“No clue. Can’t find any record of her after the war,” Galen said, tapping on the keys and squinting at the monitor. “One thing’s for sure, if Beringer did conceal the necklace in the urn, it must have been removed and hidden elsewhere before the heart was returned to Warsaw in ’45. The authorities opened that pillar again in 2014 amidst concerns the jar may have been damaged, allowing the heart to deteriorate. They kept the findings pretty hush-hush, but according to the limited press releases, the heart was fine, and there was no indication anything unusual had been found in there with it.”
“If he went to the trouble of following his sister all the way to Italy to get his hands on the necklace, wouldn’t he have attempted to retrieve it from its hiding place after the war?” Tessa asked.
“Well, we don’t know that he didn’t,” Galen said absently as he continued to click and scroll through the information on the screen. “But, I think it’s unlikely. The prevailing theory is Beringer and his family used the ratlines to escape to South America right before the fall of Berlin. I’d bet he was far more concerned with survival and evading the Nazi hunters than retrieval at that point.”
“Ratlines?”
“Ratlines were a complex system of escape routes for Nazis and other fascists fleeing Europe at the end of the war. They mainly led toward havens in South America. In fact, there are still many who believe Hitler didn’t die in his Berlin bunker, but instead traveled a ratline through Spain, and lived out his remaining years in hiding in an isolated location in Argentina.”
“So, if we assume Beringer had access to the urn, and then hid the necklace in it, and we also assume it wouldn’t have been worth the risk for him to try to return and reclaim it, all roads lead to the church in Milanówek?” Alec asked.
Galen nodded, snapped the laptop closed, and rose to his feet. “I know it seems like a lot of supposition, but based on the clues Barachiel left, combined with what we’ve discovered today, that’s the direction I’m leaning.”
“I owe you, Galen.” Alec stuck out a hand. “I know I’m usually the puzzle guy, but in this case, I was spinning my wheels in a swamp. You make a damn fine researcher.”
“Hell, you don’t owe me a thing. You would have figured it out eventually. You’re just too close to this one to think straight. Happens when your heart’s involved.”
“Well, eventually isn’t good enough in this case, so I do owe you. Thanks.”
“No problem.” Galen bobbed his head slightly. “So, when do we leave?”
“Yes, when do we leave?” Tessa piped up, tugging on Alec’s shirt like an anxious child.
“We don’t,” Alec responded. “You will stay right here where you’re safe. With Calli so close to term, I would never ask Luca to leave her side, so he’ll be here for protection in the event of trouble. And Galen, much as I appreciate the offer, you have your own issues to deal with at the moment. You’ve already helped enormously.”
“Not how it works, Alec.” Galen folded his arms over his chest. “You said it yourself. Luca isn’t leaving Callista. And Mac is busy finishing up the deal in New York. I have nothing going on that can’t wait. I know more about Djinn than anyone in our immediate circle. I’ve seen you fight, and while I know you’re as capable as any Defensori, no one goes in alone. No one. I’m coming with you. Deal with it.”
Before Alec could open his mouth in response, Tessa stepped out of his embrace and crossed her arms over her chest, mimicking Galen’s posture.
“Ditto.”
Alec found himself hard pressed not to burst out laughing at the determination in her delicate features.
“Ditto? That’s the best you’ve got?”
“Of course not.” She pushed out her lower lip and widened her stance. “Just the most expedient and succinct. I’m coming with you. Deal with it.”
“No, you aren’t, so you deal with it.”
“Alec, be reasonable.” Tessa dropped her arms to her sides and sighed. “If you and Galen are right and you manage to find the necklace, is it really the best course of action to traipse halfway across the continent, possibly dodging the Fallen, to bring it back here? Surely it makes more sense for me to be right there, so the Djinni can be freed and immediately reunited with the consciousness currently making itself at home in my head. Besides, my gift might come in handy. I could help. Don’t you agree, Galen?”
Alec fixed a warning glare on the larger man.
“Uh-uh.” The giant glared right back, then his expression softened as he switched his attention to Tessa and shook his head. “Sorry, Tess, but when it comes to getting between mates, I am neutral. Just call me Switzerland.”
“But, you agree with her, don’t you?” Alec pressed his lips together and sent the mental message.
“Let’s say I understand your reluctance, but she makes a good point. Several, in fact.”
“I know you don’t like the idea.” Tessa moved in front of Alec and laid her hands on his chest. “But, it doesn’t change the fact I’m right. You know what they say. If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always had.”
“Meaning I shut you out before and we ended up on opposite sides of the world?”
She leaned into him, and his arms came around her, enjoying the weight of her body pressed to his. He felt her nod against his chest.
“That, and I never pushed hard enough to make you include me, afraid if I pushed too hard, I’d push you away entirely. Neither of those approaches worked very well for us in the past, did they?” She tilted back her head, propped her chin on his chest, and smiled into his eyes. “So, I’m changing my strategy. Consider yourself pushed.”
“Push all you want.” Alec ground his teeth together and shook his head. He would not put her at risk no matter how sweetly she smiled, or how innocently she batted those big, blue eyes. “In this case, I’m not budging. Aside from the Djinni, we don’t know who or what else we may be dealing with. Galen and I will go and track down the necklace, you will wait here. End of story.”
“Then I guess we must be reading two completely different books, because that isn’t how I see the end of the story, at all.” She stepped back, pressed her lips together, and crossed her arms over her chest. “And just for the record, you sounded exactly like your brother, just then.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Thank you.”
“I didn’t intend it as one, but, hey, whatever floats your boat. You do remember I’ve been taking care of myself for ten years and lived to tell, right?”
“Yeah, well.” Alec shifted from one foot to the other and looked away. “I didn’t know you were alone and unprotected all that time.”
“And what, exactly, would you have done if you’d known? Put your pride aside and come to apply for the job? I don’t think so, Alec. Neither of us were ready. I’m not an idiot, and I have a very healthy sense of self-preservation.”
“I don’t doubt it, but having you with me will just give me one more thing to worry about.”
“So, you’re saying I’d be a distraction?”
“Worrying about your safety would be a distraction,” Alec replied, while acknowledging to himself the sight of Tessa sinking her even white teeth into her full lower lip already succeeded in distracting him for a moment. Still, he knew that look. She wouldn’t take no for an answer, and no way in hell did he intend to bring her along. “However,” he continued slowly as an idea occurred to him. “I guess it’s true you actually could turn out to be helpful. Your gift might furnish us with information we might not otherwise be privy to.”
“Really?” Tessa and Galen exclaimed in unison. Tessa’s expression brightened, while the giant warrior’s brow pleated.
“Yes, really.” Alec drew her into his arms for a brief hug, then pressed his lips to her forehead, and pushed her in the direction of the door. “Now go have a cup of tea with my mother and Calli while Galen and I work out the logistics.”
Chapter Twenty
&n
bsp; “Yes, the stories are true. After the Nazis returned the urn containing the heart of Chopin to Holy Cross Church, the priests took no chances. They smuggled the urn here, to Milanówek, for safekeeping until the war ended.” The young priest smiled across the desk at Alec and Galen. “A stroke of luck considering Holy Cross was nearly leveled during the conflict.”
“The stories also say the priests opened the urn while it was here. Care to tell us what they found?” Alec asked, his intent stare registering the fleeting look of alarm flickering across the other man’s features before he carefully schooled them into his former placid expression.
“They found the heart in a crystal jar of cognac, just as one would expect. Nothing more.” Father Szczcuski averted his gaze, pushed back from the desk, and rose to his feet. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to in the sacristy.”
A bolt of absolute rage brought Alec to his feet as he withdrew from the priest’s mind, having read exactly what that business entailed. Galen sighed, rubbed a hand over his smooth pate, and shot to his feet beside him, planting a hand on Alec’s chest when he would have lunged across the desk.
“You’re lying, Father.” Alec growled. “The priests did find something while the urn was here in Milanówek. While you have no idea exactly what it is, you do know it’s something of great value that whomever you’re working for wants to keep hidden very badly. The fact you’re willing to betray your vows and your office to maintain the secret…well, I guess that’s between you and your maker. The fact you bound and gagged my wife in the sacristy? Now, that’s between you and me, you sonofabitch.”
“How…how did you know that?”
“I did warn you she’d be pissed that we left her behind. Granted, I never thought she’d be ticked enough to venture here on her own, but it’s not like a couple of ropes and a lock can hold her…” Galen trailed off as Alec leveled a withering gaze in his direction.
“Not. The. Point. Can you find out everything he knows then wipe his memory so he has no recollection of any of us? I’m afraid if I do it in my current state of mind I may give him total and permanent amnesia.” Galen nodded his assent. “Okay, after that, make sure the bastard can’t bother us for a while and meet me in the church.” All color drained from Szczcuski’s face as he scurried around the far side of the desk. Galen faded and reappeared in front of the office door, crossed his arms over his massive chest, and blocked the priest’s attempted escape.
“You don’t understand,” the priest sputtered, skidding to a halt, eyes widened. He held out his hands, palms up, as though in supplication. “They threatened my family…they keep them under constant surveillance…my parents, my sisters, the children. I care nothing for their secret. I want only to keep those I love safe from the threats.”
“We’re aware of that,” Galen said. “Hence, the reason you’re still breathing. Now, please go back to your desk and have a seat. You’re going to take a little nap and when you wake up, you won’t remember anything that happened today beyond what you ate for breakfast.”
“How is that possible?” The priest shuffled backwards in the direction of the desk.
“You don’t need to know. Please have a seat, Father.” Alec waved a hand in the direction of the chair.
“They’ll kill them. They’ll kill me,” the priest whimpered as he sank into the plush leather.
“Not if we kill them first,” Galen muttered as Alec dematerialized and headed for the church.
****
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing here?”
Tessa jumped, her palms flat against the back of the wooden vestment cabinet, as her heart lurched and slammed against the inside of her chest. Though he spoke softly, she didn’t need her telepathic abilities, nor the unique connection of bound mates, to perceive Alec’s rage. She straightened her spine, dropped her hands to her sides, and turned slowly to face him, surprised to find the air undisturbed by the anger rolling off of him in waves.
“Isn’t it obvious? You said I could be helpful.” Tessa swallowed hard and tried to shrug casually, wondering when her husband developed that odd little tic near the outer corner of his eye. “I’m helping. What took you so long?”
“We made a pit-stop. I thought when I left you behind a woman of your intelligence would figure out I didn’t want you here and take the hint.”
“You told me I could help, patted me on the head, and sent me off to tea. Then you left without me, and without another word.” Tessa clenched her jaw until it ached, and blinked back the tears. “So, if you weren’t trying to show me you are a lying, sneaking, controlling bastard who still doesn’t trust his wife, no matter what you say to the contrary, apparently I misinterpreted the hint. Subtlety isn’t my strong point. Sue me.”
“Don’t you dare twist this and make it about trust,” Alec ground out between clenched teeth, taking a step toward her. “You will not risk your safety and well-being. Period. Trust has nothing to do with it.”
“Trust has everything to do with it.” Tessa shouted, throwing her hands in the air. Then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. Screeching like a fishwife never solved anything. It simply made it easier to lose the point among the noise. “Look, you just said I will not risk my safety and well-being. What you really mean is you won’t allow me to jeopardize my safety and well-being on what you consider a risk. Well, I’m sorry, Alec. I don’t need you to think for me.”
“Damn it, Tess. I love you. I don’t ever want to know how it feels to lose you again. I want you safe. Is that so wrong?” She felt the anger drain out of him as his massive chest expanded and contracted. He raked a hand through his dark curls and began to pace the confines of the small room.
“I know you love me, Alec, but you need to trust me, too.” She held up a hand, shaking her head, as he stopped before her and opened his mouth. “Trust is more than believing in my fidelity. Trust means having faith in my ability to think for myself, to know my own strengths and weaknesses, to understand my limitations. Trust is believing in me.”
“I do believe in you and I’m sorry if I made you feel otherwise. But, you have to understand trust is a two way street. You have to believe in me, too. I’ve been around longer, have more experience with these bastards, and sometimes I might know what’s best even if you disagree. You were damn lucky the only one waiting here when you showed up was a frightened mortal priest. If it had been a Fallen…well, I’d rather not think about it.”
Tessa’s eyes widened as she looked up into the face of this man she loved more than life, realizing he had a point. She stood here demanding he trust her, yet she completely discounted his concerns and his experience. She hadn’t trusted him.
“Fair enough. I guess I thought I had something to prove. Clearly, I haven’t mastered the suppression of knee jerk reactions quite as well as I gave myself credit for. Of course, you could have taken the time to explain yourself instead of tricking me and disappearing without a word. You acted like a caveman wielding the club of know-it-all machismo.” Tessa stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her cheek on the rock hard plane of his chest. “You should work on that.”
“I’ll try.” His warm breath ruffled her hair. “I guess maybe we both have a couple of things to work on, huh? But, it’s worth it. We’re worth it, Tess.”
“Yeah, we are,” She tipped her head back and smiled up at him. “Besides, constant lack of conflict would get kind of boring after a few decades, don’t you think?”
“No doubt,” Alec laughed. “Though I don’t think there’s any danger where we’re concerned. Well, Galen and I have determined there was, indeed, something besides Chopin’s heart in the urn when the priests here opened it. We also know someone is trying to keep anyone else from finding it. So, as long as you’re here helping, did you manage to find out anything useful?
“Well, I’m relatively certain the necklace is here somewhere. It’s almost like I can feel it. Maybe it�
��s the Djinni sensing his own essence is near?” Tessa shook her head and stepped out of Alec’s embrace, turning back toward the wall of cabinets. She lifted her arm and extended a finger in the direction of the dim interior of the one she’d been investigating when Alec arrived. “I feel a peculiar pull toward that one. Where’s Galen, by the way?”
“He’s making sure the priest can’t tell anyone we stopped by,” Alec replied absently, stepping around Tessa and moving in the direction of the open cabinet. He reached inside, shoved the vestments aside, and began rapping on the wood around the back with his knuckles. Tessa tugged ineffectually on the back of his leather jacket.
“What did you do? He didn’t hurt me, you know. He was simply frightened and didn’t know what else to do with me. Someone’s threatening him.”
“And he threatened you,” Alec’s muffled voice emanated from the depths of the closet. “Which does not sit well with me, even though you had the advantage. And no business being here in the first place.” He added as he straightened from the cabinet, and moved to open the open the one next to it, and then the remaining three forming the back wall of the sacristy, tapping around the perimeters as he did with the first one. “He’s fine. Galen will find out what he knows and then scrub his memory. He’ll wake up in a couple of hours none the worse for wear. I think the back of your cabinet is hollow.”
“Meaning?” Tessa reached into the cabinet and laid her hand flat against the back wall, her pulse racing, and waited to see if her gift would provide a hint. Nothing.
“Meaning there should be a solid wall behind it like the others and it seems like there isn’t. Could be a niche of some kind covered over during a renovation, the entrance to another room like Michael has at the Castel, a hidden passage. Hell, it could be a fluke and mean nothing at all. But, considering your attraction to that particular cabinet, I’m betting we can drop-kick the fluke theory from the mix.”
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