by Tom Haase
“But before we go any further, I want five million for the book. “
“We had an agreement on delivery.”
“I decided to change that,” Jake said. “You will make millions on this book. I only get five. I don't think so.”
She knew her father. He appeared to be thinking now. Using the few seconds to figure what would send Jake away and to tell him he didn't need the book that much. He would calculate how quickly he could get some of his contacts to act and retrieve the book from Jake. Not going to pay him anything would be his plan.
“Listen, Mr. Jake, I don't think I can get millions for the book, maybe not even five. So, I suggest you leave and try to sell the book yourself. There'll be a few takers and you might do well. It's not that important to me. Please leave my house now and don't bother me again.”
“You bastard. You know I have the real Bible of Constantine, and you'll try and take it from me. I read you,” Jake spat at him.
Gerti smiled to herself at the fact the man figured her father's assumed course of action, the newspaperman not a fool. She watched as her father came around the couch and headed toward Jake. At that moment Jake pulled the gun from his coat pocket. Her father stopped. He stood beside the figurine she found shattered. Something had happened to her father and now she saw it on the monitor.
Schultz put up his hands. On the way up he struck the small statue and it tumbled to the floor. She heard the explosion in the earpiece as it shattered. He must have figured the shattered piece would alert her if he disappeared.
“You're going with me. I'll keep you until I get my money. I'm sure your daughter will pay my price to get her father back. If not, you will be of no use to me. Get it?”
Schultz nodded.
“Now, we go down and get into your car, and we go to a place where you will be my guest until I get my money. I think your daughter will be more forthcoming than you if she ever wants to see you again. She's still in Israel, I believe. Probably won't be home for a few days. So, until then you will be my guest. Now move.”
Gerti watched as Jake held the gun to her father's back and pushed him out the door. This sort of thing happened in the movies, not in her secure home. What should I do? I can't call the cops. Jake will have to contact me to get the money. What will I do then?
She took off the headset and took out the disc so it would not play over the recorded images on the next loop cycle. At least that would be enough to get Jake on kidnapping charges if that became necessary. Who could help her? She didn't know how to contact the men her father used for such cases. He hid those details from her, but always promised to tell her soon not ever getting around to it. She swore to get it done as soon as she got her father back.
She had an idea. Her father had contracted the Donavans to retrieve the Bible of Constantine for them. The time for them to deliver had arrived.
54
Teterboro Airport, New York
“What are you talking about?” Bridget shouted at Scott.
Scott still held the phone to his ear and listened. He signaled for them to be quiet so he could hear Gerti. After a few seconds he said into the phone, “Okay, hang on a second.”
The two FBI special agents appeared to have heightened interest in the conversation now. Their body movements signaled the need to find out more information on a kidnapping. Higgins gave the come on signal with his hands.
Scott related what Gerti had told him. Now, the light of excitement shone in both of the agents' faces and they moved closer to hear everything. It took a few minutes to recount all that Gerti told Scott.
“Where is she now?” asked Liz.
“At her apartment,” Scott replied. He gave the address to the agents.
“Tell her to wait there,” Matt said. “We’ll be there as soon as we can. We're leaving now.” He got up and Liz followed his example. “Tell her to touch nothing.”
What are we doing?” Liz asked.
“We're going after a kidnapper. We are in hot pursuit and I don't think we have time to get permission. Let's just do this,” Matt said.
“You are putting our asses on the line. You know that?” Liz asked.
Matt nodded and went out the door to the parking lot.
Bridget watched them hurry toward their car. She pulled on Scott's arm to get him moving, but her brother resisted. “Wait. I want to get all I can on what she's been up to.”
Jonathan went to get Captain Grossman. Bridget followed him out to the plane. The Captain descended the jet's stairs on their approach.
“We need transportation. A situation has arisen that demands we go after a certain Mr. Jake, since it appears he kidnapped Mr. Schultz to get more money for the Bible of Constantine than he had originally negotiated. We need to get to him before the authorities do.”
Grossman nodded. “You have the authorization to get anything you want.” He pulled out a sat phone and walked away.
“What’s he doing?” Bridget asked.
“I suspect he’s ordering a vehicle for us with a driver who knows the area,” Jonathan said. “Then he will have some specialists hack into the security camera of the building in which Schultz lives. After that I think he’ll have someone watch Jake's residence in case he goes there. That's for starters.”
“It appears from what we know that Jake thinks he has a day or two at least to get himself set up for the daughter's return,” Bridget said and completed this as Scott joined them.
“I believe he has a plan and it is probably not to return to his place. That's too obvious if anyone would discover he took Schultz. He must have somewhere else in mind for keeping Schultz until he contacts the daughter, “ Jonathan said.
“Wait a minute. You’re acting like Jake is a master criminal,” Bridget said. “He's a goddamn newspaper reporter trying to strike it rich and retire. He has no criminal mentality. No detailed plan. I bet he’s making this up as he goes along. Let's not give him too much credit.”
“She has a good point,” Jonathan said.
“What do you suggest?”
They all looked at Bridget. Before she could answer, Grossman returned to the group.
“Okay, we have some information,” Grossman said. “It appears that the Jaguar belonging to Schultz left the apartment building about a half hour before the daughter called. I have the number plate. What do you want to do?”
“Do we have transportation?” Jonathan asked.
“It will be here in ten minutes. May I suggest you get your belongings off the plane and we go out front of this place to meet it,” the captain said.
On board, Jonathan received a Glock handgun from Grossman and Bridget noticed the captain possessed one tucked in his pants on the small of his back. She decided not to say anything. She remembered that Jake carried a gun, and she knew better than to bring a knife to a gunfight.
Scott's cell rang.
“It's Gerti.” He answered it. It took a minute of listening before he looked at the group. “She wants us to pick her up. She said her father hired us, paid us good money to get the Bible, and we haven't secured it. She says we work for her, and it's her desire to be with us since she knows we're going to go after the book.”
“Tell her to go to hell. She got us in this spot by collaborating with Jake in the first place.” Bridget roared loud enough to ensure Gerti heard it, even though Scott tried to cover the mouthpiece.
“No,” Jonathan said. “It's her father and she'll want to be there. We might be able to use her knowledge of her father's likely actions to help us locate him. Besides, I believe she has a crush on our friend here.” He patted Scott on the back.
“She'll be a pain in the butt,” Bridget concluded but gave in.
55
I-95 Southbound
Jake drove along the New Jersey turnpike toward Washington, D.C. He realized that going to his place involved extreme danger if they somehow found out what he had done before he could carry out his entire plan. He would get the money for the book
and then let Schultz go. What could Schultz do? Go tell the world he’d been kidnapped for welching on a deal to buy a stolen treasure of incalculable value? Hardly.
He heard the thump of Schultz's body in the trunk as he hit a large bump in the road. A guttural noise followed from the man as he bounced around. Jake had never planned well in taking Schultz hostage. He thought the gun would make Schultz give him the money. Taking him hostage happened as a spur of the moment bad decision. He used the gun to force the man to accompany him out of the penthouse and down to his Jaguar parked in the underground parking lot. Schultz handed over the keys on demand and in return got pushed into the trunk. Jake slammed the lid closed.
Jake felt like he’d joined the gang that couldn't shoot straight. He owned neither tape nor rope to secure Schultz. He would have to stop somewhere, at a Home Depot for example, and get some rope and duct tape for use when they arrived in Washington, a four-hour drive, but, at least, they would arrive shortly after dark.
As he drove, he plotted his next moves. He thumped on the steering wheel and thought. He kept glancing in the rear view mirror, not knowing why, but his nerves were starting to get the better of him. He had to settle down. He breathed deep breaths for a few minutes and felt better. He needed to be at his house at eight. He needed to be there the next three nights at exactly eight. Just for fifteen minutes for that is the time he arranged to meet her. His thinking progressed to what he would do with his hostage. He would stop at a motel on US 1 south of the beltway around the capitol and use it as a base to house Schultz. He knew exactly the one he wanted down near Lorton. Its motel doors opened to the parking area. He would get a room that would allow him to leave the car parked outside.
Not a great idea for a Jaguar as the neighborhood would not be one in which a person with a Jag would stay in a cheap motel. So he would get Schultz situated in the room. Force him to drink some sleeping pills and take the car to his place and park in on the street a mile away. There were some fancy cars on the street in that area and one more wouldn't cause a problem. He would use a taxi to go back and forth.
Now he started to feel better. The plan appeared coming together and he would get his money. The next step would be easier. He knew the daughter. He believed she would get the money to save her father. Now he planned how he would have her transfer the money. A wire transfer would be the best method he guessed. Schultz could watch the funds transfer on a computer, and he would talk to the daughter while it happened to ensure all went well. With the Bible in the room, once the money hit the account, Schultz would receive the book and he would leave him. This type of logic pleased him, but it also reminded him he needed to get airplane tickets beforehand. The plan would be to escape out of the U.S. before Schultz could retaliate. Jake would be gone, and Shultz would be mad, but there would be nothing he could do. On that kind of money Jake planned to be on the next plane to the Caribbean. The money would provide the interest he would live on. That, combined with his retirement would be a nice nest egg.
A shopping mall appeared at the next exit, and he pulled off to get the items he needed. He looked in every direction before parking the car. He understood that he committed a federal crime and people would soon be after him.
56
New York
The two FBI agents left in a hurry. Bridget grabbed Scott’s hand and led him aside on the tarmac while they waited for the car to arrive.
“Why the hell did she call you? You have something going with that little bitch?”
“Not really. I don’t know why. She said we were paid to get the Bible of Constantine and she expects us to honor the contract.”
“I don’t like this,” Bridget said. “We're in over our heads. The FBI should handle this. Kidnapping can get really dangerous. People get killed.”
“Like no one has tried to kill us for at least thirty hours. Right? Like what’s the difference? We need to get that Bible, or have you forgotten what’s at stake? Not just the money, but getting our academic positions back.”
“I know, but I just want to be alive to see it happen,” Bridget said.
She heard a shuffle noise behind her. A hand came to rest on her shoulder. She knew, Jonathan.
“Come on guys, we’ve got to go now. The car is here. If you want to pick up Ms. Schultz, I suggest you call her and get her to a place we can rendezvous in an hour. If the FBI gets to her first there will be no way for her to get away.”
Captain Grossman led the way to the Ford Expedition. The driver got out and opened the doors without introducing himself or saying a word.
“Head into Manhattan,” Jonathan ordered.
Scott took out his cell and returned the call to Gerti.
“Hi,” he said when she answered. “We want you to get out of the apartment and tell us where to pick you up in an hour.”
“Why?” she questioned.
“If you stay there, the FBI will keep you for hours, and we need you to help us in locating your father. We’re attempting to fulfill our agreement and we need you to help. It’s in your best interest—and your father's. Besides, I’d like to see you again. How’s your shoulder?”
Bridget rammed her elbow into his side. “You dog,” she said with a smile. “You’ve got the hots for her.”
Scott pushed her away and looked out the window.
“It's stiff and hurts some but I'll be okay,” Gerti said and gave him the location for them to pick her up.” It’ll be good to see you, too.”
Scott closed the cell. He gave the information to the driver on where she would meet them.
“Now we have some time to think of what to do next,” Grossman said. “What do you want me to do, Monsignor?”
“We’re all in on this or we don’t go. It could turn nasty, especially with this kidnapping thrown in. We know Jake has a gun, and he also has the Bible. It is logical that since Schultz didn’t agree to his demand that he will assume the daughter will. So, I see two scenarios. The daughter agrees to the demand to get her father back and we take Jake at that point. That will give us a definite time and place. The other is we try to locate his hiding place. That could be difficult but maybe not impossible.”
“I think that would be impossible,” Scott chimed in.
“Wait,” Bridget said. “We know that Jake is not a criminal. He’s an amateur. He’ll make mistakes. We have a former MI-5 spy and a Captain of the Swiss Guards with us. We have the advantage. Plus, we’ll have the daughter with us. I think Jake is at a disadvantage. He’ll do something stupid like go to his house thinking he has a day or more before Gerti finds that her father is missing. Or maybe a day he’ll use to set up his arrangements before he calls her.”
“Good thinking,” Jonathan said. “The point about him going to his home has merit. I’ve heard of many cases where the perpetrator went to his house thinking the cops couldn’t be there yet.”
“So, do we head to his house in Washington? I can get the address,” Grossman said.
“Good Idea,” Jonathan said.
“Do you really think he has the Bible with him?” Grossman asked.
“If he does, then he won’t have to go to his house,” Bridget said. “If not, then there might be a reason to go there. That’s what I think.”
The car travelled a circuitous route to the pick up point. The sights of the downtown metropolitan city passed by on the way to Park Avenue and the front of the store where Gerti said she would meet them. Bridget and Scott remained silent while Jonathan and Grossman discussed the logistics needed for the operation in Washington.
Jonathan insisted that the local Catholic hierarchy be kept out of the picture. He didn’t want more people than absolutely necessary to even know about the Bible. Asking for help in New York from the Cardinal there would give rise to many questions.
The Expedition approached the middle of the street near the store’s entrance and Scott yelled, “There she is.”
Gerti looked pale even from a distance. Her arm rested in a sling f
rom the knife wound suffered in Jerusalem. She wore jeans and a white shirt with a gold necklace.
She waved as the car approached and stepped to the curb.
Scott opened the door and yelled, “Get in here.”
She moved to the rear door. Scott opened it. He looked at her in time to see a hand grab her from behind. She screamed.
Special Agent Matt Higgins glared at Scott.
57
New York
“Where do you think you're going young lady?” Higgins asked.
“To find my father,” Gerti answered defiantly as she turned and faced the agent.
The noise of the traffic passing by almost drowned out her words. Matt Higgins pulled her closer to him so that she would hear. His partner shut the car door in Scott's face.
“You reported a kidnapping of your father. That falls under the jurisdiction of the FBI. You are a material witness, and we need you to help us find your father. Your friends are not involved in this. They can depart.”
Gerti signaled Scott to go, seeing nothing more they could do with the FBI present.
She waved him away and put her hand to her ear as if on the phone. She would call him.
“Let's go to our car and discuss the options,” Higgins said. “You already know them, I believe, but I want to make clear our course of action. We need to see the tape of the kidnapping, and then we'll put out an APB on Jake.”
Gerti told them everything she knew and gave them the disc. After visiting the FBI office in New York, the three of them headed for Washington, D.C. in an FBI Crown Vic.
“Okay,” Gerti said, “we have established that Jake is most likely to go to the Washington area. Do you think he'll go to his house?”
“There is a good possibility he will, since what you told us is that he probably thinks he has a day or two before you get home. Did you divert your home phones to your cell before you left?” Liz asked.