by David Wood
“I like this girl. We should keep her around.” Bones winked at her and she made a face that wasn’t quite a frown.
“I wonder if we put much distance between us and them,” Dima said.
As if in reply, a distant voice sounded in the darkness. And then another.
“You have got to be freaking kidding me.” Bones turned and raised the Glock. “I almost wish they’d catch up.”
“Let’s go.” Maddock took off, this time at a run. His light bounced up and down in front of him, revealing the unrelenting black rock and darkness up ahead. His legs soon began to burn and his chest tightened from exertion. Just as he was contemplating calling a halt so they could turn and fight, his eyes fell upon an unexpected sight.
“Handholds! Look.” He stopped and Bones and Dima skidded to a halt behind him. There was no mistaking it. Someone had carved a series of hand and footholds in the rock. He played his beam up the wall and saw that, about five meters above their heads, a section of the ceiling had given way and the handholds led through the small opening and into the darkness above. With no time to waste, he stuck his Maglite in his mouth, clamping down with his front teeth, and began to climb. With any luck, they would be out of here long before their pursuers reached this spot. And if the men who followed them didn’t have sharp eyes, they just might continue on down the passageway, not knowing where Maddock and his friends had gone.
The climb would have been easier had he not been running for a couple of hours, but at least he had plenty of strength remaining in his shoulders and arms. He clambered up the steep face and out of the lava tube. Here, the stone was dark red in color and he realized they were now climbing through a natural fissure in the native rock.
He quickly reached the top and climbed out onto a rock strewn-ledge. He clambered over the rubble, turned, and waited for Dima to catch up. He helped her over and then offered Bones a hand, which was ignored.
“Just keep moving,” Bones grunted.
There wasn’t far to move. Ten paces ahead they hit a wall.
“So I guess we sit here and Bones shoots people as they climb up?” Dima asked.
“I don’t think so. Someone carved those handholds, which means they must lead somewhere, or they did at one time. Look around.”
They began a thorough inspection of the wall. Minutes later, Dima found something.
“Look at this. I think it’s a dove.”
Maddock and Bones shone their lights on the spot she indicated. The image was faint, as if someone had hurriedly scratched it, but the shape was unmistakable.
“What does it mean?” Bones asked.
“The dove is a symbol associated with the Noah story,” she said.
Maddock nodded. “It could be our frozen monk scratched the symbol here so he could find his way out again. But how to actually get out?” He looked closer and noticed that the tiny oval that marked the eye of the dove was not scratched out like the rest of the image, but was in fact a small indentation in the stone.
He pressed his finger against it.
Nothing.
He pressed harder, and with an audible click, a meter wide section of wall descended into the bedrock.
“No way,” Dima breathed. “I thought this sort of thing only happens in movies.”
“If only.” Maddock stepped over the descending wall and took a few steps. Up ahead, bars blocked their way.
“What is this? Where are we?” Dima asked.
“It looks like a dungeon,” Maddock said. They were in a small cell hewn from the bedrock. Off to one side, a stone bench ran along the wall. There were no windows, only three stone walls, and floor to ceiling iron bars where the fourth wall should be.
“I think I know where we are,” Dima said, looking around. “This is the Pasha Palace.”
“Maddock, I think we have a problem,” Bones said. “The trapdoor isn’t going back up and I think I hear the bad guys coming.”
“Are we stuck?” Dima asked.
“I don’t think so.” Maddock reached for the cell door and pushed. It squealed open, assaulting his ears with the sound of rusted metal on metal. “It’s not like they use this place for prisoners anymore, and they wouldn’t want a tourist locking himself in. Come on out.”
When Bones and Dima had exited the cell, Maddock knelt, pried up a floor tile, and shoved it into the small space beneath the cell door. He gave it a few kicks to wedge it in firmly, and grinned.
“That’ll slow them a bit. Now, how about we get out of here?”
Chapter 27
The Ishak Pasha Palace sat perched atop a mountain ledge overlooking the town of Doğubeyazıt. Located only a few miles from the town, the historical site combined features of Ottoman, Seljuk, Persian, Armenian, and Georgian architecture, reflecting the many changes that had been made to it over the years. Under a different set of circumstances, Maddock would have loved to explore the place, but right now they needed to get away as fast as they could.
“Man, I can’t believe you didn’t at least let us check out the harem room,” Bones said, as they exited the palace and strode out into the late afternoon sun. “I’m all about that.”
“It’s not like there are any women there,” Maddock said.
“Shut it, dude. You’re spoiling my fantasy.”
“We need to find a driver and negotiate a ride back to town,” Dima said. “Tourists will usually arrange for the driver to hang around, but it’s such a short distance we can probably find someone to run us there and then come back for their regular fare.”
“All right. Let’s make it happen. I’d like to get out of here without any shooting,” Maddock said. He turned his head away from the stiff wind that blew in from the East, carrying dust and sand with it. Behind them, the sun shone on the golden brown rocks of the palace, setting the spires, arches, and domes aglow in golden light. “Keep an eye out for anyone who looks like they’re following us,” he said to Bones.
“Already on it.” Bones had the Glock tucked into his waistband, hidden beneath his shirt, and he kept his hand close by it, ready to draw and fire.
“Do you think they killed Faruk?” An icy ball of dread formed in Maddock’s gut as he uttered the words.
“Maybe. I don’t know who else they would’ve been shooting at. Hopefully they just chased him away, but who really knows?”
Maddock hated that an innocent person had gotten caught up in this, but he knew there was nothing to be gained from dwelling on it.
Up ahead, Dima was handing a few bills to a man who sat in an idling van.
“Come on,” she said. “I found us a ride.”
They climbed into the battered van, seated themselves, and engaged in a brief, fruitless search for seatbelts. Dima and Maddock braced themselves in time, but Bones managed to bang his head on the roof as the van lurched into motion.
“Such fun,” he growled, casting a baleful look at the back of the driver’s head.
Maddock’s phone rang and he was pleased to see that his friend Jimmy Letson was on the other end of the line. Jimmy was a journalist and an accomplished hacker who had helped Maddock more times than he could count.
“Hey Maddock,” came Jimmy’s nasal voice, “what’s up?”
“Not much. Just got chased by armed men through a hidden passageway, found a secret trapdoor, and escaped through a dungeon,” Maddock deadpanned.
“Cool,” Jimmy said, as if this happened every day. “I’ve done some checking for you, and I’m sorry to say you probably don’t owe me a bottle of scotch this time.”
“Struck out?” Maddock asked.
“On the Trident, yes. I couldn’t really confirm anything you don’t already know. They’re an antiquities company, at least that’s their front.”
“Are you sure they’re a front?”
“Considering I have had zero success hacking into their system, yes. Why would antiquities dealers need a firewall that would put the federal government to shame?”
“Fair enough.
Did you learn anything?”
“Not really. I got the file on Daniel Tyson, but it’s just his service record in the government. We already knew he used to work with Tam Broderick back in the day and then moved on the park service. One thing weird about the Trident—nothing about their corporate structure is publicly available, not even the name of their CEO.”
“That is weird.”
“I already said that. Anyway, I worked my magic and I came up with the name of the man who might be their leader.” In true Jimmy fashion, he paused for dramatic effect.
“Just tell me,” Maddock said as their driver turned a sharp right that sent him banging into the side of the van.
“Ibrahim Shawa. He’s a guy who presents himself as a religious guru and claims descent from Noah’s son, Ham. He lives high on the hog and, rumor has it, he’s a powerful man who has connection to Boko Haram.
“Great. A jihadist.” Maddock grimaced. “Anything else?”
“Not about the Trident, but I did manage to hack Robert’s credit card account, and I know where he was going next.” Another pause.
“Jimmy, you know it drives me nuts when you keep making me ask for information.”
“Why do you think I do it? Anyway, when he left Turkey, he was planning to fly on to Rome.”
“Great, because that’s not a big city or anything,” Maddock said.
“Somebody’s grumpy today,” Jimmy chastised. “Think about it. He’s looking for some kind of Noah’s Ark crap. There’s only one place in Rome he was likely to visit. The place where the most secret records of Christendom are supposedly kept.”
“The Vatican. That narrows it down but it also complicates things. If we're talking about the Secret Archives I don’t think there’s any way we will be able to get inside, much less find what we’re looking for.”
Located in Vatican City, the Vatican’s secret archives was the central repository for all papal records. The archives were officially owned by the Pope until his death, at which time ownership was passed to his successor. The archives also contained account books, correspondence, and a myriad of documents the church had collected over the centuries. While the archives were not secret in the sense that they were hidden, they were deemed private and only a handful of researchers were given access to them each year. No one outside the highest levels of the Catholic Church truly knew the full extent of its holdings.
“This is where you are going to want to thank me,” Jimmy said. “I’m thinking at least a pint bottle of Wild Turkey will be in order.”
“Let’s hear what you’ve got. If it’s no good, you’re getting Boone’s Farm.”
“I also hacked his email and I can’t find any record of Robert seeking access to the secret archives, but he did have somewhere specific he wanted to go. In addition to the plane ticket, he booked a spot on a very special tour—a tour where there’s really only one thing to see.”
Maddock listened as Jimmy gave him the specifics. He thanked his friend and ended the call, his mind racing.
“What is it?” Bones asked.
“I know where we have to go next, and we’re going to need some help to get there.”
Chapter 28
The chairs in the waiting area outside the office of the Director of the CIA reminded Tam Broderick of the suits worn by its agents: simple, elegant, and uncomfortable. She shifted her weight, trying not to appear restless in front of the others who waited along with her. Always look like you’re in control, she reminded herself. A woman, and a woman of color at that, didn’t climb high in any federal agency if she didn’t give off an air of supreme confidence and borderline disdain at all times.
Her phone rang. She took it out and scowled at it. More specifically, at the name on the display. For a moment, she contemplated letting it go to voicemail, but then she remembered her grandmother’s words.
Only small people take pleasure in small insults. Don’t be petty, Tamara.
Letting out a deep sigh, she accepted the call.
“Dane Maddock. You finally decided to stop bypassing the chain of command and talk to me directly?”
“Come on,” came the voice on the other end, “I’m not allowed to call my sister from time to time?”
“To invite her to a barbecue? Yes. To ask for her help in her official capacity as a member of the Myrmidons and use my resources? Hell no.” She gritted her teeth and mentally kicked herself. Another dollar for the swear jar.
A doughy man sitting nearby glanced up from the legal pad on which he’d been pretending to take notes. Tam gave him a look that said, Mind your business, and he immediately looked away, his pad slipping from his hands and falling to the floor. He snatched it up, but not before she saw the doodles of sailboats and large-breasted stick figures.
Classy, she mouthed.
The man grinned, his face turning a delicate shade of pink.
“I’m sorry about that. I just didn’t want to bother you with it.”
“Sure.” She rolled her eyes. “So what’s this about? Social call?”
“Sorry, no. I need your help.”
“Don’t you make me cuss again,” she warned.
“What?”
“You turned down my offer to be a part of my team, but you still want to use my resources? Is that how you treat all the women in your life?” She turned and walked out into the hallway before she said something unprofessional.
“We’re friends. Friends help each other out.”
“All right, but you know I expect favors to be repaid. Go on, and make it quick. I’m about to go into a meeting with the director of the CIA.”
“Do you know anything about a man named Ibrahim Shawa?”
Tam knew the name, but not a great deal else. “Sure. Spiritual guru? Trying to make peace in war plagued parts of Africa?”
“That’s what he claims, but my friend Jimmy has evidence that he not only has connections to Boko Haram, but that he’s also a bigwig with the Trident. Maybe the leader.”
That was a surprise. Tam chewed on this bit of information. Jimmy was another man who had declined her invitation to join the Myrmidons. Oh well, no need to hold a grudge. “Maddock, you know I can’t get involved investigating the Trident. The Dominion isn’t nearly as dead in America as we hoped. I just dealt with a big old mess on the Mexican border.”
“Dealt?” Maddock said. “Past tense. So that means you’re free to help me.”
Tam had to laugh at that. “Maybe, but it depends on what you need. And have Jimmy send me his Intel. If it’s good stuff, I’ll consider that as your payment for the favor I’m about to do you.”
“Deal,” Maddock sounded relieved. “As for the favor, Bones and I need to sneak inside somewhere very secure, and we need to take one more person with us.”
As Maddock explained where he needed to go and what he hoped to find, a rueful grin spread across Tam’s face. The things that man got himself into.
“Lord Jesus, I swear you are going to be the death of me. You know, I think the only reason you keep Bones around is so you don’t look arrogant by comparison.”
“Fair enough. So, is that a yes or a no?”
Tam closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. The man was impossible.
“It’s a yes,” she finally said, “and I’ve got the perfect person to help you out.”
Chapter 29
Maddock marveled at the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica. All around him were sights so magnificent he felt he could scarcely take them in: intricately carved wood and marble, magnificent paintings and mosaics, exquisite stained-glass, and gleaming precious metals. As he, Bones, and Dima made their way up the stairs, he reflected on the centuries of history contained in this place. One could probably spend a lifetime exploring the Vatican and still not unlock all its mysteries.
“It’s pretty cool,” Bones said, looking around, “but don’t you think they could sell some of this stuff and, I don’t know, feed hungry people?”
“You can’t sell hi
story,” Maddock said.
“I suppose.” Bones made a sudden move and in a flash he held a thin, swarthy man by the wrists. The man struggled and cursed him in a variety of languages. “Don’t waste your time,” Bones said. “Just hand me back the wallet.” The man pleaded ignorance in broken English, but Bones squeezed his wrist until he changed his tune.
“I will give it back. It is in my left pocket.”
Maddock retrieved the wallet, opened it, and frowned. “There’s only a couple of dollars American in here. Where’s everything else?”
The pickpocket gaped at Maddock. “I didn’t… I mean, I don’t…”
Bones let out a harsh laugh. “It’s a decoy wallet, genius. Now, how about I rip your arms out of their sockets so you can’t steal anymore?” He began to twist the man’s arms.
“No, please! I will leave right now,” the man begged, his brown eyes wide with terror. Maddock reckoned the man had never been faced with so frightening a sight as the huge, angry native.
“See that you do.” Bones released him and gave him a hard shove that sent him falling down hard on his backside. He spared one frightened glance at Bones before springing to his feet and hurrying down the stairs.
“Do you think that’ll teach him a lesson?” Dima asked
“Probably not, but it felt good.”
At the top of the dome they paused to take in the magnificent view. The city lay spread out below them, a living monument to one of the greatest civilizations the world had ever known, and the religion it single-handedly spread across much of the world. It was truly a remarkable site.
“It’s something else, isn’t it?” A tall, lean man with brown hair and sharp eyes sidled up to them.
Maddock nodded. “It’s my first visit here, so everything is pretty impressive.”
“If you like the view from up top, you should see what’s down below,” the man said.
That was a signal. Maddock smiled. “I’m Maddock, this is Bones and Dima.”
“Gavin Stone.” Stone didn’t offer to shake hands. Instead, he got right down to business. “Remember, you are tourists taking the Scavi tour, the same tour your friend Robert booked a spot on, and I’m your guide. Follow my lead. We have a tight window so let’s not dawdle.”