So he stayed quiet.
And waited.
Claire realized the abbess had gambled on Fuentes using Sister Deal as a shield. It seemed logical. But how would Nick Lee react? That was the unknown. He could go on the offensive, which would expose him and perhaps end all this right now. Or he could do nothing, realizing that they had things under control. The entire atmosphere was tense, theatrical, the scene below echoing a troubling combination of conflict and confidence.
揗ake a decision,?she muttered.
揥e are coming inside,?Fuentes called out, the gun still aimed.
揂nd if we refuse??she called out.
揗ust we go there? I came here for a reason, and nothing is going to stand in my way.?
The abbess stood behind her, out of view. She kept her focus out the window. Lee had kept quiet and hidden.
揕et them in,?her superior whispered.
揑抣l open the doors,?she called out.
Vilamur exhaled.
This was rapidly spinning out of all control. But what had he expected? These men were obsessed, and now he was right in the middle of their insanity thanks to his uncontrollable libido.
Was a red hat worth it?
Damn right it was.
But he was becoming concerned about Fuentes抯 promise to silence the maidens. What exactly did that mean? Shooting them? And these women were not without a punch of their own. One of them had just fired an arrow into a man抯 thigh. He understood Fuentes抯 need to establish an aura of dominance, but he resented the subordination that had been forced upon him. True, he抎 broken his vows and violated the Tenth Commandment. But he never killed anybody, though he had allowed Fuentes to deal with Bernat de Foix. At the moment, though, he found himself on a massif, fifteen hundred meters up in the Pyr閚閑s, with guns and arrows. Fuentes stood with eyes devoid of expression, casting an impersonal gaze like the glare of a predatory cat. None of which boded well. Sister Deal was clearly scared, but she was staying remarkably composed. He felt for her, but there was nothing he could do. This was all up to the maidens. Would they fight or concede?
He heard a sound and turned back to see the double oak doors part on their iron hinges and the abbess standing in the open doorway.
Thank God.
Nick was breathing fast, unsure as to what to do next. Maybe that gun he抎 left in the helicopter would have been a good thing after all? He hadn抰 thought a weapon necessary. After all, he抎 been headed to a convent. But he抎 also never anticipated that Kelsey would be here. He抎 believed the prioress on the phone last night when she said Kelsey was safe and he抎 assumed that he could deal with things here. Bad mistake.
Labelle seemed anxious too.
揥e抣l let them get inside, then follow,?he whispered.
揥e can take them now,?Labelle said.
揟hat woman, who had the gun to her head. She抯 special to me. I can抰 risk her life.?
揑 want Vilamur.?
揂nd what are you going to do with him when you get him??
揗ake him tell me where Bernat de Foix is.?
He knew that caution, rather than speed, was the best course. Let this play out and get into position to make a move when it made sense. The advantage was that none of the interlopers knew they were there.
The man with the gun at Kelsey抯 head told one of the other Dominicans to take the injured friar back down for medical attention. That left only Dwight and Rice, along with Vilamur and the other man, the one who seemed in charge. Kelsey and her captor started walking toward the other five maidens being held at gunpoint. One Dominican helped the injured man up and they started to leave back through the gate, the arrow still protruding at the thigh.
揕et them go,?he whispered to Labelle. 揟he odds are getting better.?
They remained in their hiding place, off the road, as the two slowly passed, the one with the arrow hobbling along with an arm draped around the other. The rest of the group advanced toward the abbey. Rice retrieved the gun that the injured man had lost. They all entered through the main doors, which were slammed shut after them.
揑 recently was shown a truth,?Labelle said. 揙ne I抳e come to deeply believe in. Part of that truth is a pledge of no violence.?
揝ounds like a good philosophy.?
Labelle抯 eyes found his. 揑t is my life. Now. But I want Vilamur to tell me what happened to Bernat de Foix. I will do what抯 necessary to get that information.?
Which really did not involve Nick or his mission. To this point the archbishop of Toulouse had not been a player. So he stared into the hard liquid eyes and said, 揌ow about you help me out, and I抣l help you??
Labelle nodded.
And they both headed for the abbey.
Chapter 64
Fuentes was conscious that one error, one small omission, even a single piece of bad luck and the next step would be a desperate measure.