But she wasn抰 quite so sure.
Nick was pushing his luck. No question. He was bare-ass-to-the-wind, out in the open. Armed, but Fuentes had the high ground and the altar between them. He debated sending a round that way, but a ricochet might endanger Sister Claire, who stood way too close and wasn抰 retreating at the sign of trouble.
揗aidens,?Claire called out.
And all of the women rose from their pews, spilling out into the center aisle, forming a human barrier between where he stood and where Fuentes had taken cover.
Neither one of them could shoot the other now.
揘ick,?Sister Claire said. 揑f you truly have the Virgin抯 bones, I ask you to hand them over to the cardinal. On one point he is correct. This does not concern you. The maidens and the church have fought a long-standing battle, which ends today.?
揂 choice you made,?he said to her.
揝omebody had to. My friend Rachel died. A point you reminded me of several times. Sister Deal was placed in dire jeopardy. I cannot, and will not, allow any more harm to come to anyone. If the destruction of the tomb and the removal of the bones will end this, then I抦 good with that. As are the other women standing in front of you.?
Fuentes stood from behind the altar. 揗aidens, know that this will all end today and your order will go on. Unaffected. You have my word.?
He caught the self-righteous tone of a man realizing he was once again in control.
揥e appreciate your efforts on our behalf,?Claire said to Nick. 揃ut I ask you to stop. We will not allow either one of you to harm the other. Please, just give him the bones and let him go. The damage is done and cannot be undone.?
He debated all of the options.
None were good. So he decided to listen to her.
揃ring me the pack,?he called out.
Kelsey had waited for Nick抯 instructions.
They抎 both been unsure as to what to do with the bones they抎 found. Nick had figured the bag would get Fuentes抯 attention, so they抎 dumped the bones into the backpack and replaced them with stones. She抎 been hesitant at such a desecration since Sister Claire, the maidens, the abbess, and Cardinal Fuentes all believed these were the mortal remains of the Mother of God. But this was an extraordinary situation, so the Blessed Virgin would just have to understand.
She stepped from her hiding spot and walked past the last pew toward where Nick stood, handing him the backpack.
Deception time was over.
揂ll right,?Nick called out. 揌ere抯 what you want.?
Fuentes decided to linger no further.
But there was a new matter he had to broach with Sister Claire. 揟his man and Sister Deal know a great deal.?
He kept his voice low.
揑 agree. But what does it matter? The tomb is destroyed. The bones will be gone. No one here is going to say a thing, nor are you. So they have nothing but a wild tale.?
揙rdinarily, I would be hesitant. But there抯 little I can do, considering your show of defensive force. So I抣l rely on you to deal with them.?
揘ot to worry. I抣l handle it. The last thing we want is for this to continue past today.?
He appraised her carefully, gauging for himself her credibility. 揂ll right, sister. You deal with it.?
He turned to leave.
揅ardinal,?she said, her voice louder, 搇eave the gun.?
He turned back and faced her. 揑 will not.?
揟hen you抣l not be given those bones. And I have eighteen maidens to back that up. You may be able to shoot one, two, four, but not all of them.?
A showdown? Interesting. But she was right.
He was outnumbered.
揑 thought Vultures never killed,?he said.
揥e don抰。 But we can maim. Badly.?He remembered the arrow to the thigh. 揂nd I owe you for that blow to my face.?
Good point.
Better to leave.
So he laid the weapon on the altar and walked away.
The maidens crowding the center aisle parted into the pews, clearing a way to Lee and Sister Deal. He approached and Lee handed him the backpack Rice had left with.
揥here are the friars??he asked.
揙utside,?Lee said. 揃ut we have their weapons.?
He accepted the pack from Sister Deal, unzipped it, and checked, seeing the bones. 揌ow do I know you did not keep one??
揧ou don抰，？Lee said.
He shrugged.
What would one fossil-like bone, with no provenance matter? 揑 certainly hope I抣l never see, or hear from, either of you again.?
And he left.
Chapter 75
Nick and Kelsey stood outside the church in the cool afternoon air. They抎 watched as Fuentes roused both Dwight and Rice and the three had walked off down the path. Sister Claire and the maidens also left, heading back toward the motherhouse in silence. He抎 tried to engage Claire, but she抎 ignored him.