"We've got what we came for. Ronnie, cover us, we're coming across."
Ronnie reached around the opening and fired four shots as Selena and Nick ran across. Bullets hummed past them. A window shattered and littered the floor of the nave with bits of glass.
"We'll go out the door. Like we came in."
"They could be out there," Selena said.
"Be ready in case they are. Lay down fire through the arch into the chancel as we go. Stay as close to the wall as you can. Once we get there, you and I cover while Ronnie opens the door."
"Got it." She nodded.
"Go."
They ran for the exit, firing blindly behind them at the opening into the chancel as they went. The three pistols made a lot of noise. Empty brass bounced and pinged off the floor as they ran. Shots came from behind them. A big chunk blew out of the circular window over the door.
Ronnie pulled the door open. A man appeared behind them at the entrance to the nave. Nick fired twice. The slide locked back on his pistol. The figure fell back into the chancel. They went through the door. Nick pulled it shut behind him, dropped the empty magazine and clicked in another. In the distance, a police siren sounded. Then a second joined in.
There was no one waiting for them outside. They ran in the shadows until they reached the spot where they'd left their rental car and piled in. Nick pulled away. Before he turned the corner, he saw the reflection of the lights on a police car bouncing off the Temple walls. They turned a corner and the lights disappeared.
He got a few more blocks and slowed down.
"Anyone hit?"
"Negative."
"No," Selena said. The adrenaline rush was still going strong. "How did they know we were there?"
"They might not have known," Nick said. "It has to be the same people who came after you in Washington. They got the manuscript. They figured it out, like we did. Bad luck they showed up when we were there."
"But good luck they didn't get there ahead of us," she said. "I wonder what's in that pouch?"
"We'll find out. Be nice if it isn't another damn puzzle."
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Ari Herzog sipped strong black coffee and contemplated the glow of the sun as it reflected from the golden Dome of the Rock. So much beauty. So much hatred. So much history of blood.
Lev came into Herzog's office. He was carrying a newspaper. "You see the London papers today?"
"Not yet."
"Take a look." He handed the paper over. Ari sat down at his desk and looked at the front page.
The lead shouted.
Temple Church Shootout
Tomb Vandalized, Guards Murdered
"Temple Church. It has to be about the Ark," Lev said. "Your friends from the Project must have been there."
"And someone else," Herzog said. "Nick and the others would not kill the guards. They don't operate like that. If they're involved, they were in there looking for something and were discovered by the wrong people."
"What would they be looking for?"
"I don't know. Let's ask them."
Herzog picked up his phone and entered Nick's number. He turned on the speaker so Lev could listen. Ari and Nick had worked well together during the disastrous visit of the American President to the Temple Mount. Nick had helped save Israel from destruction, a debt that could never be repaid. There was a bond of trust and respect between the two men that crossed national boundaries.
"Yes."
"Nick, it's Ari. I've got you on speaker and Lev is here with me."
"Ari."
"Were you at the Temple Church recently?"
"I take it you've seen the papers."
"Yes."
"We were there. Not us who snuffed the guards, though."
"I never thought otherwise. I thought you were going to keep me informed, Nick."
"Subject to Director Harker's approval, yes."
"Can you tell me what you were doing in that church?"
"Following up on a lead. I can't tell you much more before I talk with Harker."
"You're not giving me much."
"Ari, you know how it works. I'll tell you what I can, when I can."
"The election here is not far away," Ari said. "Weisner is gaining in the polls. There have been terrorist incidents and it's helping him. Your government does not need Weisner as Prime Minister. Let us help you with this, Nick."
"What do you have in mind? Tell me and I'll run it by Harker."
"Put Lev on your team while you look for the Ark. He can report back to me."
It was the first Lev had heard about it. He had been listening to the conversation sitting slumped in one of Ari's arm chairs. Now he sat up straight, surprised.
"You know we have specialized training, Ari."
"Lev can handle it. He was with the Sayeret Matkal before I got him. He has the skills you need."
The Sayeret Matkal were the cream of Israeli Special Forces, as good as anything the Americans or Russians or British had. There wasn't any question Lev would have the skills needed.
Nick considered what Ari had asked him. With Lamont out of action they were one short on the team. With someone coming after them at every opportunity, adding an experienced gun to the team could improve the odds.
"I'll think about it. The political angle complicates things."
"That's all I ask, Nick."
They ended the call.
"You could have asked," Lev said, "before you volunteered me to work with Americans."
"They're not just any Americans," Herzog said. "If Nick takes you on, you're in for an interesting experience."
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Nick put out Ari's proposal to the team. Everyone was in Harker's office.
"Lamont's gone for three months or longer," Elizabeth said. "It depends on how fast he heals."
"That's the only reason I'm even considering Ari's proposal," Nick said, "because we're a man short. All of Sayeret Matkal's ops are classified and so is their personnel list, but Steph got into their computers. The man Ari wants us to use has hard core combat and black ops experience. We won't have to break him in. He's got as much training as we do."
"We've done it before," Selena said, "with Arkady."
Arkady Korov was Russian Spetsnaz. He'd been on two missions with the Project, in a bizarre alliance against common enemies.
Harker picked up her Mont Blanc and began tapping. "This is sensitive, politically speaking. Herzog wants us to help him discredit an opponent of the current Prime Minister. He's drawing us into the domestic politics of a foreign nation."
"It wouldn't be the first time we did that," Nick said, "but for Ari it's secondary. Finding the Ark and bringing it back to Israel is more important to him. It's true there's a political stink on this. If Weisner gets the Ark he'll use it to bolster his authority to do what he wants. What he wants isn't in our best interest. The fact that Harrison is backing him proves that, if nothing else."
Elizabeth set her pen down. She rubbed her forehead. "Are those headaches of yours catching?" she said. "Because this is giving me one."
They laughed. "Want some aspirin?" Nick said.
"It will take more than that. Ronnie, what do you think? About bringing in Herzog's man?"
"It worked out with Korov," Ronnie said. "Hell, I might have been killed if he hadn't been there. Without Lamont we're stretched kind of thin. I'm for it."
"Selena?"
"It will make us stronger. Yes, I'm for it."
"Nick?"
"What about Herzog? Everything we do will get reported back to him."
"I don't think it matters anymore. It could be to our advantage. This way, we won't have to worry that the Israelis might do something rash while they're trying to find out what we're doing."
"All right," Nick said. "I'll call Ari."