揥e are not strong enough to withstand all of that. We live in a world of instant communication to every corner of the planet. Many will take delight in our arrogance and conceit. And if the faithful stop believing in dogma, stop relying on the church for absolute guidance, then it is all over.?
Okay, he got it. This was important. At least to Fuentes. And maybe to the pope himself. 揥hat do you want me to do??
揑 need you to tell me everything you know about this son of yours. Then we are going to determine if he is a person in the know, an opportunist, or a fraud. After that, we will deal with him.?
揂nd the Vultures??
揑 plan to deal with them too.?
揅an I ask how??
揥hat should have been done long, long ago.?
He waited.
揑 will silence them.?
Chapter 44
Nick entered the nondescript building on Ghent抯 southern edge that served as the local morgue. It sat next to a police substation that was busy with activity. He抎 learned the location thanks to some recon work from CLIO抯 New York office. They抎 provided him with not only the location, but also a schematic of the building. How they抎 managed that? No clue. But he appreciated the extra effort.
They抎 driven over in the vehicle he抎 earlier secured, also with New York抯 help. A small Mercedes coupe that was now parked a block over on a quiet side street. From the intel he抎 been provided with there were two ways in and out. One served as the main entrance for the public off the street, the other a service dock in the rear. That was most likely where bodies were brought in and out, beyond a chain-link fence that provided a measure of security and privacy. He had to assume there抎 be cameras. Nowadays, in facilities like this, there was always a camera somewhere.
So he抎 decided on using the front door.
Straight in.
Where any visitor would go.
The late hour should help, and hopefully the facility was sparsely staffed, but the cops next door were an issue. Once inside, he saw that no one waited behind the front desk. A closed door led from there into the bowels of the building.
揅heck it,?he said to Claire as he watched for anyone else who might enter behind them.
She moved toward the door and tested the knob.
Open. So far so good.
He nodded and they both headed through and into a dimly lit corridor. Everything smelled of formaldehyde. Claire made sure the spring-loaded hinges did not cause the door to slam back into the jamb and alert anyone. He hadn抰 said a word about that. She just did it instinctively. Impressive. Three closed doors lined the corridor with another at the far end. She tried all three. Locked. No cameras were in sight here. Good. He headed for the door at the far end.
Which opened.
Inside was the refrigeration room, two walls lined with latched stainless-steel doors for body compartments. He wondered where the attendants were. From the look on Claire抯 face she was thinking the same thing.
Then he heard it.
A door opened, then closed.
Footfalls.
Approaching.
He nodded to Claire, who assumed a position behind the door. He stood in the middle of the room and waited.
The door opened.
A bearded young man entered, eating a sandwich. His eyes immediately locked on what was surely the only strange thing, to him, in the room. The guy said something in Flemish.
揈nglish??Nick asked.
揥ho are you??
揘o one told you??he asked, adding surprise to his voice.
揘o one told me anything.?
揑抦 here for the woman shot last night. I don抰 have a name. Caucasian. Blond hair, cut short. Face bruised from slamming the pavement. Multiple gunshot wounds.?
揑 know who you mean. But nobody told me her body was being moved. I am going to have to棓
Claire pounced, wrapping her right arm around the man抯 neck and clamping her left hand tight to the right wrist.
A choke hold?
She applied pressure until the sandwich slipped from the man抯 grip.
揂re those taught in the convent??
She released her grip and helped the man抯 limp body fold to the floor. 揥e never use lethal force.?She stood. 揑 wasn抰 sure where you were headed with the double talk. We don抰 have time to be subtle.?
Apparently she had little faith in him. 揌ow about we find Sister Rachel and get out of here. There could be more people working tonight. And we can抰 choke 抏m all.?He paused. 揙r can we??
She ignored his jab and they checked the refrigeration compartments one by one, finally finding Sister Rachel. She lay inside a black body bag on a stainless-steel tray. Sister Claire crossed herself and recited a prayer. He stood reverently and allowed her the moment. They抎 only zippered back enough to expose the pale head on the naked body.