But the tattoo was visible.
The plan had been to get the body out, then leave Ghent and connect with Sisters Ellen and Isabel, who would be waiting out of town. From there, Sister Rachel would make a journey out of Belgium and back to France. About a twelve-hour trip. Thankfully, there were no border checks between European Union nations. A free flow of commerce, which these maidens planned to take full advantage of.
Claire crossed herself again, signaling she was finished.
He zippered the bag shut and looked at her.
Tears seeped from her brown eyes. 揝he should not have died.?
He agreed. But he had to ask, 揥as it worth it??
She glared at him. 揟o her it was, and that抯 what matters.?
揧ou people are quite cavalier about death.?
揘ot in the least,?she shot back.
揟hat抯 not the way it looks from here. I watched this woman die. She tossed that laptop down and then stood there and took the bullets. Maybe she thought they wouldn抰 shoot? But when they did, she just stood there.?He paused. 揟o give you time to get away.?
The tears increased. He wondered how often this woman cried.
Not all that much, he imagined.
揧ou do know,?she said, 搕hat I fully realize all of that. I was her superior. I sent her in there. I was responsible for her.?
The voice cracked but stayed firm.
揥hatever is going on here, I hope it抯 worth it.?
Her eyes drifted back down to the body bag. 揑t is.?
揥e need to go.?
She swiped the moisture from her face and nodded.
He reached down, gripped the bag, and lifted it, draping the corpse over his right shoulder. Not the most respectful way to carry the dead, but they had no choice. He had to hope that there was a path away from the building where darkness could be their ally. They certainly could not traipse out the front door and risk being seen by the police next door. A second door led out of the room, which Claire opened to reveal a larger space with stainless-steel tables where autopsies were surely performed. Glass-fronted cabinets lined the walls holding supplies and instruments. He found what he wanted across on the other side. The door out. Heavy metal with a small wire-meshed glass window.
They headed for it.
Then he spotted trouble.
A camera in the far corner, with a red dot signaling it was on.
Claire saw it too but said nothing. Instead, she yanked open the door and they rushed out into the night.
An alarm sounded.
Loud.
No way they could make a discreet retreat now. And no way they抎 make it to the car parked a block away. He spied another vehicle just past the small loading dock. 揋o and see if there are keys on that guy.?
She did not hesitate and disappeared back inside. He descended a short set of steps and headed for the vehicle, which was unlocked. No surprise considering it was parked inside a fenced enclave with a police station a stone抯 throw away.
The alarm kept wailing.
Claire rushed out the door, displaying a set of keys. The vehicle was an older Volvo, a compact with four doors, messy on the inside with clothes and other stuff scattered everywhere. He carefully laid Sister Rachel across the back seat atop what was there.
揑 hope those are the right keys,?he said.
She tossed them and he saw the black chuck of plastic attached to the ring with 揤olvo?etched on it. 揥e抳e got company coming this way. I pushed those tables against the interior door to slow them down.?
They both hopped into the car.
He settled behind the wheel and inserted the key end of the fob.
Which fit.
The engine roared to life.
He depressed the clutch and slammed the gearshift into reverse, spinning the car back and out of its parking spot. The outer door to the building burst open and several uniforms emerged. He watched them through his side window and saw no weapons.
Thank goodness.
He floored the clutch and shifted into first gear, spinning the wheel and accelerating straight for the fenced double gate, chained shut at its center. No fancy electronics there. Just old-fashioned locks and key.
He shifted from second to third, adding speed.
揌old on,?he said.
And he powered through the gate, exploding the two fenced panels outward.
揧ou told us you could handle this,?Claire said. 揥e thought that meant you would be using your UN credentials.?
He whipped the car sharply to the right and his headlights swung out across the silent narrow street. It would only be a matter of seconds before the police gave chase. 揧ou never gave me a chance to handle it.?He came to an intersection. 揂ny idea where we go??
揋ive me a second.?
She produced a phone and started tapping.
In the rearview mirror he saw flashing lights, headed their way.