The Last Templar Read online

  Reilly scrutinized the sheets in stunned silence, then turned to her. She grinned, her smile lighting up a face smeared with the grime of the tunnels. “They’re Vance’s,” she told him. “The Templar manuscripts from the Languedoc. But here’s the thing. I can recognize Latin, and none of this makes sense. It’s gibberish. That’s why he needs the encoder. It’s the key to what this is all about.”

  His expression clouded over. “But these pages, they’re useless without the encoder.”

  Tess had a self-satisfied glint in her eye. “True, but…the encoder is also pointless without them.”

  It was a moment she would always enjoy remembering: watching Reilly all conflicted and speechless. She knew he had to be delighted, but she also knew it was probably killing him that he couldn’t show it. The last thing he wanted to do was encourage her recklessness. Instead, he just stared at her before climbing out of the car and calling over one of the other agents and asking for the papers to be photographed immediately. Moments later, an agent hurried over with a large camera, and Reilly handed him the sheets.

  Tess watched as the photographer spread them out on the car’s trunk and got to work. She then turned to see Reilly pick up a small two-way radio and get updated on the situation in the tunnels. There was something attractive about the urgency with which he went about his work. As she watched him mumbling cryptically into the radio, he glanced over at her, and she thought she spied a faint smile there.

  “I need to go down there,” he told her after he signed off. “They’ve found your two friends.”

  “What about Vance?”

  “No sign of him.” He clearly wasn’t happy with that. “I’ll get someone to take you home.”

  “No hurry,” she told him. Which wasn’t true. She was desperate to get out of her filthy, wet clothes and stand under the shower for hours, but not before the photographer was finished. She was even more desperate to take a look at the documents that had started all this.

  Reilly walked away, leaving her in his car. She watched him chat to a couple of other agents before they all headed toward the station entrance.

  Abruptly, her thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone. The caller ID displayed her home number.

  “Tess, dear, it’s me.” It was Eileen.

  “Mom. I’m sorry, I should have called you.”

  “Called me? Why? Is anything wrong?”

  Tess breathed out with relief. There was no reason for her mother to be worried about her. The FBI would have been careful not to alarm her if they’d called to find out where Tess was. “No, of course not. What’s up?”

  “I was just wondering what time you’d be home. Your friend’s already here.”

  Tess felt a sudden chill shoot up her spine. “My friend?”

  “Yes,” her mother chirped. “He’s such a lovely man. Here, have a word with him, dear. And don’t be too late. I’ve asked him to stay for dinner.”

  Tess heard the phone changing hands, and then a newly familiar voice came on.

  “Tess, darling. It’s Bill. Bill Vance.”

  Chapter 39

  Tess froze in her seat, a knot the size of a fist forming in her throat. He was there, in her very own house. With her mother. And—Kim?

  She turned away from the car door, clasping the phone tightly.

  “What are you—”

  “I thought you’d be here already,” he interjected calmly. “I didn’t get the time wrong, did I? Your message said it was rather urgent.”

  Message? Tess’s mind was racing. He’s in my house and he’s playing games. An anger swelled inside her. “If you hurt them, I swear—”

  “No, no, no,” he interrupted, “it’s not a problem. But I really can’t stay too long. Much as I’d love to take up your lovely mother’s invitation and have dinner with you all, I have to get back up to Connecticut. You said you had something for me. Something you wanted me to have a look at.”

  Of course. The papers. He wants his papers back. She realized he didn’t want to cause her mom or Kim any distress. He was posing as a friend, and was acting accordingly. Her mother wouldn’t know anything was wrong. Good. Let’s keep it that way.

  “Tess?” he asked with disturbing serenity. “Are you still there?”

  “Yes. You want me to bring you the documents.”

  “That would be great.”

  Her mind flashed on her wallet, lying among the clutter on the floor of Vance’s cellar, and she chided herself for not retrieving it. She looked out the car window nervously. Only the photographer was near, still taking pictures of the documents. Feeling a constriction in her chest, Tess took a deep breath and turned away from the photographer. “I’m on my way. Please, don’t do anything—”

  “Of course not,” he chortled. “I’ll wait for you, then. Is anyone else joining us?”

  Tess frowned. “No.”

  “Perfect.” He paused for a moment. Tess wondered what he was doing. “It’ll be nice to spend some time and get to know them a bit better,” he continued. “Kim is such a delightful little girl.”

  So she was there after all. That bastard. He lost his daughter, now he’s threatening mine.

  “I’ll come alone, don’t worry,” Tess said firmly.

  “Don’t be long.”

  She heard the phone click off, and for a moment she continued to hold the cell phone to her ear, running through the conversation again, trying to come to terms with what was happening.

  She had a huge decision to make. Do I tell Reilly? She knew the answer to that: of course. Anyone who’d ever watched a TV show knew that, regardless of whatever a kidnapper said, you called the cops. You always called the cops. But that was TV, and this was real life. This was about her family in the hands of a demolished man. Much as she wanted to tell Reilly, she didn’t want to risk triggering some kind of hostage situation. Not given the state of mind Vance was in.

  Grasping at straws, she tried to convince herself he wouldn’t hurt them. He hadn’t hurt her, had he? He was even apologetic about what he’d done to her. But now, she had crossed him, and she had his documents, the ones that were crucial to his mission. The documents, as Reilly had rightly put it, that people had died for.

  She couldn’t risk it. Her family was in harm’s way.

  She sneaked another look at the photographer. He was done. Still holding the cell phone to her ear, she edged toward him. “Yes,” she said loudly, into the dead line. “He’s just finished photographing them.” She nodded to the photographer, dredging up a smile. “Sure, I’ll bring them right over,” she continued. “You go ahead and start setting up the equipment.”

  Clicking the phone shut, she addressed the photographer. “Are you sure they’ll come out?”

  Her question surprised him. “I hope so. It’s what I’m paid for.”

  She rolled up the papers as he reflexively moved away from them. “I’ve got to race these over to the lab.” There was always a lab involved. She just hoped it sounded remotely credible. She glanced at the camera and added. “Reilly wants those shots developed fast. Can you do that for him?”

  “Sure, it’s not a problem—given that they’re digital,” he deadpanned.

  Tess grimaced at her error as she walked as confidently as she could back to Reilly’s car, resisting the urge to run. When she got to the driver’s door, she glanced inside and saw that the key was still there, where she had seen Reilly leave it. She got in and flicked the ignition.

  She scanned the faces at the scene, searching for Reilly, hoping not to see him. He wasn’t around, nor was his partner. She nursed the car out of its double-parked spot and slowly navigated through the other sedans and police cars, inching forward, smiling sheepishly at the couple of officers who waved her through, hoping the sheer terror inside her wasn’t breaking through to the surface.

  Once she was clear, she pulled away, checking the rearview mirror, and, moments later, she was speeding up the street, headed for Westchester.

  Chap
ter 40

  As she pulled into the driveway outside her house, Tess misjudged the curb and hit it hard before squealing to a halt.

  Sitting there, paralyzed with fear, she looked at her hands. They were trembling, and her breath was coming short and fast. She struggled to compose herself. She had to be calm about this. Come on, Tess. Keep it together. If she could just manage that, maybe, just maybe, she and Vance could each get what they wanted.

  She got out of the car and suddenly regretted her decision not to tell Reilly about what had happened. She would have still been able to come here, while he set up…what? A SWAT team, men with guns and megaphones all around the house, bellowing “Come out with your hands up.” Hours of fraught hostage negotiations before the inevitable and highly risky—however minutely planned—assault? Her imagination was getting the better of her. She tried to stay focused on the reality around her. No, maybe her choice had been the right one after all.

  In any case, it was too late now.

  She was here.

  Walking up to the door, she suddenly hesitated. She could imagine what had happened here. Vance would have rung the bell, spoken with Eileen. A few words about Oliver Chaykin, about Tess, and Eileen would have been completely disarmed and probably charmed too.

  If only she had told Reilly.

  Sliding her key into the lock, she opened the door and walked into the living room. The scene that greeted her was surreal. Vance was there, sitting with her mother on the sofa, chatting amiably, sipping a cup of tea. Tess could hear music coming from Kim’s room. Her daughter was upstairs.

  Eileen’s mouth dropped when she saw the disheveled state her daughter was in. She jumped out of her seat. “Oh my God, Tess, what happened to you?”

  “Are you all right?” Vance stood up, sounding genuinely surprised.

  He has the nerve to ask that. Tess stared at him, doing her utmost to keep her rage, which had by now overwhelmed any feelings of fear that she had, under control.

  “I’m fine.” She managed to find a smile. “There was a leak in the street outside the office and this truck drove straight through the puddle just as I was standing there, and, well…You don’t want to know.”

  Eileen took hold of her daughter’s arm. “You’ve got to get changed, dear, you’ll catch cold.” She turned to Vance. “You’ll excuse us, won’t you, Bill?”

  Tess stared at Vance. He was just standing there, radiating warmth and concern.

  “Actually, I’m afraid I really should be going.” His eyes bored into Tess’s. “If you want to give me those papers, I’ll be on my way. Besides, I’m sure the last thing you want is a guest in the house right now.”

  Tess stood there, glaring at him. The silence was deafening. Eileen looked at Vance, then at Tess, who could tell her mother was clearly sensing something uncomfortable in the room. She quickly snapped out of it and smiled at Vance.

  “Of course. I have them right here.” She reached into her bag and pulled out the manuscripts. She handed them to him. He reached out to take them, and, for a few seconds, they were both holding on to them.

  “Thanks. I’ll get to work on them as soon as I can.”

  Tess forced another smile. “That would be great.”

  Vance turned to Eileen. He took her hand and cupped it in his. “It’s been a pleasure.”

  Eileen relaxed and blushed, her face beaming from the compliment. Tess felt hugely relieved that Eileen was spared the truth of who Vance really was. For now, at least. She turned back to Vance. She couldn’t read his look. He was studying her.

  “I should be going.” He nodded at Tess. “Thanks again.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  He stopped at the door and turned to Tess.

  “I’ll see you soon.” And with that, he walked out the door.

  Tess left Eileen and stood at the door, watching him drive off. Eileen joined her.

  “He’s such a nice man. Why didn’t you tell me you knew him? He told me he’s worked with Oliver.”

  “Come on, Mom,” Tess said in a low voice, as she quietly shut the door.

  Her hands were still shaking.

  Chapter 41

  In the long mirror in her bathroom, Tess finally saw herself. She’d never been as dirty, bedraggled, or pale. Even though tremors of tension still pulsed through her legs, she resisted the urge to sit down. After all that had happened today, if she did sit down, she knew she probably wouldn’t be able to get up again for a while. She also knew the day wasn’t over yet. Reilly was on his way. He had called shortly after Vance had left and he was now rushing over. Even though he sounded reasonably calm, she knew he was furious with her. She would have some serious explaining to do.

  Again.

  Only this time would be a bit more difficult. She would have to tell Reilly why she didn’t trust in him enough to ask for his help.

  She stared at the stranger in the mirror. The confident, lively blonde was gone. In her place was a wreck, both physically and mentally. Self-doubt was besieging her mind. She thought back to the day’s events, questioning her every move and kicking herself for putting her mother and daughter in danger.

  It’s not a game, Tess. You’ve got to stop doing this. You’ve got to stop now.

  As she got undressed, she felt the onset of tears. She had resisted it when she went to hug Kim after Vance had left. She had resisted the nervous tears of laughter when Kim had pushed her back, saying “Ew, Mom, you stink. You need a shower big time.” She resisted it on the phone with Reilly, all the while making sure her mom and Kim didn’t overhear her conversation with him. Thinking about it, she couldn’t remember the last time she had cried, but right now, she couldn’t help it. She felt awful, shivering as much from the fear as from the “what if” worst-case scenarios she was imagining.

  Apart from sluicing off the dirt and the smell, she used the time in the shower to make some decisions. Among them was that she owed Kim and Eileen something else.

  Safety.

  An idea came to her.

  Wearing only a bathrobe and with her hair still dripping, Tess found Eileen in the kitchen. “I’ve been thinking about our plans to stay with Aunt Hazel this summer,” Tess said without preamble. Hazel was her mother’s sister. She lived on a small ranch just outside Prescott, Arizona, alone except for a few dozen assorted animals.

  “What about it?”

  Tess pressed on without missing a beat. “I think we should go there now, for Easter.”

  “Why on earth…” Her mother broke off, then said, “Tess, what aren’t you telling me?”

  “Nothing,” Tess lied, flashing back to the other man who had come looking for Vance in the cellar, the gunshot, and his anguished cry.

  “But—”

  Again, Tess interrupted her mother. “We all need a break. Look, I’ll come too, okay? It’ll take me a few days to clear my calendar and arrange it with the office. But I want you and Kim to go tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Why not? You’ve been dying to go, and Kim can just start her Easter vacation a few days early. I’ll book some flights, be easier this way, we’ll miss the Easter rush,” Tess insisted.

  “Tess.” Her mother’s tone was angry and firm. “What’s this all about?”

  Tess smiled nervously at her mother’s annoyance. She would apologize later. “It’s important, Mom,” she said quietly.

  Eileen studied her. She had always been able to read her daughter, and today was no exception. “What’s going on? Are you in danger? I want an honest answer, now. Are you?”

  She couldn’t lie about this. “I don’t think so. What I do know is that in Arizona,” she said evasively, “there’ll be absolutely nothing to worry about.”

  Her mother frowned. It obviously wasn’t the answer she was hoping for. “Well then come with us tomorrow.”

  “I can’t.” Her look and her tone left no room for argument.

  Eileen breathed in deep, studying her. “Tess—”


  “I can’t, Mom.”

  Eileen nodded unhappily. “But you’ll follow us there. You promise.”

  “I promise. I’ll be with you in a couple of days.”

  All at once, she felt an overflowing sense of relief.

  Then the doorbell rang.

  “YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME, Tess. You should have told me.” Reilly was livid. “We could have picked him up after he’d left the house, we could have put a tail on him, there’s a number of ways we could have handled this.” He shook his head. “We could have had him and put an end to this thing.”

  They talked in her backyard, away from her mom and from Kim. She had asked him to be discreet and not show up with guns blazing, assuring him that they were all safe. With Aparo keeping an eye out front and waiting for the local PD squad car to show up, Reilly had quickly ascertained that the situation was, as she had said, under control and that the danger had indeed passed.

  She was wearing a white toweling bathrobe, her long hair darker from being wet, her legs bare beneath the robe. Sitting under a large mallow tree, and despite the frustration and anger she could see she had caused in Reilly, she felt oddly calm. His presence had a lot to do with it. Twice in the same day, she had felt threatened in a way she had never experienced before, and twice he had been there for her.

  She glanced away, collecting her thoughts, letting his own turmoil settle a bit, before glancing up at him. “I’m sorry, I really am…I just didn’t know what else to do. I guess I wasn’t thinking straight. I had all these visions of SWAT teams and hostage negotiators and—”

  “And you panicked. I understand that; it’s perfectly normal. I mean, the guy was threatening your daughter, your mom, but still…” He breathed out in frustration, shaking his head again.

  “I know. You’re right. I’m sorry.”