This man had definitely connected the dots. He抎 thought with de Foix抯 demise, and all of the electronic evidence erased, that his problem was over.
But he was wrong.
Andre Labelle knew way too much.
Chapter 68
Nick stayed hidden in his perch. The abbess, Kelsey, and the remaining seven maidens who hadn抰 gone over to the dark side, including Sisters Ellen and Isabel, were below in the chapter hall. Friar Dwight kept guard over them, armed. The rest of the maidens, along with Sister Claire, Fuentes, and Friar Rice, had left. Dwight had assumed a position at the exit out of the hall, which was below where he lay up in the gallery. Sister Ellen had positioned herself at one of the tables at the opposite end where she could still see him. He noticed she was careful with her glances so as not to attract Dwight抯 interest. But when Nick finally got her attention he motioned that he wanted to take the friar beneath him out.
She shook her head no.
He was puzzled. Why not? Too risky? Somebody might get hurt? That was definitely a concern. But he had to do something.
He heard Dwight call out in French. Unfortunately, he did not understand a word, but the man sounded angry. Below Sister Ellen had raised her hands and replied with some French of her own. She pointed above and spewed out more French.
Was this about him?
He rose to his knees.
Dwight came into view below as he emerged from beneath the gallery and began to angle his head upward, turning his body. Nick vaulted over the top of the rail and angled his descent so that he crashed down right atop the tall friar. There was a chance of an accidental discharge, so he made a point to sweep the hand with the gun downward. His body folded into Dwight抯 in a tangle of arms and legs. The friar broke his fall and together they slammed to the floor. He did not allow the man the luxury of any recovery. Instead, he wrapped an arm around the thick neck and clamped tight. He was banking on the fact that, for all his bravado, this bully had never been in a real fight. To make his point clear, he tightened his grip, which caused Dwight to gasp for breath. It wasn抰 quite a choke hold, but it was close enough.
The gun had fallen from Dwight抯 grasp.
Sister Ellen moved quickly to retrieve it and he released his grip. Dwight pushed away and began gasping for air with ragged breaths. Nick hopped to his feet and went straight to Kelsey.
揧ou all right??he asked.
She nodded. 揑抦 fine.?She looked into his eyes. 揑抦 glad you抮e here.?
So was he.
Dwight was still trying to regain hold of himself. He抎 choked the bastard pretty good.
揕ooks like you have a full-scale revolution,?he said to the abbess.
揑t would appear so. You must be Nicholas Lee.?
揑 see my reputation has preceded me.?
A couple of the maidens led Dwight over to one of the tables and sat him down. Sister Ellen kept the weapon pointed and ready.
揥ho is he??Kelsey asked.
揂 Dominican named Robert Dwight,?he told her.
揥hat in the world, Nick? What抯 going on here??
He didn抰 have time to explain. 揑抦 going after Fuentes.?
揗e too,?Kelsey said.
揘o, you抮e not,?he said. 揂nd please don抰 argue with me on this.?
He caught the concern in her eyes, there clear as day despite the years of hurt and confusion between them. She did not want him to face things alone.
揌e抯 right,?the abbess said. 揝ister Kelsey, you will stay here with me. We need to talk.?
Kelsey did not seem to agree.
揂re you going to disobey me too??the older woman asked.
Kelsey hesitated, then shook her head, capitulating to the command.
The abbess faced him. 揈ighteen maidens left with Sister Claire, along with Fuentes and Rice. The cardinal and the friar are armed.?
揔eep Dwight here, under control,?he said.
The abbess nodded.
揧ou can抰 go out there unarmed,?Kelsey said.
揑抳e been in tighter spots than this with no gun. I can handle myself.?
揑 understand your revulsion,?Kelsey said. She knew all about Charlie Minter and Marvin Royster. 揃ut don抰 be foolish.?
揑 got this.?He winked, trying to put her at ease. 揃esides, you need that weapon to keep Dwight from doing anything stupid. You stay here, with the abbess.?
He turned to leave.
Kelsey grabbed his arm. 揃e careful. Okay??
He nodded.
Sister Isabel led him through the building to the main doors, which she opened. No one was in sight across the rocky, rolling grounds that spread out beneath the tall trees.
揥here are they??he asked.
She pointed off ahead. 揂bout three hundred yards that way. To the rock church.?
He waited for more, but nothing else was forthcoming.
Okay. He stepped out into the afternoon.