“Abiram was a man of few words. That was actually a long conversation for him. I think the note makes clear that I had no idea he was some kind of Levite. Now that task is supposedly mine.”
“As I told you in Florida, you are not worthy even to say that word.”
“Are we done?”
Simon nodded. “Our business is concluded. Perhaps you can now finish what you started at your father’s house.”
He resisted the urge to slug the SOB. “Or maybe I’ll shoot you.”
Simon frowned. “There is one other matter you might care about. Something I doubt your daughter will tell you. She was not kidnapped. At least not by me. She willingly participated in the charade you witnessed.”
He told himself to stay calm.
“Tell him,” Simon said to Alle. “The truth is always best.”
Alle said nothing, but she was clearly surprised by Simon’s admission.
“I mention this because she actually was kidnapped yesterday by others, released today thanks to me.”
“I was told
“I assure you, the danger was from them, not me.” Simon faced Tom. “Her kidnappers work for a business associate of mine who decided to change our relationship. I intervened and made a deal for her release. I mention this because the man who took her prisoner just entered the church.”
———
ALLE WHIRLED AND SAW BRIAN, STANDING AT THE OPPOSITE END of the nave. He’d said he was going to wait outside.
Another lie.
“He is no friend of mine,” Zachariah said, “or yours. I wish you well.”
“I’m going with you,” she said.
“Your father would never allow it. Talk to him. Work through whatever needs to be said between the two of you.”
An unnatural fear filled her. One she’d never felt before. “Why did you sell me out?”
“The truth is never a bad thing, is it, Mr. Sagan?”
“I guess you’ll find out.”
———
ZACHARIAH LEFT AND WALKED ACROSS THE CHECKERBOARD tiles to where Brian Jamison waited. Casually, he slipped the paper Sagan had given him into his trouser pocket. He stopped a few feet away.
“Get what you wanted?” Jamison asked.
“That’s between me and your boss.”
“So you’re just going to walk right out of here? Let them go? Let me have them?”
He turned back toward where Alle and Tom Sagan stood.
“Not exactly.”
———
TOM WATCHED THE SCENE A HUNDRED FEET AWAY, THEN ASKED Alle, “Is what he said true?”
She did not answer him, but he saw uncertainty and fear in her face, both of which caused him alarm.
“That man there,” she said. “His name is Brian Jamison and he did take me prisoner yesterday. What Zachariah said about him could be true.”
The man started their way as Simon left the church.
Thank goodness he was ready.
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Out of here.”
He led her across the transept to the iron gate with the attendant. No more tickets for the catacombs were being checked. Inna had arranged for him to have a private tour after the underground area closed for the day. He’d talked with the attendant earlier and she was expecting him, waving them both through. A quick glance back and he saw the man called Brian heading straight for the entrance. Tom stepped to where the tile floor stopped and the stone risers started their decent. He passed through the gate, then grabbed the iron bars and slammed them shut, the lock clicking into place. When he’d arrived a couple of hours ago he’d noticed that the doorway would take a key to reopen. The surprised attendant surely held that key, but the minute or two that would buy them would be critical to their escape.
He’d thought Simon would be his enemy.
Now there was a new threat.
“Follow me,” he told Alle.
And they raced down the stairs into the crypt.
