by Tom Haase
Gerti nodded.
“We can assume from the conversation with your father on the video that Jake did not appear to have this Bible with him. So he is going to demand you pay him the five million to get your father back and the book. That's what I see. What about you?” Higgins asked.
The car traveled along the New Jersey Turnpike at the speed limit. Before answering the agent’s question, Gerti told them she wanted some food and needed a rest stop break. They pulled into a convenience stop on the turnpike. After a restroom stop and getting some burgers and drinks, they all returned to the car. Liz made a few calls to keep the FBI headquarters informed on their estimated time of arrival in Washington.
“Agent Higgins, I see the options the same way. Jake will call me, maybe later tonight as a flight gets in from Tel Aviv this evening, but more likely tomorrow afternoon for the next arrival time. Those are the most likely times he will try to contact me for the ransom money.”
“I don't think he'll take your father to his house,” Liz said. “That could cause complications with the Bible and your father at the same location. He would most likely put your father somewhere before he goes to his house. If he even goes to his house with too many prying eyes on a city street. That's my guess.”
Higgins nodded agreement.
“Do you really think he'll go to his house because he'll assume no one knows about the kidnapping?” Gerti asked.
Her phone pinged. “We have his address,” she said.
“We should be there about eight tonight,” Higgins said.
“If he's there, will you kill the bastard?” Gerti asked.
* * *
Jake completed his preparations in the motel. Schultz required a little persuasion to take the sleeping pills that Jake had from an old prescription. Now with Schultz fastened to the bed, the Jaguar next on Jake’s list. He drove it to the street about a mile from his house and parked it. Probably an unnecessary precaution, but in a day or two Schultz could use his car to go back to New York with the Bible. In case anyone decided to look for Schultz, he didn't want any evidence of his presence in front of the house.
He walked to his house and there congratulated himself on the ingenious plan he had devised for getting the Bible. No matter what Schultz tried to do in New York when he’d landed, especially with that chauffeur meeting him at the airport, Cornelius made sure the book wasn’t in his possession. Even if the driver Schultz sent to the airport had captured him, there would have been no Bible to be taken without receiving his money. That young student on the airplane agreed to deliver it to him within the next three days at eight in the evening at his house. The price of five hundred dollars paled in comparison to the money he would get for the item.
58
I-495
Washington, D.C.
Bridget watched as the world famous skyline of the District of Columbia came into view as they crossed the George Washington Bridge from Maryland into Virginia. The Washington monument appeared almost silver in the rays of the setting sun.
“Should we go to Jake's house? He won't be expecting anyone to be on his tail this fast,” Bridget asked Jonathan.
“I'm almost certain he won't expect anyone to be after him this quick, not when Gerti wasn’t expected home until tomorrow. Her getting here a day early is something that Jake couldn't know. He probably assumes he’s free to do anything until Gerti discovers her father is missing or until he contacts her for whatever demand he intends to make.”
“So do I head for his house?” Grossman asked as he steered the car off the interstate onto Telegraph Road in Alexandria. They had left the original driver in New York as he didn’t know Washington. “I have the address in the GPS.”
“It's almost eight. Let's head there,” Scott said.
At fifteen minutes after eight they drove onto the street where Jake lived.
“Let's stop here,” Jonathan ordered Grossman. “We'll go on foot for the half a block to his house. Pedestrians might not be seen as a threat if he does notice people walking in the street. It’s also hard to distinguish faces in this fading light.”
They exited the vehicle and started to approach the house about one hundred yards away. Grossman shut off the engine. Everyone was quiet.
“Hey, a light's on,” Bridget said.
“It might just be a security light that cycles every day,” Grossman said.
“No, I see movement inside,” Scott said.
“Do you think that old man is dangerous?” Scott asked.
“My opinion is that anyone who uses a gun to kidnap someone is extremely dangerous,” Jonathan said. “He’s capable of using the gun if he feels threatened and even more so if he thinks he'll not get his money.”
“May I suggest that I go around to the rear and cover that exit in case he tries to get out that way?” Grossman asked.
“Good idea. The rest of us can cover the front,” Jonathan said. “We'll wait a few minutes before going in to let you get in position.”
The single-family house presented a typical old red brick dwelling, similar to many in the older sections of the city. There were a few small trees in the front yard, and behind the house an alley passed beyond a four-foot high metal fence. A covered front porch with columns flanked the top of the stairs.
The three observed the entrance but didn't notice the taxi coming down the street until it stopped in front of Jake's place. He ran out and jumped into the cab and it moved off.
“He doesn't have the Bible. Nothing in his hand. He could have left it in the house,” Jonathan said. Then he added, “Maybe he stashed it before we arrived.”
“Could be, but I think we need to follow Jake,” Bridget said.
“I want to check out the house. You take the car and see if you can follow him. We'll wait here for you,” Jonathan said. He gave her the keys to the car. “Both of you hurry back.”
“Bullshit, Jonathan. Scott you stay here and watch these guys,” Bridget said. “They might find the Bible and I want you here with your iPhone videoing everything. The Vatican will not dupe us this time.” She ran to the car.
The street contained no traffic. When she started the car, she could barely make out the taillights of the taxi turning the corner two blocks away.
* * *
Jake sat back and relaxed in the taxi. A difficult thing to do when he just kidnapped someone and the person he waited fifteen minutes for had not shown up. She knew the timeframe window in which to appear. They agreed upon it on the airplane. The young lady took his five hundred dollars and promised to deliver the book that he gave her tonight, tomorrow night, or the next between eight and eight fifteen.
The night spent in the hotel in Cairo gave him the opportunity to wrap the book up by covering it with slick paper over tissue paper and then enclose it in a briefcase, all of which he purchased at a local market. In addition, he had locked the briefcase to keep it from being opened. Even x-ray machines at the airport would have no problem with a book, he believed.
When he arrived at the motel, he paid the taxi driver and went inside. He ripped the tape off of Schultz's mouth.
“I think it's time that we give your daughter a call,” Jake said.
“You know I'm going to get you for this,” Shultz said.
“But first I want the five million you promised me for the Bible.”
“You never delivered it. If the FBI finds out about this, it is a federal crime to kidnap someone and take him across state borders. They will hunt you down,” Schultz threatened.
“I'm slowly changing my mind. I think I'll get the money from your daughter and then you’re going to disappear if you don’t cooperate. I should remind you that it's hard to call the FBI from a grave.”
Jake took out his cell phone and dialed Schultz's apartment in New York. After a few rings he heard a woman's voice.
“Hello, this is Gerti Schultz.”
“Miss Schultz, listen carefully. I have your father, and he promised me five million to deli
ver the Bible. If you'll hand over the five million to me in an account transfer online that I can watch on my computer as it goes into my account, I'll then give him the Bible and our transaction will be completed,” Jake said without taking a breath. He planned on having that money transferred to an offshore account.
“How do I know you have my father? I trusted you in Jerusalem and you betrayed me. Let me speak to him.”
Jake put the phone up to Schultz's ear.
“Gerti, don't give the bastard a thing. He's gonna kill me anyway.”
Jake took the phone away. He sat on the bed and retaped Schultz's mouth.
“If you don’t do this by tomorrow evening at nine you can say goodbye to your father. You will never see him again. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes,” Gerti said. “I believe you're that desperate and I'll get the money. I need one day to do that. I will want to talk to my father again before I make the transfer. Call me in twenty-four hours. Is that agreeable?”
“Yes.”
Jake closed the phone.
“Mr. Schultz you have exactly one day to live. Once I have that money, I have decided that you are a dead man.”
Without warning, the door of the motel room burst open.
59
Washington, D.C.
The streetlight came on in front of Jake's house.
“I'm going to take a look inside. Can you stay here and keep watch just in case he returns?” Jonathan asked.
“Yes, only because I know you can't get away without a car and I'll see anything you have in your hands,” Scott said.
Jonathan went up to the front door and in a few moments it opened. He went straight through the house and opened the back door allowing Grossman to come in.
“Get out here,” Scott shouted.
They hurried outside to join Scott.
“Freeze. You're under arrest,” Higgins shouted.
* * *
Bridget burst into the motel room with a pistol in her hand. She could see the startled look on Jake's face, but he started to move toward Schultz.
“Don't move, Jake. I have a gun pointed right at you, and I'm not afraid to use it.”
Jake continued toward the bed where Schultz remained all tied up. And with what seemed to Bridget as supernatural speed, he withdrew a pistol and pointed directly at Schultz's head.
Damn, she thought.
“If you make a move, I will blow his brains out. I mean it,” Jake said.
“Where's the Bible?”
“How the hell did you find me?” Jake asked. “You are ruining my great plan. I guess I'll have to take care of you, too.”
The traffic noise from Highway One reached the room through the open door with what must have been two semis blasting their horns. At that moment, Schultz violently ducked his head trying to get away from Jake. Jake took his eyes off of Bridget to see what Schultz did. This presented her an opportunity. The on and off blinking of the hotel sign could cause a disorienting effect, but Bridget focused on the man holding the gun to Schultz's head. His mistake, in losing eye contact with her, made Bridget believe this might be her chance to save Schultz.
Bridget fired twice.
60
Motel in Lorton, Virginia
The smell of the expended rounds hit Bridget's nose. She could see the bullet ridden lifeless body of Jake falling to the floor. Both bullets entered his head, and spray coming out the other side covered Schultz's hair, face, and upper body. Schultz glared at Bridget. He moaned with the tape over his mouth.
Before Bridget moved, she called Scott.
“I just shot Jake. He held a gun to Schultz’s head. I had no choice,” she said as a soon as he answered.
She could hear him yell that she had found Jake. The next voice she heard came from Special Agent Matt Higgins.
“Where are you? What happened?”
Bridget gave him a brief description of the events in the motel.
“Don't move. Don't approach either of the men. Does Schultz appear to be all right?”
“Yes,” she said.
“I really mean don't move. I don't want anything done until we get there and have our crime scene people there afterwards. Got that, Sergeant?”
Bridget realized he switched into his army role as her commander for some reason. The urgency in his voice manifested in the rapidity in which he spoke. She remembered from the time in the desert just before they got to the nuclear weapon and saved the western world from a future with only radioactive Middle East oil. He now spoke with that same intensity and total concentration of effort.
“You think I'm lying?” Bridget asked.
“No, I think I'm protecting you against our legal system for your own good. Don't move other than to shut the door if you can do it from your present position. Do not move, do not take a step. We're on the way,” Higgins said, and the line disconnected.
“Mr. Schultz, I'm Bridget Donavan. I know you know my brother, but we've not had the pleasure before. The FBI told me not to move. I'm to do nothing until they get here. You will be okay now. Your daughter is safe. Shake your head if you are all right?”
He did.
“We didn't retrieve the Bible of Constantine yet. Your money got us this far, and we have not given up. I know Jake possessed it, and we'll find it and give it to you like we promised.”
She back-kicked the door over to an almost shut position and waited.
* * *
Higgins approached the three men standing in front of Jake's house. He didn't have a gun out as he saw they were not displaying any. Liz approached with him and Gerti followed.
“Gerti,” Scott yelled. He moved toward her, wanted to but didn't hug her.
“What are you doing here?” Higgins asked. “Make it good.”
“We came down for a visit to Washington to see the monuments,” Jonathan said.
“Wise ass,” Liz commented.
Gerti went up to Scott and hugged him. “Did you get the Bible?”
“No,” he said. “When we arrived we caught a glimpse of Jake leaving here and we didn't see it on him.”
“How do you know that?” Higgins asked. “And why were you in the house?”
“The door was open, and we went in to see if everything was okay since we thought we heard a cry for help,” Grossman said.
“You've got to be kidding me,” Higgins said. “You're using that to cover a breaking and entry charge.”
Matt headed for the front door of Jake's house.
Scott's phone rang. He listened and then called to Higgins. Matt took the phone and spoke with Bridget.
“It's not our case and not in our jurisdiction,” Jonathan said to Liz while Higgins talked to Bridget. “I think our mission in the States is over. We'll be returning to Rome.” Matt disconnected the phone and gave Jonathan and Grossman a get out of here sign with his hand.
“Pleasure meeting you, Special Agent Higgins. And you too, ma'am,” Jonathan said.
Higgins left Jonathan standing in front of Jake's house. He appeared to be on the phone calling for a taxi. Good riddance, Matt thought.
In less than a minute Scott, Gerti, and the FBI agents were in the Crown Vic heading for the address that Bridget had given. Liz drove and Higgins called the FBI headquarters and requested the necessary teams to cover a kidnapping and a shooting.
“We need to get Bridget out of that room before anyone sees her,” Higgins said.
* * *
“Why are we leaving?” Grossman asked.
“We're not. At least not yet.” Jonathan pointed to the house and signaled Grossman to follow. “I called to get us transportation.”
Grossman followed him to the house. “Good idea. Let's take a look into this place and see if he was stupid enough to hide the Bible here.”
They searched the small residence consisting of two bedrooms, one bath, and a living room with a small dining enclave. The house had neither a basement nor an attic. After twenty minutes they completed a th
orough search of the premises.
“That Bible is not here,” Grossman said.
“I agree. Jake did have it in his possession. He proved it to Schultz. I was close enough to Higgins to hear what Bridget said on the phone call. He might be dead now, but he hid it somewhere or gave it to someone. “
“So what's our move?” Grossman asked.
“I have one mission. Get that Bible. I don't believe the Donavans are going to be dissuaded by Jake’s death. No, they'll plan something to get it. I know them. They'll never give up. They are like a dog with a bone. They know they have their teeth into it and are going to get the whole thing or die trying.”
“There might be more deaths on this mission,” Grossman said.
“Maybe, but right now we need to know what the Donavans are doing. Did you put a tracking device on Scott before he left?” Jonathan asked.
“In a side pocket on his coat.”
61
Washington, D.C.
“What the hell is going on?” Liz queried.
“Think about it,” Higgins said. “She's just done our job for us. She tracked down the kidnapper, saved the hostage, and in the process had to shoot the suspect when he attempted to kill the victim. She has no license for a gun in this state. There could be all kinds of problems for her. We don't need that.”
Their car sped toward the motel.
“What are you suggesting?” Liz asked.
He told her and at the same time he glanced in the rearview mirror to see Gerti moved over close to Scott. They embraced and kissed. Five minutes later, they arrived at the motel.