“That could be right, now that I think about it.”
He continued down the sidewalk and stopped at the narrow entrance of Bride Lane, a large delivery door fifty meters from the street. “I think I may have found it. Give me a minute.”
He began to jog toward the door then thought better of it, he quickly losing breath, silently making another commitment to hit the gym. He reached the door and examined it, it large enough to fit a four-by-four with little problem.
“I’m here. I think this is it.”
“Can you get in?”
Reading shook his head. “I don’t see any handles or any type of keypad, bell, anything. Just plain walls.”
“They were probably controlled by transponders in the vehicles,” said Acton. “I don’t think you’re getting in there unless they want to let you in.”
Reading hammered on the door, the resulting din making him cringe as it filled the narrow lane.
“I don’t think that’s going to work. Remember, they did everything with codes.”
Reading nodded. “Yeah, and they were very security conscious.” He looked about, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary.
He smiled, a CCTV camera under a balcony catching his eye. “I think I’m being watched. Just a second.” He eyed his surroundings and spotted a good-sized piece of cardboard lying on the ground. He picked it up, fishing a pen out of his pocket, then quickly drew two straight horizontal lines, followed by a third line, slightly curved upward. He added his cellphone number then held it up to the camera.
His phone vibrated almost immediately.
“Bloody hell!”
He held the phone to his ear.
“Jim, I’ll call you back.”
Unknown Location, London, United Kingdom
The Proconsul of the Triarii, Derrick Kennedy, watched the former Scotland Yard detective as he stood in front of the sealed escape tunnel that led to their former headquarters. They had been forced to abandon the location a year ago after the rift became too much, and it had been the greatest humiliation of his life.
But necessary.
“Can he be trusted?” asked one of his team manning the security station.
Kennedy pursed his lips. “His loyalties lie with his friend. He can be trusted as long as he thinks he’s helping him.”
“And if he were told the truth?”
“They were partners for years. He wouldn’t believe us.”
The door opened and Rodney Underwood stepped inside. “Sorry I’m late, sir.”
“Look!”
They all turned toward the screen the security tech was pointing at. Reading was writing something on a piece of cardboard.
“What’s he doing?” asked Rodney.
Kennedy remained silent, knowing the question was about to be answered as Reading flipped the finished product around.
It was the symbol of the Triarii and a phone number.
“I think we better see what the man wants.”
The Home Depot, Forest Plaza Shopping Center, Annapolis, Maryland
“Take them out.”
“Sir?”
Chaney held the phone closer to his mouth. “Take them out! That’s an order!”
“Yes, sir.”
Chaney stared through the window at the two professors he considered friends, their hands slightly raised as two armed men confronted them. He knew from Professor Acton’s history that he was plotting his escape, the man the luckiest unlucky bastard he had ever met.
The first gunman dropped, then the second, then the driver.
His chest tightened and his stomach flipped, it always a sad day when his fellow Triarii had to die.
“Let’s go,” he said, his voice subdued. Their vehicle surged forward, toward the scene then screeched to a halt as he threw open the side door, reaching out to the two terrified professors. “Professor!”
Acton stared at him, startled. “What—”
“Come with me if you want to live!”
There was a moment’s hesitation then Acton grabbed his wife by the hand and pulled her toward the door, helping her inside, then jumping in himself.
“Go! Go! Go!”
The van peeled away as Chaney slid the door shut, turning toward his friends. “Give me your phones.”
“Huh?”
“They can be tracked.” He motioned with his fingers. “Hurry, now.”
Acton pulled his phone from his pocket, handing it over as Laura searched her handbag then pant pockets.
“I must have dropped it.”
Chaney put the phone on the floor and smashed it with the butt of his gun.
“Hey! That’s expensive!”
Chaney rolled down the window and tossed the phone out as they pulled onto the main road. “Sorry, necessary. We can’t risk that they’re tracking you.” He turned to Laura. “You’re sure you lost it?”
She nodded. “I had it in my hand when those men arrived. I must have dropped it.”
“Okay, fine.” He leaned forward toward the driver. “Take it easy, we don’t want to draw any attention.”
The man nodded, the van immediately slowing.
“Who were those people?”
Chaney frowned, looking at Acton then Laura. “I’m afraid they were Triarii. Or at least, used to be.” He sighed. “A lot has happened since we last saw each other, Professors.”
Laura reached out and took his hand. “It’s been so long, we’ve been worried.”
Chaney squeezed her hand, smiling. “I’ve missed you guys too. And Hugh? How’s he been doing?”
Acton sighed. “Not that good. He fell in love.”
“What! I don’t believe it!” Chaney noticed the gloom on their faces and his eyes narrowed. “What went wrong? She didn’t leave him, did she?”
Laura shook her head, her eyes glistening. “She was”—she took a quick break—“killed.” Laura’s hand darted to her mouth and she closed her eyes, shaking her head, unable to go on.
“He met her in the Amazon. A native girl. He fell hard for her and they spent a spectacular few days together, but there was trouble and she was shot.” Acton stared blankly out the window. “She died in his arms.”
Chaney bit his finger, fighting back his own tears. “My God, the poor bastard.”
“He took it hard. Really hard.” Acton sighed, turning back toward Chaney. “He’s sworn he’ll never love again.”
Laura rested her head on Acton’s shoulder, wiping her tears away with a tissue retrieved from her purse. “He’s missed you, you know.”
Chaney frowned, guilt sweeping over him at the thought of not being there for his best friend in his time of need. “I know. It wasn’t by choice that I disappeared.”
Acton put his arm around Laura. “He said he saw you in Berlin and Rodney tried to shoot you.”
Chaney closed his eyes for a moment, his head bobbing. “Hard to believe it, but it’s true. Rodney and I have been friends for years. But that’s what the Triarii has come to.”
“But why?” asked Laura, returning the tissue to her purse. “Aren’t you all Triarii? Or is he one of the Deniers you told us about? The ones who want to take all the skulls and bring them together, to try and harness their power?”
Chaney sighed. “Professors, I’m ashamed to tell you that the Triarii has been taken over by the very people we’ve been fighting for years.” He looked at them both. “We’re all in danger.”
Bride Lane, London, United Kingdom
Reading took the call.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Agent Reading.”
“Who is this?”
“This is the proconsul of the Triarii. How can I help you?”
Reading looked about, finding himself still alone. He tossed the cardboard in a bin, staring up at what was now confirmed to be a monitored camera. “We need to talk.”
“About?”
“Martin Chaney.”
“Phones are so unsecure, Agent. I suggest we meet.”
<
br /> “Where? I’m at your old headquarters but it seems to be abandoned.”
“That was unfortunately necessary after recent events.”
“What events are those?”
“All will be explained when you come in.”
Reading frowned, his eyebrows rising slightly. “Come in? There’s no way I’m coming in. We’ll meet somewhere public.”
“I thought by now we could trust each other.”
Reading grunted. “You have Martin call me and I’ll trust you.”
There was a sigh. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“Because your former partner has betrayed us all. He’s no longer part of the Triarii.”
Leaving Annapolis, Maryland
“What? But I thought they were a small splinter group?” Acton glanced at his wife who appeared equally shocked, then back at Chaney. “And why were they after us?”
The Proconsul turned. “Apparently he’s always wanted to reunite the skulls, only none of us knew. He was just waiting for the thirteenth skull to be found.”
“How did you find out?”
“When we were returning from Venice we got word that he had put out a hit on us. I had suspected something might happen, I just had never imagined it would be him. We immediately went into hiding and have been on the run ever since.”
Laura squeezed Acton’s hand, her fingernails digging into his palm. “So why are they after us?”
“To get to me. They’ve been watching everybody I know in the hopes I might make contact seeking help. We’re desperate, with nowhere to go. And now he’s given an order to take all the skulls.”
Acton’s eyes narrowed. “I thought they were all hidden around the world and only two people on the council knew where any one skull was for security purposes.”
Chaney nodded. “This is true, but unfortunately half the council split with him. And, as you well know, many of the skulls are actually in public. They only needed to know where a few of the more hidden ones were to get them all.”
“And he has them?”
“We believe so. We’re hearing rumors on our secure networks that there have been hits all around the world.” Chaney’s head lowered. “Many are dead. Many good men and women.” He looked up. “He needs the thirteenth skull to complete his plan.”
“Of uniting all the skulls.”
“Yes.”
“Which you believe is a bad thing.”
“Yes, absolutely. We’ve seen what just three did to London in 1212. The resulting blast almost wiped out the city, killed thousands.”
Acton glanced at Laura. “Again, so you say.”
Chaney glared at him, a little frustration creeping into his voice. “Yes, so I say!” He held up a hand, closing his eyes. “Sorry, Professor, but these are tense times. Me and my team have been on the run since you found the thirteenth skull in Venice. I’ve had to keep in hiding, unable to contact my friends or family lest they be used against me.”
“Yet you reached out to Hugh. Why?”
“I need his help.”
Acton’s eyes narrowed. “How can he help?”
“I was hoping he might be able to help me find the new location of the Triarii.”
Acton chewed his lip for a moment. “We were just talking to Hugh, really just minutes before you arrived. He called us while we were in Home Depot. He said he went to Fleet Street and they weren’t there.”
“He did!” Chaney shook his head. “Well, that means he’s been compromised.” He sighed. “They moved about a year ago, after I contacted them that the thirteenth skull had been retrieved. The Proconsul moved the headquarters to a secret location he had apparently been preparing for some time, then dismissed any of the council he knew would oppose his plans, replacing them with people who would support his cause. We need to find this location and retrieve the skulls so they can be returned to their rightful resting places and this coup can be put down once and for all.” Chaney slammed his fist into his other hand. “The Triarii has been split since 1212, though it had always been a tiny minority since that wanted to unite the skulls. It was only three skulls in London, and look what happened! Now the arrogance of modern man believes it is time to unite all thirteen! Whether you believe or not, these are bad people who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.”
Acton’s eyes narrowed, thinking back on his dealings with both sides, tranquilizer darts almost always used. “I thought both sides abhorred violence?”
“Professor, dozens have died in the past several days as the Deniers have moved to retrieve the skulls. Our policy of non-lethal force has been abandoned. This is an all-out civil war, and in the end, only one side will be left alive.”
Farrington Street, London, United Kingdom
Reading hesitated as the door was thrown open to the SUV that had just pulled up, its tinted windows allowing no view of those inside, or of him to those outside, once he committed.
Rodney’s face appeared from the darkness, smiling. “If you would, please?”
Reading frowned then climbed inside, closing the door behind him. His chest was tight, his heart thumping hard as he realized he might be about to die. Though if these were indeed the Triarii he had encountered before, then they didn’t kill.
Then why had Rodney tried to shoot Martin?
Rodney handed him a dark hood. “If you don’t mind.”
Reading pursed his lips, drawing a breath as he eyed the hood, the vehicle already in motion.
Rodney smiled, patting what Reading assumed was a shoulder holster. “I can always tranquilize you if you’d prefer.”
“Uh huh.”
Reading took the hood and placed it over his head, the claustrophobic feeling immediately taking hold as his breath, hot and moist, quickly dampened his face. “Where are we going?”
He could almost sense Rodney’s smile. “That would defeat the purpose of the hood.”
Reading rolled his eyes, a wasted action. “That’s not what I mean. I mean, are we going to your headquarters, or somewhere else?”
“Somewhere else. It’s a place we use for these types of meetings. Private and secure, nothing of value. Except our staff, of course, who are always valuable.”
“You didn’t seem to think so in Berlin when you were firing at Martin.”
“Martin is no longer one of us, and his people drew first blood. We’re in a fight for our lives, Agent Reading, and this fight that has been brewing for eight hundred years is finally going to end, one way or the other, in the coming days.”
Reading closed his eyes, taking in a slow breath, then sighed.
Lovely. And once again, I’m caught in the bloody middle.
He had been stunned that there was actually a two-thousand-year-old organization, descendent from the Roman Empire, that worshipped and protected crystal carvings of skulls. In fact, he wouldn’t have believed it if his own partner hadn’t been a member, and he had seen the violence surrounding trying to obtain just one of them.
Laura was a scientist and had studied them most of her career, and she swore she couldn’t explain them. He knew what his own research on the web had told him, most saying they were fake, others claiming they were from aliens or lost civilizations. He dismissed the fantastic, though with the Triarii themselves admitting to swapping out the genuine articles with fakes whenever sent for testing by the likes of the BBC, it did explain why the mainstream scientific community now dismissed them.
But Laura he trusted, and he knew she wasn’t daft. She was highly intelligent and didn’t go spouting off crazy theories. All she would admit to was that they were of unknown origin and method of manufacture. He had held one himself, feeling its perfectly smooth surface, a feat apparently quite remarkable before the twentieth century, and these skulls definitely predated that. Apparently, a large tech company in the United States had tested one in the seventies, and couldn’t explain how they had been carved.
According to them, and confirmed b
y Laura, each were carved from a single piece of crystal quartz, and stunningly, they were carved against the grain, which no modern sculptor would do, it almost guaranteed to shatter. Even modern lasers couldn’t duplicate their construction. And the smoothness was also unexplainable pre-twentieth century, Laura having suggested the only way to get them so smooth would be a combination of sand and water running over the surface for hundreds of years.
They were a mystery.
That, he was willing to admit to.
But magical powers?
No.
Though someone believed.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be in a strange vehicle, blindfolded at gunpoint, with his two best friends missing.
Leaving Annapolis, Maryland
Acton was still trying to process the data dump still ongoing, he not sure anymore who were the good guys and who were the bad. He knew Chaney, had known him for several years, and Reading had known him for far longer. If there was somebody he was going to trust, it was going to be Chaney. He had to. At least until he had some time to think things over. His eyes narrowed as something occurred to him. “If they were watching us, hoping to get to you, then why would they try to kidnap us?”
Chaney gripped the door handle as they swung into a parking garage, the driver taking them quickly up several levels. “They think they can use you to get to me. That’s why they were following Hugh. I took one of them down but there was another one I didn’t spot in time.”
Laura frowned. “Rodney.”
“Yes. Once they stopped me from seeing Hugh, he was immediately safe.”
“Because they assume you won’t try again.”
Chaney nodded at Laura. “Exactly. So I immediately came here because you are the only two other people I’m close to that might actually be able to help.”
Acton’s brow furled. “How can we help?”
“You’ve got money. They presume I’m going to ask you for some at some point.”
Acton nodded slowly. They had money. A lot of it. Laura’s late brother had been an Internet pioneer, selling his company for hundreds of millions, and leaving it all to her. They were rich, stupid rich, and the Triarii obviously knew it, and by extension, so did these Deniers.
The Thirteenth Legion (A James Acton Thriller, #15) (James Acton Thrillers) Page 5