“Days?”
“Yes. We’ve been here for at least a week as far as I can tell, maybe more. When I woke up it was daylight outside. Then that rat faced fuck Simon came in and gave us both shots, and I blacked out. He’s been keeping us under.”
Robert took a deep, cleansing breath. “Have you see anybody else?”
“No, just Simon.”
Each slug of air brought Robert a little closer to lucid. Thirty minutes later, still sore, his head cleared, and he surveyed the barn. A single lantern hung next to the barn’s double-door, giving it a misty, shadowy feel. Shiny black saddles, on hooks next to the stalls, were emblazoned with gold “R’s” which told him the barn belonged to Rothschild.
Moonbeams slid in through the slits in the ceiling, flickering on and off as bats flittered about the roof, disturbing the flow of light. Robert heard Thorne grunt and struggle, trying to break free.
“Damn duct tape. I’ve been trying to weaken it, but the assholes have wrapped it thick.”
Robert strained against his own bonds, to no avail, when his eyes landed on something that made him pause. The casket.
Dusty in the dim light, it appeared to be untouched. Wood with gold trim, it sat in the middle of the barn like a monument. Streams of moonlight touched down on it, reminding him of a scene out of the Dracula movies he enjoyed as a kid. He struggled harder against the tape, but it cut into his wrists.
“We’ll have to make our move when they cut us loose,” said Robert.
“You mean if they cut us loose.”
“All of this expensive riding equipment with the gold R’s means we’re probably on Rothschild’s property. If that’s true, he won’t have us killed here. It’s too risky. He’ll have them take us somewhere else and when they do, we’ll make our move.”
“Got it. And Robert.”
“Yeah.”
“You leave Marilyn London to me.”
Robert smiled for the first time since he’d awakened. “It’ll be my pleasure.”
Sitting there in the dirt, Robert’s thoughts turned toward Fiona and his mother. He wondered if they were safe.
“Thorne, we have to take whatever’s in that casket with us.”
“I don’t have a problem with that,” she said. “Let’s just not miss.
And nobody gets to tell this story but us.” Robert hesitated. He wanted to see Edward account for the things he’d done.
“If we can take Rothschild alive, we should. I’d like to see him fry in public.”
“That’s the point, he won’t fry,” she said. “Bastards like him never do. He’ll die of old age before they put him in jail.”
“Not if we take the evidence with us. What Charlie showed us is enough to destroy him, his family, and who knows how many others.”
“I hope you’re right,” she said. “But for all we know, Julie Rice could be in there decomposed and rotted away. Then what?”
“Then we’ll tell them we know where it really is. That it’s back at Parklawn. Anything to get them to move us.” Hours passed, most of it in silence. More thoughts of Fiona and his mother surfaced but he forced them down, wanting to focus.
A car pulled up outside. He counted three sets of footsteps walking away from the barn, but no voices. Minutes later, a door opened and slammed. The footsteps disappeared.
Minutes faded into hours. Robert heard a door open, and again footsteps hit the pavement. This time toward the barn.
“It’s showtime,” he said. “Stay alert.”
“All ready,” said Thorne. “Just remember. The bitch is mine.” Before he could comment, the barn door opened and Edward, Marilyn, and Simon entered. The dim light barely illuminated their silhouettes.
Simon and Marilyn carried rifles fitted with silencers and laser scopes. Edward walked over to Robert and peered down, a malignant sneer dripping from his face.
“Well, Mr. Veil. We meet again. My apologies for not getting here sooner, but I had some pressing business with a few friends from the Middle East. As you can imagine, the ruckus they caused created quite a mess, and it required my personal attention. And of course, my son is running for President.”
“And I apologize in advance for killing you,” said Robert.
Edward laughed. “That’ll be quite impressive given your present circumstance.”
“I’m glad I amuse you. Let’s see how long it lasts.”
“Now, now Mr. Veil. Be satisfied you’ve gotten this far. Anyone else would be dead by now.”
“You mean like Kennedy and Claymore.”
Edward’s smile faded, and his conceit filled the room like a poisonous vapor. “Touche, Mr. Veil, but you must understand, it’s only business, nothing more, nothing less. Besides, President Claymore is alive.”
Robert felt relieved. “Don’t you think he knows who did it? He’ll come after you.”
“Oh, I’m sure he has his suspicions, but he won’t come after me. You see, our good President Claymore may be a Boy Scout, but he understands how the world works. He’s lucky to be alive.”
“Not all men are as weak minded as you believe,” said Robert.
“True,” said Edward. “But there’s nothing like almost getting shot to death to remind a man of his place in the order of things.”
“And what’s your place?”
“At the top of course. Which is why I’ll walk away a bit richer with the past buried, thanks to the evidence you helped me find. Which reminds me, where are my manners? Did I forget to say thank you?” He bowed his head, hands together, as if he were about to pray.
Robert clinched his fists behind his back, wishing the tape wasn’t there. Edward slithered over to the casket and ran his fingers along its surface, as though it were a long lost friend. “Cut them loose,” he ordered, without turning around. “Take them to the woods two miles north of here. Kill them. Then come back and meet me here.” Marilyn covered them while Simon cut them loose. Robert shook his arms and legs, trying to regain circulation. Edward walked over and looked them up and down, but gave Thorne an extended examination.
“My dear, you are the looker. I’ve gone black a time or two, but I must say you…”
Thorne spit in his face. “Go to hell.”
Edward removed a handkerchief from his jacket and wiped his face.
“Marilyn, before you kill this one have her suffer as long as possible. If you need ideas, I’m sure Simon can be of assistance.” Marilyn smiled. “With pleasure.”
Thorne glared hard at Marilyn, her eyes red, muscles bulging.
Not now Thorne, it’s not the right time.
“Mr. Veil,” said Edward. “Please forgive me. I almost forgot to offer you my congratulations. It seems your girlfriend is now a Supreme Court Justice.”
Robert felt a shiver.
“Oh yes,” Edward continued. “She’s quite the little darling in this town. You see, the first thing President Claymore did from the hospital, was issue a statement reaffirming his support for Justice Patrick. He called it the most important step at the moment, in assuring our nation’s positive and solid constitutional direction. Quite the political move I must say. Public opinion for her rose sharply, and not even I could stop it. She was unanimously confirmed and sworn in day before yesterday.
If I’m not mistaken, she starts her first day this morning. A pity you’re not there, but if it’s any consolation, both she and your mother looked concerned when she was sworn in.”
“So you lost that one,” Robert said, struggling to maintain his composure.
“Oh, I haven’t told you the best part,” said Edward, a hint of triumph in his voice. “It seems your friend Mr. Andre Perchenkov, the Bear, I think you call him, is probably going to kill her soon. And inside the Supreme Court building of all places. Imagine that.” Robert, wanting to lunge, held himself in check. “And how do you know that?”
“Well, it seems your Mr. Perchenkov and I have some of the same friends here in Washington. I saw him plant the note next to Fiona at the Ritz. He’s quite the industrious fellow as you already know.” Edward put both his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in front of them, enjoying the moment. Robert glanced over at Simon and Marilyn. They’re not close enough. They’d never miss.