine.”
A tingle crawled up his spine like a spider climbing an icy web, but he’d had so many warning tingles lately, he was becoming immune. That was a dangerous thing. Kendall might have her sixth sense, but his gut feelings had saved his ass many times.
“Just keep in mind that Raphael wants those relics protected even more than Nathan does. And he’s a bad dude.”
Brandi looked a little apprehensive. “I believe it after what happened in the temple. But I’m in this to the end.”
Jake sighed. “Let’s get this bag to Kendall.”
“You don’t like leaving her with Nathan. Does she know how bad you’ve got it for her?”
“Mind your own business.”
She smiled. “I don’t blame you. He’s obviously crazy about her, and he’s like the catch of the century, if you don’t count that freaky thing with his eyes. Don’t look so annoyed. You’ve got a lot going for you in the hot department too.”
“I’m touched.”
“Smart-ass.” She handed the bag to Jake and something fell out.
“What’s that?”
“Looks like a photo,” Brandi said, bending to pick it up. “It’s a woman.”
“Did Thomas have a girlfriend?”
“Are you kidding? He didn’t even take the time to eat properly. He didn’t have time for a girlfriend. I don’t know who she is.”
Jake looked over at the picture and felt the blood drain from his face.
He approached the grave slowly, feeling sicker the closer he got. Blond hair lay against the dirt. Finally he stood over the grave and looked at the woman’s face.
“Jake?” Brandi’s voice came from far away. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
He had. He had seen the woman in a grave. How the hell could that be?
“The photo looks old. Look at her clothes. Late eighties maybe. Let’s put it with the notebook,” Brandi said. “Maybe it’s one of the Reaper’s contacts.”
Jake’s head was spinning as he followed Brandi downstairs. Kendall and Nathan were still in the room, standing close together, looking at a map. They looked so damned right together. They had the same interests. Nathan treated her with respect. He hadn’t hit on her like a moron in the beginning to keep her at a safe distance from his heart. Damned lot of good it’d done. She was firmly lodged there now.
Kendall turned and her smile pierced his heart. Then she frowned—her and her senses, not that they’d been up to par lately. He looked away because he didn’t want her to know his thoughts.
“We found a map,” Nathan said. “Prague. Same as the map in Marco’s room. The Reaper must be there.”
“If only the chalice was.”
“Maybe Kendall will pick up something from Thomas’s bag,” Nathan said.
“Oh, we found this in the bag. A picture of a woman.” Brandi showed them the image. “I know Thomas didn’t have a girlfriend. She must be connected to the Reaper. That’s all Thomas ever thought about.”
Kendall took the picture from Brandi. “I’ve seen her before.”
“This woman?” Brandi asked. “Where?”
“In Jake’s house.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “Jake’s house?”
“That’s impossible,” Jake said. “She’s dead.”
“How do you know?” Nathan asked. “Did you kill her?”
“No, but I saw her in a grave.”
“Was she one of the girls in Iraq?” Kendall asked.
“No. I saw her long before that. Not really saw her. It was more like a dream.”
“You’ve dreamed of her?”
“I’ve dreamed of her most of my life.”
“What was she doing in your house?” Nathan still looked suspicious. “She must be connected to the Reaper.”
Kendall turned the picture over. Her face went still. “There’s a name on the back.” She looked up at Jake. “Maryanne.”
“The name in the journal.” Nathan gave Jake an angry glare. “Who is she?”
“I don’t know who the hell she is,” Jake said. He looked confused.
“You saw her name in a journal?” Brandi asked.
“It wasn’t written in ink, but we saw the impression.” Kendall chewed on her lip. “The Reaper must have known her.”
“You think she was working with him?” Brandi asked.
“If you say she’s dead—” Kendall stopped. “That explains it. That’s why she never spoke to me. She just seemed to appear. And why Jake didn’t see her. Why her gown and hands were dirty. She hadn’t been in a garden. She was in a grave. She was a ghost.”
“A ghost,” Jake said, his frown getting deeper.
“I don’t care if she’s a woman or a ghost. I want to know what she was doing in his house,” Nathan said.
Brandi made a small surprised sound. “Maybe Thomas was right the first time.”
“Right about what?” Jake asked.
“That you’re the Reaper’s son.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THAT’S CRAZY,” KENDALL said. “What makes you think Jake could be the Reaper’s son?”
Brandi eyed Kendall warily. “When Thomas found out that the Reaper had a child, he thought it might be Jake. The Reaper insisted that Thomas hire Jake.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Kendall said, feeling a knot growing in her stomach. “Jake’s good at what he does.”
Nathan stepped closer to Kendall, his eyes starting to pale. He addressed Brandi, but his watchful gaze was on Jake. “And you’re just now telling us?”
The redhead gave her lips a nervous lick. “Thomas wasn’t sure, and then later he changed his mind. After Jake rescued the girls, Thomas didn’t think it was likely that he could be the Reaper’s son. And Jake seemed to have no idea who the Reaper was.”
Kendall’s hands tightened on the photo. “Just because he recognizes the picture doesn’t mean he’s the Reaper’s son. It could be anyone. He could have been Todd for all we know,” she said, speaking of the one-time neighbor who had been working for the Reaper. “And as old as the Reaper is, his son could be ancient.”
“Just because you slept with him doesn’t mean you should be blind to the truth,” Nathan said, finally turning to look at Kendal
l. His dark eyes were swirling with amber, and they were filled with anger and hurt. “What else could it mean? The Reaper says he has a child and insists Jake work for him. We find a name in the Reaper’s journal and a picture of a woman with the same name as the one Jake’s seen in dreams. I knew there was another reason he was working for the Reaper. Even Jake believes it’s true. Look at him.”
Jake looked like he was going to throw up. He had sat down on the edge of the desk. Kendall shook her head. “We don’t have any idea what the truth is. We can’t jump to conclusions.”
“I need to get out of here,” Jake said.
“Don’t go.” Kendall touched his arm. “We’ll figure this out.”
She turned to Nathan. “Don’t forget what you told me when I thought I may be the Reaper’s child. You said it wouldn’t make any difference. Remember that?”
Nathan scowled. “You’re not Jake.”
“Jake’s been working for you as long as I have. No more talk about the Reaper’s son. Not until we have something to go on besides speculation.” Kendall’s gaze was hard. They couldn’t allow this to divide them. “What we do know is that the Reaper wants the chalice, and maybe me. Forget his son, whoever the hell he is. Got it? Now where’s Thomas’s bag? Let me see if I can sense anything.”
Brandi smiled at Kendall’s outburst and took the bag from Jake, handing it to Kendall. The leather was soft with use. Kendall closed her eyes and tried to sense the bag’s secrets. She heard a loud noise and opened her eyes. Everyone looked shocked.
“Did you hear that too?” she asked.
“That wasn’t you,” Nathan said.
“It came from the front.” Jake pulled his gun and hurried to the door. The room was filling with smoke. A window had been broken, and a canister lay on the floor. “It’s tear gas,” Jake said. “We’ve got to get out of here. Is there another way out of this room?”
Brandi shook her head. “No, I don’t think so.”
Jake pulled his shirt up over his mouth and nose. “Cover your faces and follow me.”
The Lost Chalice (The Relic Seekers Book 3) Page 16