“Well, let just hope it’s a ‘bring a date’ invite,” Jason said. Anna raised her eyebrows, pursed her lips, and said cheekily, “Oh, so now you’re my date?”
“No,” Jason said matter-of-factly, “you’re my date.” “Oh really?”
Jason grabbed the invitation out of her hand. He held it up and ran his finger under two words. “Yes, really. Unless you can convince them you’re Thomas Riley.” He chuckled and pointed to the box sitting on the table. “And in that dress, I don’t think that’s humanly possible.”
Anna threw her hands up in the air. “Well, sir,” she said,
“would you like to have a beautiful young lady accompany you to your function this evening?” She tilted her head and batted her eyes.
Jason smiled and bowed. “I would be delighted, miss.”
Rows of horse-drawn carriages and limousines lined Old Court Place. People wearing their finest attire stood along the street, waiting to get into the Israeli embassy. The annual Prime Minister’s Ball was in full swing.
Jason handed the woman at the reception area his invitation. Anna held her breath. The woman glanced at the invitation, looked back at Jason with a curious stare, and handed it back to him. She then picked up a piece of paper with a list of names on it. She ran her finger down the list until she found the name she was looking for. She took her pen and marked a check by the name Thomas Riley. She smiled and said, “Enjoy your evening, sir.”
Jason nodded and led Anna by the arm into the main reception room. “So far so good,” he whispered.
They were about to sit at the first empty table when they noticed names printed on little white cards that sat at the head of each place setting. Along the far wall, by a beautiful stone fireplace, they found two that said THOMAS RILEY and GUEST.
It was Jason’s idea to sit and study the crowd for a while. If this Benjamin was also looking for Thomas, they might be able to spot him. Their table was mostly empty, and very few people were talking to one another. Aside from a few speeches, it was a remarkably dull affair. Anna felt disappointed—a ball at the embassy had sounded so glamorous.
As they were finishing their salads, a woman at their table knocked over a glass of wine. Jason offered to go get a waiter and ask for some napkins. He disappeared around the corner he’d seen the wait staff come from.
Anna decided it was a good time to visit the ladies’ room. She’d seen several women leaving through a side door and then returning some minutes later. She figured that’s where it would be. She got up from the table and headed that way.
As she reached the door, she felt someone take her elbow from behind. It was a tight grip and not very friendly. She was about to look behind her when she felt the cold steel of the barrel of a gun in her back. The man quickly pulled her from the doorway and shoved her down a secluded hall. He spoke only once. It was a command not to turn around or scream, or he would shoot her right where she stood.
She complied with the man’s order and walked down the hall, tears brimming in her eyes. She had only left Jason for a minute. Now she was being kidnapped. She wondered if her security would come to her rescue. Probably not. They’d be waiting outside the building to make sure she came out safely. That wouldn’t do her much good if her captors brought her out dead.
The man led her down a hallway that ended with a beautifully carved wooden door. The man pressed her against it. He held her still and fumbled with some keys. She heard the tumblers of the lock give way, and then the door opened.
He pushed her inside and closed the door behind them. She couldn’t see anything but shadows. The only light coming in was that from the street outside. She heard the dead bolt being slid back into the door.
“Please, sir, this is a mistake—” she tried to say.
“Do not speak until I tell you to. Unless I like what you have to say, this will be a very short evening for you.”
Anna’s hands trembled. She felt like she was going to pass out.
She took a deep breath and tried to think. Jason would immediately come looking for her when he got back and didn’t see her. Maybe she could buy some time until he found her. Stupid thought. How was Jason going to find her in some room on the other side of the building? The embassy wasn’t a small place. It could take hours. By that time she could be dead. No, she decided, she was going to have to get herself out of this one.
She took a deep breath and stomped her foot in anger. “Do you know who I am?”
“No, I don’t. And that’s why we are here. Who are you and how did you get here?”
“My name is An—” She stopped. “Never mind what my name is. Who are you?”
“I am the one with the gun, so I am the one to ask questions. That’s sensible, is it not?”
“What are you going to do, shoot me? Right here? Someone will hear. I have people who are going to be wondering where I am back at the ball. They’re probably looking for me right now.”
“Yes,” the man said calmly. “I will shoot you if you don’t tell me who you are and how your friend came into possession of a dead man’s invitation.”
It took a few seconds for Anna to put it together. But as she stood there staring at the man holding the gun, it dawned on her that she had found the man she was looking for. Or at least she hoped.
She said a quick silent prayer and hoped that what she was about to do was right. If not, she might just end up dead anyway.
“My name is Anna Riley. Thomas Riley was my grandfather. We came here looking for a man that my grandfather was supposed to meet. So if you’re him, please put the gun away and let me go get my friend. I’m sure he’s tearing this place apart trying to find me. And if you are who I think you are, then you don’t want any attention drawn to us.”
The man moved to the center of the room and placed the gun against Anna’s temple.
When Jason returned to the table, Anna was gone. He touched one of their tablemates on the shoulder. “Excuse me. The woman I was with—did you see where she went?”
“She’s probably off to the loo, boy. I know she’s stunning, young man, but you shouldn’t be so possessive. We ladies don’t like that.”
“I’m sorry,” Jason said. “It’s not like that. I just need to find her. It’s an emergency.”
The woman looked uninterested and pointed to the doorway across the hall. “The women’s washroom is over there.” Then she turned and went back to her conversation, picking up in midsentence, as if she hadn’t been interrupted at all.
Jason hurried across the room and out into the hallway. He saw a sign for the ladies’ room. He hurried to the entrance and listened. He could hear several voices inside. None of them sounded like Anna. They all had some kind of foreign accent. He waited a few seconds. One by one, women came out of the entryway.
Finally, when he was almost sure no one else was in there, he stepped in front of the entryway. “Psst! Anna, are you in there?”
There was no reply.
“Anna,” he said a little louder this time, “It’s me, Jason. Are you in there?”
A woman came around the corner and almost walked right into him. “I was the only one left in there, lad,” she said with an Irish accent. “I do believe your Anna is somewhere else. Have you lost her, dear?”
“Um, yes ma’am,” Jason said. “Sorry.”
The older lady raised her eyebrow at him and put her hand on his shoulder. “I’m available, you know. In case you can’t find her.” She winked and smiled at him.
“Thank you,” Jason said wearily, “I’ll keep that in mind.” He brushed the lady’s hand from his shoulder and walked back down the hall. Where could she have gone? Suddenly he felt sick. What if someone grabbed her while he wasn’t looking? He cursed himself for not being more careful. He had to hurry. She could be in serious trouble.
He’d just have to try every door until he found her. Three hallways and countless doors later, still no luck. Surely, any minute now, some security guard would come and haul hi
m away for trespassing or something.
As he turned to go down the fourth hall, an older man wearing an expensive silk suit stopped him. “I say, lad, what’s got you running about the place like you own it?”
Jason stammered for a second then said, “I … I’m looking for someone.”
The man’s face brightened. “Ah, the young lady you were with? Stunning, I tell you! She’s absolutely stunning!”
Before he could think better of it, Jason grabbed the man by his lapels and pushed him up against the wall. “What do you know about her! Did you do something with her?”
The man turned white. “Good gracious! I’ve done nothing with her! I was just complimenting—”
Jason let go of the man and held his hands up in surrender. “Sir, I am so sorry. Please forgive me. It’s just that she may be in trouble. I have to find her. Sorry!” He turned away and started down the fourth hall again.
“Lad! Wait!”
Jason didn’t have time to be talking. He ignored the man and kept trying doors.
“I say, I was talking to you.”
Jason stopped and whirled around on the man. “I said I’m sorry. That’s all I can do right now. I’m very busy. Please let me be. I’ll make it up to you later. I promise.”
The man snorted. “Yes, boy, I know! That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I saw her not five minutes ago.”
“Where?”
The man swatted Jason’s hands away. “Please stop grabbing at me. You’re wrinkling my new suit!”
Jason let go. “I’m so sorry, sir. Please, where did you see her?”
The man took a breath and pointed his finger. “Over there.”
He pointed to a narrow hallway that seemed to lead on and on. Jason couldn’t see the end of it. It wasn’t lit. “Down there?”
“Yes, lad. She was walking arm in arm with another gentleman. They looked like they were in a hurry. Are you sure she didn’t just run off and leave you? It happens to the best of us.” He chuckled.
“Thank you!” He ran for the hallway. The man called out something about how he could pay him back by letting him have a dance with Anna when he found her. Somehow, Jason didn’t think Anna would have much time for dancing this evening, if she even survived.
At the end of the hall was a heavily carved door. He heard the faint murmur of voices, one female. Taking a deep breath, he cracked open the door.
He found himself staring into the barrel of a gun.
CHAPTER 47
The Vatican
Cardinal Wickham walked down an unimportant street in an anonymous part of town toward a nearly unnoticeable phone booth.
To place a call that would end a man’s life.
A long time ago, Jonathan had given him the number of one of his colleagues. Wickham had never needed to use the number until now. With Jonathan out of pocket for the week, he had no choice. He needed a job done.
At the pay phone, he got a voice message that left directions to a fax machine. Jonathan had already told him what to expect, so he came prepared to write down the number.
Around the corner was an Internet café. Inside, he slipped his money into the bill collector and sent an electronic fax to the number he’d been given on the phone. Then he waited.
The call came just minutes after he sent the fax. A computerized voice with instructions. He left the café and hailed a cab, and ten minutes later he was in front of an old, run-down pub. The music was loud, the room smoky. The bartender looked to be a hundred years old. There were only three people in the place besides himself. He went to the back of the bar just as he’d been told to do. He sat down, waited five minutes, and then went to the restroom as instructed.
He went to the last stall, closed the door, and against his better judgment, sat down. From here, he didn’t know what was to happen. He guessed he’d find out. If not, then he would just leave and call it a loss.
Another five minutes. He stood to leave.
“Sit back down.”
He couldn’t see anyone. He hadn’t heard anyone come in. He sat back down. When he did, he noticed something he hadn’t before. Up in the corner of the room, behind him, there was a small camera with an even smaller speaker mounted under it. It was pointed directly down at him.
“You have my number,” the voice said. “So obviously you need some help.”
“I do.”
“Do you know who I am?”
“No. I only know of you from a friend. His name’s Jonathan.” “And how is our friend Jonathan?”
“He’s obviously not doing so well, or I wouldn’t be talking to you.”
There was a slight laugh. “Do you have the information for me?”
“I do.”
“Behind the toilet there is a loose piece of tile. Open it. Inside there is a drawer. Put the information in there. And the money. You did bring the money with you?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Good.”
Wickham stood up and stooped down behind the toilet. He found the tile and removed it. He placed the folder inside the drawer and then replaced the tile. When he finished, he sat back down. Several minutes passed before he heard the voice again.
“This man,” said the voice, “is no ordinary man.”
“No,” said Wickham, “he’s not. He’s very highly trained and very dangerous. He works for me. And now he’s become a problem.”
There was a pause. Then the voice. “I didn’t know that the Vatican was in the habit of snuffing people out, Cardinal.”
This was bad. This person knew who he was. He had to get out of here. He stood to leave.
“Sit back down, Cardinal Wickham,” the voice said sternly.
There was a click. Wickham tried the door. It wouldn’t budge.
“I said sit back down, Cardinal. The door is locked. I can control it from here.”
Wickham sat back down.
“Don’t worry, Padre, your secret’s safe with me. I’m only in it for the money. I don’t care who wants who dead. If someone paid me enough, I’d probably kill you. So don’t worry. This is business.”
Wickham sat back down and steadied his breathing. He guessed he’d have to trust this person.
“Now,” said the voice, “tell me more about this man.”
Wickham’s voice was shaky. “His name is Hale. He’s a pilot.”
The Israeli Embassy London
Without saying a word, the man holding the gun motioned for Jason to come inside.
Jason slowly walked into the room. There was Anna. She ran and put her arms around him.
“It’s all right,” she said. “This is Benjamin.”
Jason stared over Anna’s shoulder at the man holding the gun. He felt an overwhelming sense of relief, yet at the same time, he felt like he had failed the woman in his arms.
“Anna,” he said, “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have left you.”
Anna shook her head vehemently. “No, Jason, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone off without you.”
“What were you doing, anyway?” he asked.
“I was just going to the ladies’ room.”
He grabbed her hand and said, “It’s all right. We’re safe.”
“For now,” Benjamin interrupted.
Jason gestured to the gun still in Benjamin’s hand. “Could have fooled us.”
“I am sorry. But I had to find out who she was.”
Jason frowned at Anna. “How did he know it was you? You told me Father Vin destroyed all your real identification.”
Anna and Benjamin grinned at each other and then back at Jason. “Facebook,” they said in unison.
“Enough chatting now,” said Benjamin. “It’s time to leave. Between the three of us, I think we’ve caused quite a stir this evening. Come with me.”
Before either of them could say anything, Benjamin had slipped out of the door and started down the hallway. Jason and Anna followed him to a stairway. At the bottom, they were met by a giant steel door that had a
keypad mounted on the wall to the left. Benjamin punched the keypad several times until it beeped and a red light on the pad turned to green. There was a soft click, and when Benjamin turned the knob, the door gave way.
Hurrying outside, Jason saw they were in an alley, and a car was parked about fifty feet away.
“That is my car.” Benjamin pointed at the vehicle. “We hurry.”
Twenty minutes later, they stopped in front of an old church. Inside, the wooden floors creaked under their feet. In the dim light, Jason took Anna’s hand as they followed Benjamin all the way to the front of the sanctuary to sit in the first pew.
“Will you tell us why my grandfather planned to meet with you?” Anna glanced at Jason. He could read the hope in her eyes.
Benjamin frowned. “I do not actually know.”
“But you’ve got to,” Anna pleaded. “I mean, he was supposed to meet you. His journal said that you would help him put the mystery of the temple to rest.”
“Yes, dear, I promised him I would get him into the temple. But for what, I do not know. He only told me that it was a matter of life and death. Beyond that, I am as lost as you.”
Now Jason leaned forward. “Wait a minute. You mean you were going to get him into the temple at Jerusalem?”
“Yes.”
Jason was astounded. “How? I mean, he couldn’t get in there. Unless he was a Muslim.”
“This I know,” Benjamin said softly. “But I have friends. They are friends who are formerly of the Muslim faith. They have converted to Christianity. They were going to help me.”
“Wait a minute,” Anna said. “Aren’t you Jewish?”
“I am what you would call a messianic Jew. I believe that the Christ child was the Messiah. I am a Christian.”
“I thought the temple was a Jewish thing,” said Anna.
Jason squeezed her hand. “During the crusades, the Muslims took over Jerusalem. They built a mosque on the site of the former Jewish temple. Since then, that site has been the centerpiece for war, terrorism, and any other kind of disagreement between Jews and Muslims. It is considered, by some, the holiest place on earth.”
The Guardian Page 23