Kelsey knew the story.
No ransom was ever paid. Police zeroed in on a Belgian, Ars鑞e Goedertier, who claimed on his deathbed that he had stolen Just Judges. But his admission was met with skepticism. He had no real motive, no need for money as he was well off, and he lacked the physical capability to have even executed the theft. Then Goedertier died suddenly in late 1934.
揅opies of the twelve ransom letters were found in Goedertier抯 home,?the prioress said. 揟he maidens investigated everything thoroughly, but they were never able to locate their lost sisters, find the Just Judges, or identify any of Goedertier抯 accomplices.?
揥hy did they steal it in the first place??
揑t contains a secret.?
揂bout what??
揟o know that you will have to speak to others.?
She was puzzled. 揥ho??
揝ister Deal, since our formation, the Congregation of Saint-Luke has maintained a close relationship with the Maidens of Saint-Michael. Our prioress has always come from them. I am but one of a long line to make the transition. Until now, that relationship has been private. But what抯 happened here over the past few days has changed things significantly. The abbess of the maidens has been in contact with me. It is why I am here. I now know that the laptop you gave me contained no images. You and your acquaintance Nicholas Lee were clever in tricking me. But what you recorded on those images is threatening something that the maidens have guarded for nearly two thousand years.?
Chapter 35
Nick ranked what he was about to do at the top of his you-gotta-be-kidding list. He抎 first deceived, then made a deal with a group of nuns who were doing who-knew-what. The one indisputable fact was that the Just Judges had been burned to a cinder by the same nuns he抎 successfully worked into a corner. It had taken them nearly an hour to call back and arrange for a meeting. But call they did, choosing home ground at the convent. Which was fine by him, since he held all of the cards.
A cab dropped him outside the iron gates.
The day had turned warm, the late-afternoon sun beginning its final act toward the west. He抎 made a lot of progress in one day. Far more than the police. Hopefully Inspector Zeekers would keep chasing shadows and stay out of the way. He抎 stopped by his hotel and deposited Kelsey抯 laptop in his room. He hadn抰 called her back, preferring to let that stew a little while longer until he could figure out how best to handle her. She should be fine in her apartment. Time now to see just what in the world was going on.
He stepped through the gate, walked toward the convent抯 front entrance, and knocked on the heavy oak slab. The door was answered not by one of the nuns, but by a tall man with piercing violet eyes and strong, lean features. The older woman from last night, the one who抎 said she was in charge, stood off to the side beside another man. This one shorter, more rotund, with florid jowls hanging to each side of thick lips. The two men were dressed in differing trousers, shirt, and shoes, with jackets, but each sported a chain around his neck from which a cross hung.
Which had to be significant.
揧ou must be Nicholas Lee,?the tall man who answered the door said.
He caught the concerned look on the older nun抯 face.
揂nd you are??he asked.
揊riar Robert Dwight.?
He pointed at the other guy. 揂nd him??
揗y associate, Friar Paul Rice.?
His gaze shot to the nun, asking with his eyes if she was all right. The older woman nodded. Not a hint of fear filled her eyes. Instead, she seemed on alert, watching, listening.
揑 understand that you抳e come to speak with the maidens,?Dwight said. 揑nstead, you will now speak to me.?
揂nd what will we be talking about??
揟he electronic images of the Just Judges that, I抦 told, you possess.?
揂nd what抯 your interest??
揑f you please, I抣l be the one asking the questions.?
He wasn抰 sure about the arrogance but decided to let it pass. For the moment. He needed to find out what was going on, as these men抯 appearance had clearly been unexpected.
揥here is the laptop computer these women say you stole back from them last night??
Now he understood. The good maidens were playing a shell game of pass the laptop. Smart. Which raised a question.
揥here are the others??he asked the mother superior.
揟hey are not your concern,?Dwight said.
揑f you want those images, they抮e my concern. That抯 non-negotiable. And, by the way敆he pointed at the cross around the guy抯 neck棑what are you??
揇omini canes,?the older woman spit out, contempt in her voice.
揊orgive her,?Dwight said. 揝he uses an old Latin pun, a nickname we were sometimes referred to. The master抯 dogs. The Hounds of the Lord. Which by the way, we take as a badge of honor.?