Both men registered surprise.
“You mean lop off the key?” Griffin sounded appalled.
“Exactly. I mean duplicate the artifact down to the last detail but make it stand upright so it looks like a statue.”
“Why?” Rabten still seemed puzzled.
“Guys, think about it. This isn’t just another artifact. It’s the artifact that will take us to the Sage Stone. The Nephilim have been hot on our heels since Day One which means we’ve never gotten a comfortable lead in this race. Do you really want to take the chance that they beat us to the finish line?”
“But surely tampering with the artifact will arouse their suspicions,” the scrivener objected.
“How?” the pythia challenged. “None of the other relics had keys attached. The Nephilim won’t think something is missing when they get this one.”
“She has a point,” Rabten admitted.
“At the very least, this will buy us a little time. I don’t even like to think about the possibility that they get to the right spot before we do but Murphy’s Law—”
“Yes, yes, I’m well acquainted with your views on Mr. Murphy, his laws, and their various codicils.” Griffin rolled his eyes. “You’ve certainly been living up to your namesake quite a lot lately.”
“Huh?” The field agent looked from one to the other.
“The Cassandra of Greek mythology after whom Cassie is named,” the scrivener explained. “Apollo, captivated by her beauty, gave her the gift of prophecy. When she rejected his advances, he cursed her so that no one would believe her dire predictions.”
“Yeah, but the takeaway is that even with zero cred she was usually right,” Cassie countered. “All I’m saying is that we’re better off preparing for a worst-case scenario. If the Nephilim don’t have the key, it will take them time to figure out how the lock works and how to pick it. Maybe long enough for us to swoop in and grab the Sage Stone.” She glanced questioningly at Griffin.
The scrivener still appeared unconvinced. “Very well, but I do hope you’re right.”
Cassie handed the artifact to Rabten. “Have it made just like I said.”
The agent opened his duffel bag and deposited the relic inside. “I’ll get on this right away.”
“And hurry!” both Cassie and Griffin shouted as he slipped from the room.
Chapter 34—Photo Opportunity
Joshua looked up from the surveillance monitor on his desk in time to see his father entering the spymaster’s office. He immediately switched off the screen and rose to greet the diviner. “Is there something I can help you with, sir?”
“Yes, indeed.” Abraham smiled at him warmly, an unknown experience in Joshua’s memory.
The younger man pulled out a chair and placed it beside the desk. “Please, have a seat.”
Metcalf settled himself and gazed at his son. The smile disappeared as quickly as it had come. “I have a matter of deep concern to discuss with you.”
“Sir?” Joshua felt a mild sense of alarm. “Do you not find the performance of the Order of Argus satisfactory?”
Barely registering the question, the diviner shook his head. “My visit has nothing to do with that.” He stared vaguely off into space. “I’ve grown concerned of late with the outsiders that have been employed to help the Nephilim.”
“Considering Mr. Bowdeen’s appalling behavior, you certainly have reason to be,” the spymaster agreed. “How can I be of service?”
The diviner rubbed his jaw, gathering his thoughts. “I’d like you to investigate the activities of Mr. Leroy Hunt.”
“Who?” Joshua asked blankly.
Abraham raised his eyebrows in surprise, finally focusing all his attention on his son. “You aren’t acquainted with Mr. Hunt?”
Joshua belatedly realized who his father meant. “Oh. Is that the Fallen man who is helping Daniel with the tasks you assigned him?”
“Yes, that’s right. However, Mr. Hunt also has other duties. When he isn’t safeguarding Daniel, he is charged with finding my missing wife, Hannah.”
“But Father,” Joshua protested. “You should have trusted me with a matter like that.”
The diviner sighed heavily. “Ordinarily that would be true, but Hannah has taken refuge among the Fallen. I assumed that one of their kind could find her more easily than a Nephilim might.”
“I see.” The spymaster paused. “But now you have reason to doubt this Mr. Hunt’s abilities?”
“I have reason to doubt his truthfulness,” the old man replied acerbically. “After months of following one lead after another, he’s produced no tangible results at all. It makes me wonder if he’s taking my money under false pretenses. Aside from that, he’s been difficult to reach of late. I don’t know what else he could possibly be doing with his time. He assured me he has no other clients but the Nephilim at the moment.”
“Do you want me to question him?” Joshua asked in surprise. He’d never interrogated one of the Fallen before.
“I want you to search his apartment,” Metcalf said flatly. “To find out if he’s withholding information from me. Let me know what he’s been up to. He’s out of the country with Daniel at the moment. This is the perfect chance to put my mind at ease about his integrity. You are to take charge of this matter personally.”
Joshua nodded. Handling this particular task suited his purposes as well as his father’s. He wished to become indispensable to the diviner. Bowdeen’s death had been a good start. This new assignment would further solidify his position.
The diviner slid a piece of paper across the desk toward his son. “This is Mr. Hunt’s address in the city. He lives in an apartment building. I’m sure you can find a way to let yourself in.”
Joshua gave a slight smile. “Of course, sir. I’ll look into this immediately.”
***
The spymaster wasted no time in carrying out his father’s orders. First, he ran a quick background check on Leroy Hunt. Then he changed his Nephilim garb for blue jeans, a sweater, and a light spring jacket so that he might blend in easily with the Fallen. An hour later, he pulled his car
