“You shot them.” Metcalf cut in matter-of-factly.
“I would of done, but I got a little help out of the blue.” Hunt chuckled at the recollection and slapped his knee. “I tell you what. I couldn’t of planned it better if I tried.”
Abraham gazed at him in perplexity.
Daniel hastened to explain. “There was an earthquake. Boulders fell across the entrance of the tomb, and the people…” he paused, unable to continue.
“Sealed inside nice and neat,” Leroy completed the thought.
“You’re sure they’re dead?” The question sounded businesslike.
Daniel couldn’t comprehend his father’s attitude. Three people had died in a horrible accident, probably a lingering death from suffocation, yet the diviner showed no more concern than if Leroy had reported stepping on an ant hill.
“Yup, I’m sure. Like I told you, Mr. Metcalf, I take proper pride in my work. I always finish what I start. Me and your boy climbed back up the next day to check out that tomb and make sure they was shut up tight.”
Trying to ignore the sense of despair creeping over him, Daniel added, “The entrance to the tomb was completely blocked after the earthquake. No one could have gotten out of there alive.”
“Very good.” Metcalf nodded approvingly.
Daniel’s head was spinning. He couldn’t believe the words that had just issued from his father’s lips. Tentatively he said, “Father, I know they were Fallen but still—”
“They were a threat,” Metcalf said flatly. “I believe Mr. Hunt acted appropriately. Just as Holy Scripture says in Joshua 10: ‘He left no survivor, destroying everything that drew breath, as the Lord the God of Israel had commanded.’”
Daniel could barely suppress his sense of disgust that his father would actually quote scripture to justify Hunt’s atrocity.
Abraham continued. “Because of Mr. Hunt’s quick thinking, our mission is no longer in jeopardy.” The old man paused as another thought struck him. “Do you think they had any other associates?”
Leroy shrugged. “If they did, the trail’s gone cold. The only folks who knew where to look for them relics can’t tell a soul what they found out. Anybody else who was workin’ with ‘em is plumb out of luck. And if somebody new ever does show up…” Leroy mimed firing a gun, “I’ll pick ‘em off as we go along.”
“In that case, I believe there is no immediate danger to compromise this undertaking. Well done, Mr. Hunt. Very well done.”
“I aim to please, boss.” Leroy gave a mock salute.
Metcalf transferred his attention to his son. “We’ll need to plan the next step of your journey.”
Daniel’s heart sank. He had been naïve enough to assume his father would let him scuttle away from this quest. Almost mechanically, he replied, “I need to spend a few weeks gathering more information. I believe the first relic is on Crete, but there is more I need to understand about this reference to the Mountain Mother.”
“Of course. The entire resources of the brotherhood will be at your disposal. You are to meet with me every day to keep me apprised of your progress.”
The old man walked toward the door, signaling that the interview was at an end. “Mr. Hunt, I trust you will be available for the next phase of this mission?”
Leroy stood up and put on his Stetson. “Fact is, I had some fun on this job when I didn’t reckon I would. You give me a jingle when your boy’s ready to saddle up and hit the dusty trail. I’ll be there.” He tipped his hat to both of them and left.
Metcalf patted Daniel on the shoulder as he escorted him out of the room. “My son, I’m sure God is well-pleased with both of us this day.”
Daniel turned away without comment. He seriously doubted that his father had the vaguest notion of the deity’s true intentions. His conscience was telling him that God’s reaction to what had transpired on Crete was the opposite of pleasure.
Chapter 42 – Double Trouble
Two days after their near brush with death, the Arkana team was standing on the front porch of Faye’s farmhouse waiting for her to answer the door. Cassie felt a strange sense of discontinuity as she gazed at the apple tree and the blue gingerbread railings. It was the sensation a person might have if they visited their childhood home after being gone for decades. Everything looked smaller. Although Cassie had paid her last visit to Faye’s house a little over a week before, it felt like a lifetime ago. Nothing in her world would ever be the same again.
Erik was about to knock one more time when the old woman opened the door, her eyes twinkling with delight. “My dears, welcome back.” She held out her arms and gathered them all into a hug. “I’m sure you must be hungry. I’ve set up some refreshments out in the garden. Come in.”
The trio followed her out to the yard.
“Nobody gets out of this place without eating,” Erik whispered.
Cassie noticed that every flower in the garden seemed to be blooming at once. The wisteria that covered the pergola had leafed up to form a green canopy over their heads.
They spent several minutes arranging their chairs, pouring lemonade and iced tea and helping themselves to freshly baked peach pie.
“I bet M never baked James Bond a pie when he got back from a mission,” Cassie noted to Erik.
He grinned at her without malice. “One of the perks of working for the Arkana. But it means I have to hit the gym pretty hard after a visit to Faye’s.”
The old woman seated herself and folded her hands in her lap. “Tell me everything.”
“We actually
