Reinforcements?
Someone entered the chamber. A man.
He lunged and slammed the body to the rock wall, bringing the knife up, its leading edge pressed to flesh, ready to cut.
Tre Halliburton stared at him, eyes wide with terror.
He exhaled and relaxed his grip. “I told you to stay outside.”
Tre aimed a finger at the doorway. “He told me to come.”
Bene’s gaze darted to the man who stood there.
Frank Clarke.
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
TOM’S PATIENCE HAD RUN OUT. “EXPLAIN YOURSELF, OLD MAN. And fast.”
“Is what that woman said about you true?”
He nodded. “I was set up. Taken down.”
“Your daughter does not know?”
“It wouldn’t matter to her. My mistakes there were my own. And as you’ve seen, probably irreversible.”
“I had a son like that, too.”
He caught the past tense.
“He died before I had the chance to make amends. I’ve always regretted that.”
Not his concern. What mattered was the woman. Barely a hundred yards away. Who could clear his name. His gaze darted to the monitor.
“You can’t do it,” Berlinger said, seemingly reading his mind.
“The hell I can’t.”
“If you confront them, the quest will end.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because it can’t continue without my assistance. I won’t give that if you leave this room.”
“I don’t give a damn about this quest. My life was destroyed. Everything I worked for was taken from me. I was about to blow my brains out a few days ago because of that. I want my reputation back.”
“It’s not that simple. You are the grandson of Marc Eden Cross. He knew this day would come. He told me many times to be ready. You have to fulfill what he started.”
“For what?”
“For us.”
He knew what he meant.
“I’m not a Jew any longer.”
“If that were the case, then why did you come to Prague? You climbed to the synagogue’s loft, just as your grandfather did. You know, in your heart, that you have to do this. You’re the only one who can.”
“Do what?”
“Find the Temple treasure. Give it back to all of us.”
But in his mind he heard the words the woman on the screen had said.
“I don’t know, but it’s clear that it will not be good.”
“Go to the authorities.”
“And tell them what? There’s a treasure? Lost for two thousand years? Zachariah Simon wants it?” Berlinger shook his head. “No one would listen.”
He pointed to the screens. “You have a video.”
“No, I don’t. Nothing was recorded.”
“Why not?”
“This is not about involving the authorities. This is about you. Only the Levite can complete this journey. I will tell what I know only to the Levite. I promised Marc that would be my duty, and I will not violate that pledge.”
“Then tell me what it is and I’ll go to the authorities.”
“If what that woman said is true, about you being ruined, who would believe you? You have no proof.”
He was right. If the woman and Simon were in a conspiracy, neither was going to admit it. He’d have no source, no information, no corroboration. Nothing. Just like eight years ago.
Simon and the woman were now leaving the cemetery.
