The Crypt

by Saul, Jonas

  After ten minutes she loosened the belt and then tightened it again. She reached inside his jacket to search for a wallet. She found one in an inner pocket. Inside she found no identification. Big surprise. But there was a few hundred dollars in Hungarian currency and a note on a lined piece of paper. She opened the note to see a small grocery list.

  What the hell is a palichinta?

  Her hand started with the familiar numbness.

  No way. Now?

  She frantically searched for a pen. The shooter had one in the same pocket the wallet was in. She grabbed it and leaned over the paper as a full blackout came upon her.

  “Sarah? Sarah, are you okay?”

  She snapped awake. How long was I out?

  Rosalie was leaning over her. Two of Rosalie’s men were attending to the shooter, one of them on a cell phone directing an ambulance to their location.

  Sarah nodded at Rosalie.

  “What happened here? We came out of the strip club and you were gone. One of my men thought he’d heard a gunshot but we didn’t know where from so we started a block to block search. When we got here an old man with a cane was approaching. We got him out of here and tried to wake you up. Did he hit you? Are you hurt?”

  Sarah listened to her and sat up, blinking in the morning sun.

  Where’s the note? What did Vivian want?

  “I’m fine. I must’ve blacked out. Everything’s okay with me. This guy tried to shoot me outside the front of the strip club.”

  “What? How did this happen? Are you saying this was a setup to get you out here?”

  Not only can she run a team of international agents she can think on her feet too. Impressive.

  Sarah recited everything from the first ping she heard from the shooter’s gun until she blacked out, omitting why she passed out.

  “So we’re being played.” Rosalie seemed quite disturbed by this prospect.

  “Don’t let it bother you too much. Armond plays everyone. You’re no different.”

  Rosalie turned to glare at her. “You don’t understand. I put a lot of time into this undercover job. My team and I were in with Tony. There’s no way Armond could know who we were until yesterday when we raided Montone. If he knew, he would’ve blown our covers long ago. In such a short time, how could he know so much?”

  Sarah used the wall of the building to stand up. Two police cars were arriving. An ambulance brought up the rear.

  “Armond is a professional. He has remained elusive because of how good he is, how resourceful. He hides in plain sight. When my sister sent me to find him, he ended up becoming my colleague using the name Jack Tate without my even knowing it. There were times when we were alone in my car, but I didn’t know him and how good he was at the time. I barely got away with my life thanks to Parkman.”

  “Thanks to me you almost lost your life tonight. I’m lucky he missed.”

  Sarah found that comment odd. “You’re lucky he missed?”

  Rosalie looked sideways at her. “Yeah, my orders are to keep you safe, protected. I’m to deliver you to Rod when this is over. I don’t do that, I’m finished.”

  Sarah stepped away. “Then quit now.”

  “What?” Rosalie called after her.

  Sarah moved away and around the Caddy and the commotion the Paramedics were making with the shooter. He was coming to and moaning loudly again.

  She needed to find the note Vivian gave her. Unless it was still in her hand when she was passed out and Rosalie grabbed it.

  She searched her pockets. To her relief she found it in her back right pocket.

  She unfolded it and scanned the words.

  Shit!

  Rosalie had stepped out from behind the Cadillac. No doubt wanting to keep me close, Sarah thought.

  She motioned for Rosalie to join her as she folded the paper and pocketed it again.

  “You know that old man with the cane?”

  Rosalie nodded.

  “That was Armond.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Do you know anything about me?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Then you know my sister tells me things and she just told me the old man was Armond. He’d stuck around to watch me die. When I chased the shooter to his car he followed. After everything went down I saw him across the street but he appeared to be walking the other way. Then I passed out. You show up and usher him away. He was about to make his move when you got here so take some consolation that you did save my life after all.” Sarah said this without conviction. If she’d really been in danger Vivian wouldn’t have taken over.

  Rosalie talked into a mic telling her men to scour the area for the old man with a cane.

  “Did your sister tell you anything else?”

  “She told me it all ends in a crypt on Friday.”

  “A crypt,” Rosalie repeated, evidently thinking over what it meant. She looked away from Sarah. “Most of the men involved in the immigration racket use crypts all over Europe as a meeting place. Too hard to record them talking. Cell phones almost never work buried in that much stone. Wiring anything down there can only be done with external cords making it obvious where electricity is. They have many other reasons for using crypts but that’s a few of them.” She seemed in a daze as she recited some of her knowledge, thinking over what Sarah was telling her. She looked at Sarah again. “Did your sister tell you where? Any other details?”

  “Just that it has something to do with vampires.”

  “Vampires?”

  One of Rosalie’s men called for her. The police needed a statement from Sarah.

  “Stay here. I’ll deal with the police.” She raised a finger. “Sarah, we need you. Let me think about this crypt thing. I may have an idea what your sister means regarding the vampire angle, okay?”

  Sarah nodded and stepped away to wait on the opposing curb.

  She pulled the note out and reread the ending of it.

  Vivian explained in the note how messages were sent for Sarah to change or alter an event. If something was to happen that didn’t require any meddling then she wouldn’t interfere. She knew the gunman would miss so she’d said nothing. Vivian apologized for all that she’d done to get Sarah into this violent life. She expressed her love for Sarah and her sympathy for what was going to happen at the crypt but there was nothing she could do about it now.

  Fate was in charge this time.

  Nothing at all could be done with destiny.

  Chapter 21

  An hour later Rosalie sat across from Sarah at a small bakery. Sarah lifted her coffee and sipped.

  “Thank you for finding a place that sold American coffee,” Sarah said. “Everywhere I go all I can find are cappuccinos and espressos. I had to go to a McDonald’s to get one of these but this one is so much better.”

  Rosalie nodded.

  They sat in a corner booth with Sarah’s back to the wall. She wasn’t going to let anyone get the drop on her again. She watched the windows and scanned the cars parked along the road. Her eyes were drawn to the random people walking by. Having men hired to kill her had caused a new level of paranoia.

  She looked back at Rosalie. “You’re lost in thought. Pray tell.”

  “I think I know the crypt you mentioned earlier.”

  Sarah set her cup down and leaned in. “Where?”

  “It’s in Esztergom.”

  “Where’s that?”

  “Just north of us. About an hour.”

  “What’s special about this Crypt?” Sarah asked.

  “When you said vampires, it clicked. The place is called Esztergom Basilica. It’s the largest church in Hungary. The crypt there is huge and it’s the resting place of many famous people. Bela Lugosi, a Hungarian actor by the way, filmed part of the original Dracula in that crypt.”

  Sarah sipped her coffee and leaned back. “How would you know that kind of detail?”

  “I toured it five years ago when I was first stationed in Hungary. We knew then
that they were using crypts as meeting places so I went as a tourist to over a dozen in the country. The Esztergom one is quite impressive. It sits overlooking the Danube River.”

  A plan began forming in Sarah’s head. “How close to the river?”

  “Oh I don’t know exactly, but you could hit a golf ball from the main dome and make the water. On the other side is Slovakia. It’s a long climb up narrow winding steps to get to the top of the basilica but it’s a gorgeous view of the city. The crypt itself is magnificent. Inside the church area they have the largest painting in the world that’s painted on one canvas.”

  “You sound like you know the place well.”

  “I only bring it up because of the vampire connection. And it makes sense that this crypt is important to Armond. It would be an ideal place to hide. There are entire areas of the crypt cut off from the public by iron gates. After you told me about the crypt this morning, I had one of my men make an inquiry.” She looked at Sarah more intently. “Did you say the event would happen Friday?”

  Sarah nodded, gripping her coffee with both hands now. Something about what Rosalie was saying felt right. This had to be the place. This was where she would make her stand. Whatever happened wouldn’t be good though. Each time Vivian brought up the crypt she apologized to Sarah. That wasn’t very consoling.

  While Sarah scanned the outside looking for an asshole with a gun and a hope in hell, Rosalie continued talking.

  “On the first Friday of each month the church is closed to the public for mass. This happens in the late afternoon, early evening. Based on what you’ve said, we think Armond will be there this Friday when the church will be closed.”

  Sarah took a couple big swallows of coffee to warm her insides. She felt cold, and the coffee wasn’t helping.

  “So you believe in what I do?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know I receive messages from the Other Side and then act on them. I told you about the crypt and that it has to do with vampires. You’ve taken this on, investigated the place and set the time. That tells me you believe in the Other Side. That tells me you believe in me.”

  Rosalie looked away.

  Could I be too intense even for someone as strong as Rosalie?

  Sarah watched her fidget with a fingernail and then look back up.

  “I believe in what you are, yes. It’s just hard because I didn’t believe until I met you. The fact that you showed up in Montone because of something your sister told you was miraculous. It took years to get the kind of information you got in a note so it’s kinda hard to dismiss it. I still don’t want to believe but I have no choice.”

  “Good. That means you’ll help me escape.”

  “Escape?”

  Sarah could see the expression on Rosalie’s face. She didn’t like those words.

  “Am I a prisoner?” Sarah asked.

  “Well no, not really. Not in the traditional sense where charges are to be laid, but you are here, aiding us in a criminal investigation.”

  “Then what?”

  “We’re to hand you over to the American authorities. They’ve made arrangements to take you home once this is over. That’s it. My understanding is that you’re not in trouble at all. Rod said you were considered a hero. You’ve saved countless people.”

  Sarah drained the rest of her coffee. “And I want to continue doing that but I can’t if I go with Rod.”

  “So what are you saying? Spell it out for me.”

  “You’ll know when the time comes and you’ll know what to do. Just make sure you check your conscience before acting. Do what you think is right.”

  Rosalie’s phone chirped. She held up a finger for Sarah and reached for the phone. After reading the screen she looked up.

  “Parkman is pretty mad. He wants to see you right away.”

  “Sure, he wakes up and I’m gone without a note. He’s probably worried. He did travel to Europe to watch my back.”

  “Okay, let’s go. We’ll drive you to the hotel but only to pick up your things. From here on in you stay with us. I can’t let Armond send another sniper after you.”

  “Gee thanks,” Sarah said as she rose from her chair. “I don’t really like the idea of being picked off either.”

  “Are you always this sarcastic?”

  “Only with people I care about or work with.”

  “How do you treat the bad guys?”

  “I don’t treat them, I just shoot them.”

  They made it back to the Best Western hotel in good time. On two different occasions Sarah was sure they were being followed. They were using the same vehicle that took a bullet in the hood. Rosalie had said that the bullet had gone right through to the pavement, damaging nothing in its path.

  While jumping from the vehicle, Sarah scanned the cars passing them. Something was bothering her. Armond was getting desperate. He’d hired a guy and then showed up dressed as an old man. He had gotten close. Too close. Now he would make sure there was no more fucking around as he meant to kill her and make it final. But everywhere she looked in the immediate area looked normal. She still felt in a heightened state of alert. After what happened that morning she had to be more aware. With the way Armond worked, at any time a man could walk right up and shoot her in the face.

  She turned to Rosalie who was getting out of the vehicle.

  “Give me a gun.”

  “No way. You’re here in advisory capacity only. You’re not a member of the law enforcement community. I can’t arm you.”

  Sarah shook her head. “You saw what happened this morning. I was lucky there was a bar nearby to break the car’s window. Don’t be difficult. Give me a gun.” She reached out and held her hand up.

  Rosalie stood across from her on the pavement, looking her up and down. “Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. What if you shoot somebody?”

  “I plan to.”

  “You’re not helping.”

  “No, you’re not helping. You know the alternative.”

  “What’s the alternative?”

  “If you won’t give me a weapon, I will take one.”

  “Sarah, are you always this difficult?”

  “You should see me when I’m pissed. Now, I’ve asked nicely. Do this or my cooperation goes downhill fast. Seriously, think about it. I have a guy like Armond out there somewhere wanting me dead. I have had the damnedest time trying to stay armed in Europe and I have almost been killed a few times because of it. Get me a gun for protection or I start taking care of myself. These aren’t ultimatums or threats. This is me. This is who I am. I get a gun or fuck you and your advisory role bullshit.”

  Sarah could spell shock on Rosalie’s forehead. She had never heard Sarah talk like this. They’d chatted after the Montone incident and then this morning after the attempt on her life. But now things were being amped up.

  I need a weapon and fuck anybody who thinks different, she thought.

  Rosalie’s mic on her waist beeped. She ignored it.

  “Okay, say I want to give you a weapon. How would I do that? Whose name would I use to register it under? Do you want a police issue gun so it can all be traced back to me? Whose career do you want to end?”

  “The better question is whose life do you want to end? Mine or the bad guy’s?”

  She knew it would come to this. As much as she wanted to do the right thing, working with cops had rules. They couldn’t give her a weapon as much as Santa Claus couldn’t hand out Easter eggs. Just didn’t happen and wouldn’t happen. She was better off on her own. Always had been and always would be.

  She heard Rosalie’s mic beep again.

  “You better get that,” Sarah said as she stepped away.

  At that same second a piece of stone chipped off the wall behind where Sarah had been standing. It startled her enough to turn and stare at the wall.

  In a rush, the realization that a bullet had smacked into the wall, thereby missing her head because she turned, hit her like a meteor. She
spun, ducked and dove for cover as another bullet pinged off the side of the vehicle.

  As she landed on the hard cement she heard Rosalie yelling over her mic, “We’re under fire.” Sarah nestled up against the rear tire of the SUV. After assessing the trajectory of the bullet to figure where the shooter was, she confirmed he was somewhere across the street. The shooter sat low this time, and not in an elevated position.