by Tom Haase
“Bullshit, Jonathan. Scott you stay here and watch these guys,” Bridget said. “They might find the Bible and I want you here with your iPhone videoing everything. The Vatican will not dupe us this time.” She ran to the car.
The street contained no traffic. When she started the car, she could barely make out the taillights of the taxi turning the corner two blocks away.
* * * *
Jake sat back and relaxed in the taxi. A difficult thing to do when he just kidnapped someone and the person he waited fifteen minutes for had not shown up. She knew the timeframe window in which to appear. They agreed upon it on the airplane. The young lady took his five hundred dollars and promised to deliver the book that he gave her tonight, tomorrow night, or the next between eight and eight fifteen.
The night spent in the hotel in Cairo gave him the opportunity to wrap the book up by covering it with slick paper over tissue paper and then enclose it in a briefcase, all of which he purchased at a local market. In addition, he had locked the briefcase to keep it from being opened. Even x-ray machines at the airport would have no problem with a book, he believed.
When he arrived at the motel, he paid the taxi driver and went inside. He ripped the tape off of Schultz's mouth.
“I think it's time that we give your daughter a call,” Jake said.
“You know I'm going to get you for this,” Shultz said.
“But first I want the five million you promised me for the Bible.”
“You never delivered it. If the FBI finds out about this, it is a federal crime to kidnap someone and take him across state borders. They will hunt you down,” Schultz threatened.
“I'm slowly changing my mind. I think I'll get the money from your daughter and then you’re going to disappear if you don’t cooperate. I should remind you that it's hard to call the FBI from a grave.”
Jake took out his cell phone and dialed Schultz's apartment in New York. After a few rings he heard a woman's voice.
“Hello, this is Gerti Schultz.”
“Miss Schultz, listen carefully. I have your father, and he promised me five million to deliver the Bible. If you'll hand over the five million to me in an account transfer online that I can watch on my computer as it goes into my account, I'll then give him the Bible and our transaction will be completed,” Jake said without taking a breath. He planned on having that money transferred to an offshore account.
“How do I know you have my father? I trusted you in Jerusalem and you betrayed me. Let me speak to him.”
Jake put the phone up to Schultz's ear.
“Gerti, don't give the bastard a thing. He's gonna kill me anyway.”
Jake took the phone away. He sat on the bed and retaped Schultz's mouth.
“If you don’t do this by tomorrow evening at nine you can say goodbye to your father. You will never see him again. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes,” Gerti said. “I believe you're that desperate and I'll get the money. I need one day to do that. I will want to talk to my father again before I make the transfer. Call me in twenty-four hours. Is that agreeable?”
“Yes.”
Jake closed the phone.
“Mr. Schultz you have exactly one day to live. Once I have that money, I have decided that you are a dead man.”
The door of the motel room burst open.
Chapter 59
Washington, D.C.
The streetlight came on in front of Jake's house.
“I'm going to take a look inside. Can you stay here and keep watch just in case he returns?” Jonathan asked.
“Yes, only because I know you can't get away without a car and I'll see anything you have in your hands,” Scott said.
Jonathan went up to the front door and in a few moments it opened. He went straight through the house and opened the back door allowing Grossman to come in.
“Get out here,” Scott shouted.
They hurried outside to join Scott.
“Freeze. You're under arrest,” Higgins shouted.
* * * *
Bridget burst into the motel room with a pistol in her hand. She could see the startled look on Jake's face, but he started to move toward Schultz.
“Don't move, Jake. I have a gun pointed right at you, and I'm not afraid to use it.”
Jake continued toward the bed where Schultz remained all tied up. And with what seemed to Bridget as supernatural speed, he withdrew a pistol and pointed directly at Schultz's head.
Damn, she thought.
“If you make a move, I will blow his brains out. I mean it,” Jake said.
“Where's the Bible?”
“How the hell did you find me?” Jake asked. “You are ruining my great plan. I guess I'll have to take care of you, too.”
The traffic noise from Highway One reached the room through the open door with what must have been two semis blasting their horns. At that moment, Schultz violently ducked his head trying to get away from Jake. Jake took his eyes off of Bridget to see what Schultz did. This presented her an opportunity. The on and off blinking of the hotel sign could cause a disorienting effect, but Bridget focused on the man holding the gun to Schultz's head. His mistake, in losing eye contact with her, made Bridget believe this might be her chance to save Schultz.
Bridget fired twice.
Chapter 60
Motel in Lorton, Virginia
The smell of the expended rounds hit Bridget's nose. She could see the bullet ridden lifeless body of Jake falling to the floor. Both bullets entered his head, and spray coming out the other side covered Schultz's hair, face, and upper body. Schultz glared at Bridget. He moaned with the tape over his mouth.
Before Bridget moved, she called Scott.
“I just shot Jake. He held a gun to Schultz’s head. I had no choice,” she said as a soon as he answered.
She could hear him yell that she had found Jake. The next voice she heard came from Special Agent Matt Higgins.
“Where are you? What happened?”
Bridget gave him a brief description of the events in the motel.
“Don't move. Don't approach either of the men. Does Schultz appear to be all right?”
“Yes,” she said.
“I really mean don't move. I don't want anything done until we get there and have our crime scene people there afterwards. Got that, Sergeant?”
Bridget realized he switched into his army role as her commander for some reason. The urgency in his voice manifested in the rapidity in which he spoke. She remembered from the time in the desert just before they got to the nuclear weapon and saved the western world from a future with only radioactive Middle East oil. He now spoke with that same intensity and total concentration of effort.
“You think I'm lying?” Bridget asked.
“No, I think I'm protecting you against our legal system for your own good. Don't move other than to shut the door if you can do it from your present position. Do not move, do not take a step. We're on the way,” Higgins said, and the line disconnected.
“Mr. Schultz, I'm Bridget Donavan. I know you know my brother, but we've not had the pleasure before. The FBI told me not to move. I'm to do nothing until they get here. You will be okay now. Your daughter is safe. Shake your head if you are all right?”
He did.
“We didn't retrieve the Bible of Constantine yet. Your money got us this far, and we have not given up. I know Jake possessed it, and we'll find it and give it to you like we promised.”
She back-kicked the door over to an almost shut position and waited.
* * * *
Higgins approached the three men standing in front of Jake's house. He didn't have a gun out as he saw they were not displaying any. Liz approached with him and Gerti followed.
“Gerti,” Scott yelled. He moved toward her, wanted to but didn't hug her.
“What are you doing here?” Higgins asked. “Make it good.”
“We came down for a visit to Washington to see the monuments,” Jonathan said.
“Wise ass,” Liz commented.
Gerti approached Scott and hugged him. “Did you get the Bible?”
“No,” he said. “When we arrived we caught a glimpse of Jake leaving here and we didn't see it on him.”
“How do you know that?” Higgins asked. “And why were you in the house?”
“The door was open, and we went in to see if everything was okay since we thought we heard a cry for help,” Grossman said.
“You've got to be kidding me,” Higgins said. “You're using that to cover a breaking and entry charge.”
Matt headed for the front door of Jake's house.
Scott's phone rang. He listened and then called to Higgins. Matt took the phone and spoke with Bridget.
“It's not our case and not in our jurisdiction,” Jonathan said to Liz while Higgins talked to Bridget. “I think our mission in the States is over. We'll be returning to Rome.” Matt disconnected the phone and gave Jonathan and Grossman a get out of here sign with his hand. “Pleasure meeting you, Special Agent Higgins. And you too, ma'am.”
He left Jonathan standing in front of Jake's house. He appeared to be on the phone calling for a taxi. Good riddance, Matt thought.
In less than a minute Scott, Gerti, and the FBI agents were in the Crown Vic heading for the address that Bridget had given. Liz drove and Higgins called the FBI headquarters and requested the necessary teams to cover a kidnapping and a shooting.
“We need to get Bridget out of that room before anyone sees her,” Higgins said.
* * * *
“Why are we leaving?” Grossman asked.
“We're not. At least not yet.” Jonathan pointed to the house and signaled Grossman to follow. “I called to get us transportation.”
Grossman followed him to the house. “Good idea. Let's take a look into this place and see if he was stupid enough to hide the Bible here.”
They searched the small residence consisting of two bedrooms, one bath, and a living room with a small dining enclave. The house had neither a basement nor an attic. After twenty minutes they completed a thorough search of the premises.
“That Bible is not here,” Grossman said.
“I agree. Jake did have it in his possession. He proved it to Schultz. I was close enough to Higgins to hear what Bridget said on the phone call. He might be dead now, but he hid it somewhere or gave it to someone. “
“So what's our move?” Grossman asked.
“I have one mission. Get that Bible. I don't believe the Donavans are going to be dissuaded by Jake’s death. No, they'll plan something to get it. I know them. They'll never give up. They are like a dog with a bone. They know they have their teeth into it and are going to get the whole thing or die trying.”
“There might be more deaths on this mission,” Grossman said.
“Maybe, but right now we need to know what the Donavans are doing. Did you put a tracking device on Scott before he left?” Jonathan asked.
“In a side pocket on his coat.”
Chapter 61
Washington, D.C.
“What the hell is going on?” Liz queried.
“Think about it,” Higgins said. “She's just done our job for us. She tracked down the kidnapper, saved the hostage, and in the process had to shoot the suspect when he attempted to kill the victim. She has no license for a gun in this state. There could be all kinds of problems for her. We don't need that.”
The car sped toward the motel.
“What are you suggesting?” Liz asked.
He told her and at the same time he glanced in the rearview mirror to see Gerti moved over close to Scott. They embraced and kissed. Five minutes later, they arrived at the motel.
“Bridget, it's Matt. I'm just outside the door so don’t move when I come in.”
He pushed open the door with care, and took in the entire scene. A typical run down, shitty motel with brown-papered walls, the smell of cigarette smoke, and one large bed.
“Where did you get the gun?”
“From Jonathan,” Bridget said. “He gave me one when we realized we were dealing with somebody who might use deadly force. I'm glad I had it.”
“What you did showed bravery, but a little stupid. You always were a charger, but it's caused some complications. You are not a law enforcement officer nor do you have a permit to carry. This is not like when we were overseas and licensed to kill the enemy. I have a plan that I want you to execute and I want to have Mr. Shultz there to hear exactly what I'm saying and nod his agreement when I'm finished.”
Schultz nodded his agreement to this proposal, but he remained gagged.
Matt signaled for Liz to enter the room. He moved her and positioned her right beside Bridget. He took the weapon from Bridget, wiped it clean with his handkerchief, and then handed the gun to Liz.
“Mr. Schultz, your daughter is out in the car with Scott Donovan. She is safe. She'll be in after we conclude our arrangement. Now we have a serious problem facing us. You must now agree that my partner here is the one who fired the weapon and killed Mr. Jake. That is the only thing that changes in the story you will tell about this whole event. Jake held the gun to your head and threatened to kill you and my partner shot him when she broke through the door. I kicked it open when we saw you through a small opening in the drape over the window. Your life in deadly peril. We have our own account to tell of how we arrived here with the help of your daughter. So that's the only detail that we're asking you to agree to, and we'll change our account to agree with yours that Special Agent Garcia shot Mr. Jake as he held a gun to your head and threatened to kill you. If you agree to this shake your head.”
He seemed to be mulling it over. Higgins wondered what took him so long to make up his mind when he’d been saved from a man who tried to kill him. After a moment, he nodded agreement.
“Bridget why don't you go out to the car and switch places with his daughter. I want Mr. Schultz's account to be accurate in every detail except for the one about who shot Jake. Now his daughter will come in.”
Bridget left the moment Gerti appeared in the door. She ran past Liz to her father, who still remained tied to the bed. She jerked the tape off his mouth.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“Yes, but really pissed off.”
“Father, even though Bridget saved your life you must remember what Special Agent Higgins has worked out is for the good of all. Their special teams will be arriving here in a few moments, and they and the press will want all kinds of statements from you. Please get them straight in your head. Do you have any physical injuries?”
“No, but I'm a little bit foggy on everything that happened since Jake hit me on the head a few times. The bastard also forced some sleeping pills down my throat. When I came to Jake stood over me with a gun pointed at my head saying he intended to kill me and that lady over there shot him,” Shultz said.
Higgins looked at Liz and smiled.
Blue and white lights filled the room and the crime scene personnel and the local police had arrived.
* * * *
Bridget joined Scott in the car. She now comprehended all that Higgins did for her. The old army ties were great thing to have.
“What are we going to do now?” asked Scott.
“While I was waiting for you to arrive I came up with a plan. I know how we're going to get that Bible.”
Chapter 62
Motel in Lorton, Virginia
Bridget and Scott sat in the FBI agent's car for a while and watched all the activities going on outside and inside of the motel room. No one paid them any attention.
“What happened to Jonathan?” Bridget asked.
“We left him and the captain at Jake's house, being certain the Bible wasn't there. I’d guess he made a house search after we left. He told the FBI guy that they were going back to Rome.”
“That's bullshit. He's on a mission and he'll not give up.” Bridget took out her cell phone and dialed Jonathan McGregor. He told her that the
y were planning on heading back to Rome since they had not found the Bible and she didn’t have it and no one knew its location. She wished him good luck and said goodbye.
“I don't think they're going to Rome. We need to be careful in what we do over the next two days,” Bridget said.
“Why the next two days?” Scott asked.
“Because that's when we're going to get the Bible.”
“How do you figure that?” Scott asked.
“Jake came to his house as close as we can figure at 8 o'clock and left at 8:15. He could've been there at any time he wanted but he was—I'm only guessing here—doing it at a specific timeframe. I could be wrong, but my best guess is that he might be waiting for someone to deliver a parcel. I think that's how he hid the Bible, since it is nowhere on his possession and not in his house. I don't believe he had time to hide it anywhere else after he arrived. If Jonathan found it, he would've said that he did and returned it to Rome. That's why I think our monsignor is not going anywhere, and he'll be following us to find out what we’re doing.”
“Okay, so what do we do?”
“We're not needed here anymore, and if there's nothing else we can do, I think it's time to get out of here,” Bridget said.
She opened the door, Scott followed, and they casually walked over to Route One. A McDonald's sign shone in the distance, and they started walking toward the golden arches. They phoned for a taxi to pick them up. From there they headed to Reagan airport.
“I'm tired. Let's get a motel room,” Scott said. “I don't think it would be smart to go to my place.”
“I agree. Tomorrow morning, I have to find an old bookstore. You can sleep in.”
“You need something to read?”
“No, but I have an idea,” Bridget said.
* * * *
At the motel, while her father suffered interviews by the various law enforcement agencies, Gerti ordered a limousine and their private plane brought down to Washington. Earlier, she went out to the FBI agent's car to talk to Scott, but he wasn’t there.
She wondered where he could have gone. She decided that they just needed to get away and not be involved in any way with the scene as she and her father had to be. They could take care of themselves and she would contact Scott in the morning. She viewed him as turning out to be something special. She didn't want that to happen, but she didn't seem to have any control over her feelings.
