The Venice Code (A James Acton Thriller, Book #8) (James Acton Thrillers) Read online

  Today the fire was contained in his two charcoal grills, burgers, hot dogs and one veggie burger for an experimental pre-teen were all on the go, buns on the top grill to toast up slightly, a stack of American processed cheese slices ready to be peeled off one-by-one and melted on what he hoped would be perfectly cooked quarter pounders.

  It was his favorite job that didn’t involve a weapon.

  A softball game was underway with the rest of his team and their families, the laughter intoxicating. He normally did this job alone, sometimes pining for the old days when he was just one of the guys, and his old boss would be grilling away.

  Command structure was loose in Delta, all of them some type of sergeant. There were no officers here, they were in the building, cooking up and responding to mission requests. But in the field? It was all NCO’s—Non-Coms—that did the grunt work.

  And he loved it.

  There was nothing like being in-theatre, on a mission, living on the edge of life and death, then accomplishing their task and coming back home, all alive, all well. It didn’t always work out that way, and just recently they had mourned the loss of one of their own, but they usually made it out with just a few scrapes and the occasional bullet wound, their training and equipment exceptional.

  Today however, instead of tending the grill by himself, he had Maggie at his side, chatting him up. She was a hot little number, sporting a t-shirt exposing her flat midriff and shorts that were just a little too short showcasing long, tanned legs. It had taken Dawson a little while to figure out she was sweet on him, and he still hadn’t decided what to do about it. He had always thought of himself as a life-long committed bachelor. He’d have the occasional dalliance just to let off some steam, but had never found “the one”.

  He sometimes envied the family men like his best friend Mike “Red” Belme, his second-in-command, who had a wife and kids. Dawson had a sister with a fantastic daughter who he adored, and he was godfather to Red’s son Bryson who was a joy except when he neared Dawson’s prized 1964½ Ford Mustang convertible in original Poppy Red with his hands covered in dripping ice cream or worse.

  When he was all cleaned up he and Red would take Bryson out for drives, usually ending up somewhere necessitating a cleanup before the drive home.

  Red would always admonish him with some variation of “Get a mini-van then you won’t care!” Dawson would just give him the evil eye as he supervised the wipe-down.

  Cheers mixed with groans came from the game and Maggie motioned toward the group. “Looks like game over.”

  Dawson nodded, noting her hand resting on his shoulder and the low level of her third bottle of brewed courage. She was a great looking woman, very friendly and intelligent.

  But she’s the Colonel’s secretary!

  If it didn’t work out, every time he’d have to see the Colonel she’d be there. The level of discomfort would be insane. And if she were to quit because of it? The Colonel would probably tear him a new asshole for losing him a perfectly good secretary.

  “Oh, here comes the chaperone.”

  Chaperone? Are we on a date?

  Red trotted over, young Bryson racing behind him, his legs a little too uncoordinated for Dawson’s liking.

  He eyeballed the boy’s hands.

  Clean.

  “Hey, you two. How’re the burgers coming? I think you’ve got a hungry bunch about to get cranky.”

  “Almost ready.”

  “What? You’re usually bang on with these things.”

  Maggie giggled, putting both her hands on Dawson’s shoulder and laying her head against him. “Sorry, I guess I’ve been distracting him.”

  “I guess so,” replied Red, scratching at a few days of stubble, its harsh orange color revealing the source of his nickname.

  Dawson motioned toward his nearly bare scalp, a little growth showing there as well.

  “Thinking of growing it back?”

  Red ran his hand over his head several times. “Nope. Just can’t find my shaving knife.”

  “Huh?” It was Maggie who was surprised by the statement, not Dawson. He knew his friend shaved his head with a Bowie knife. Dawson had asked him once why a knife and not a razor and his response had been typical Red.

  “Because I can.”

  Dawson’s car radio, tuned to some generic Top 40 station at the request of the others suddenly went silent, then an announcer cut in.

  “We interrupt this broadcast for an important news bulletin. Former President Jackson’s son has been kidnapped at gunpoint. Two of his assailants are dead, and his Secret Service escort have been taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. At this point in time the identity and motives of the kidnappers is unknown. Grant Jackson, the thirty-three year old son of the murdered President had just given a speech to a partisan crowd announcing his bid for Congress when his car was rammed and he was taken captive. We will update you with further information as it comes in.”

  The radio flipped back to some pre-meltdown Justin Bieber tune that would normally have Dawson gagging if it weren’t for what they had just heard.

  “Do you think we’ll get called in?” asked Red, holding his son against his side.

  “All things considered, probably, since we’ve already been read-in on the details from before.”

  “What details?” asked Maggie.

  Dawson’s head darted to his new appendage and he had to catch himself from saying something that might hurt her feelings. He smiled.

  “Sorry, need to know.”

  She nodded, backing off slightly and patting his shoulder as she took the spatula from him and attended to the forgotten hamburgers. “I’ve worked long enough for Colonel Clancy to know when to shut my ears.”

  Dawson gave her shoulder a squeeze which he had the sense melted that half of her body into a puddle of nerves and hormones. “Thanks.” He turned to Red just as his phone vibrated, a phone that almost never was called. He answered.

  “Speak.”

  “Mr. Jones, I need you at the flower shop for a delivery.”

  He frowned. “Five minutes.”

  He snapped the phone back on his hip then nodded toward the throng now at the picnic tables.

  “Tell the boys to lay off the beer. I’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as I know.”

  “These are ready,” announced Maggie as she handed the spatula to Red and turned to face Dawson. “It’s been fun,” she said, then quickly popped up on her toes and gave him a kiss on the side of his mouth. It was so quick Dawson didn’t even have time to respond. Instead he stood there awkwardly for a moment then turned crimson when a chorus of “ooohs” erupted from the tables.

  He shook his head, a smile creeping up half his face as he turned and headed for his car. As he climbed in Maggie gave him a little wave, a smile on her face that told Dawson everything he needed to know.

  She’s in deep. And you’re in trouble.

  Outside the Red Mosque, Karakorum, Mongol Empire

  March 29th, 1275 AD

  Giuseppe was huddled in the snow, shaking once again, the warmth of the church a quickly fading memory. To his right was his master Marco, his bow in hand, and to his left were the two altar boys from the church. Father Salvatore had been insistent that they be taken along and Marco had reluctantly agreed when his reasoning became clear.

  Should they be successful in stealing the crystal icon, the Christians would most likely be blamed.

  And slaughtered.

  Father Salvatore had sent everyone away weeks ago to seek safety in the south, only his two most loyal altar boys had remained with him, refusing to leave. Fortunately, in the Mongol Empire, even those of the cloth learned to defend themselves or perish, and these two young men apparently were skilled in the use of the bow and adept at swordplay as well.

  “They weren’t always altar boys.”

  Marco had smiled at the priest’s words, nodding knowingly, and expressed his gratefulness at the two additions to their gr
oup. The two men, Roberto, who had opened the gate, and Vincenzo, who had taken their horse, were reluctant to join them at first. Giuseppe had no doubt it was not of fear of the mission, but of not wanting to leave their ailing Father alone.

  Giuseppe knew how they felt. Leaving Marco alone, especially if ailing, was something he couldn’t fathom. In fact he had been at Marco’s side for so long now, he couldn’t remember the last time they had been apart for more than a few hours.

  Marco pointed at the tower that loomed above them, the exposed stairs inside glowing from torchlight, the howling wind whipping up and down the stairway, lashing at the flames causing them to flicker in the dark. The compound was walled, but not high, perhaps six feet, and from what Giuseppe could see, there were a few guards at the gate but little else.

  “I thought he said we would need an army?”

  Marco shook his head, pointing at the tower. “They’re all inside. Probably trying to keep warm.”

  “Do we know how many there are?”

  “No, but I think I’ve counted at least six, but there could be dozens.”

  “Vincenzo and I have been watching for several days now. We believe there are thirteen guarding the idol at all times,” offered Roberto.

  “Thirteen?” asked Marco.

  “Yes,” replied Vincenzo. “Father Salvatore believes the number of guards has been chosen intentionally. He says the superstition connected with the number thirteen feeds into their delusion of the idol being something that must be worshipped, and that can easily be offended.”

  “Hogwash,” spat Roberto. “To think these blasphemers would give up the word of God in favor of a crystal idol and some unproven stories of good fortune! It’s enough to make one wonder why God hasn’t struck them down!”

  “Perhaps God has other plans for them. Perhaps tonight is the night His wrath is brought upon them,” said Vincenzo, lowering his voice to calm his partner. “Mysterious are the ways of the Lord. Mere mortals shouldn’t try to understand His methods.”

  Roberto’s head bobbed, his chin falling to his chest. “I apologize. I just know what this entire situation has done to poor Father Salvatore and it drives me mad. I find I have to pray more and more to control my anger and frustration.” He sighed. “I shame myself every time.”

  Vincenzo put a comforting hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Let us put an end to all of this tonight. If we successfully remove this curse from our city, all will return to normal. And should it cost us our lives, we at least die absolved of our sins, and in the service of our Lord.”

  “Amen,” whispered Roberto, making the sign of the cross. Giuseppe did the same, returning his attention to the tower, now seeing the men inside the stairway, mostly through their shadows cast by the torches.

  “What do you propose, Master?”

  Marco removed the eyepiece he had been looking through and put it in his pocket, turning his head to face his three companions. “I count two at the gate, and they seem to switch frequently to keep warm. We are all skilled with the bow. On the next exchange, we will eliminate all four when they are outside of the mosque. Once you have loosed your arrow, replace it immediately with one from your quiver in case others come out. My hope is the four dead will not be noticed by the others until it is too late. However, should they be noticed, the more we kill from a distance with arrows, the less we need to kill up close with swords. And remember, at that point it could be nine against four.” He pointed to the west side of the walled compound then looked at Roberto and Vincenzo. “You two will position on that side and take out the two new arrivals. Giuseppe and I will remain here and eliminate the current guard. As soon as the four are eliminated, we’ll climb the southern wall and enter the compound, taking up position at the side of the tower. You should be able to see us. One of you will then return here to help cover our escape. Under no circumstances should you enter the compound. Use your arrows to eliminate anybody you can, but I want you to retreat when you can do no more. Retreat to the west, then make your way back to the church. We don’t want anyone discovering Christians were involved. Understood?”

  Roberto nodded, as did Vincenzo, though both appeared to do so reluctantly.

  “Is there a problem?”

  Roberto looked at Vincenzo, then at Marco. “Should the need arise, we are willing to enter the compound and join you. You shouldn’t concern yourself with our lives.”

  Marco smiled. “You are both brave men, and I appreciate that. But should the need arise for assistance from your swords, I fear it will already be too late for us, and by the time you arrived, you would be sadly outnumbered, facing them alone, for we shall already be dead. You must survive so you can try to retrieve the idol another day. Should we fail, more will come, I am certain.”

  Roberto frowned, but nodded his acquiescence.

  Marco lowered his head, gripping the cross around his neck. “Now we pray.”

  Giuseppe bowed his head, his hand encircling his own cross as his thoughts turned not to his God, but to the crystal icon that had haunted his dreams and reveries since he had heard of it.

  And again visions of a laughing crystal skull played over his eyelids, sending a shiver down his spine, the ominous feeling that tonight may very well be his last almost overwhelming.

  Wellington Hospital, London, England

  Present day, one day after the kidnapping

  Detective Inspector Martin Chaney shook in his bed, his hands gripping the rails, sweat pouring off his forehead, soaking his pillow. In fact his hospital robe was sticking to his entire body as perspiration erupted from his pores, his muscles clenching and unclenching, his head tossing back and forth, his face contorted in a mixture of agony and fear.

  Suddenly his eyes opened and he gasped, leaping forward to a sitting position. He quickly surveyed the room, finding it empty, momentarily a little disappointed that his former partner and still good friend Reading wasn’t passed out in a chair somewhere.

  He needs his rest too.

  He sat up in his bed for several minutes as he made sense of the flood of memories demanding attention. Skulls, tattoos, secret societies, initiations, a vacation in Egypt, the discovery of an impossible tomb, the attack—

  The message!

  Suddenly everything was clear, everything that had been forgotten now remembered.

  And he knew exactly what he had to do.

  Outside the Red Mosque, Karakorum, Mongol Empire

  March 29th, 1275 AD

  Giuseppe released his arrow, intentionally pausing by counting to three in his head so he didn’t mess up his shot in the rush to get his next arrow from his quiver. His master had no such hesitation, already having another arrow in place before Giuseppe even reached for his next. The two targets at the gate collapsed as if felled by the same arrow, the second two freezing for a moment, then they two falling as the arrows of Roberto and Vincenzo proved true.

  Marco jumped to his feet, rushing toward the southern wall. Giuseppe pushed himself to keep up, his eyes on the courtyard the entire time. Three of the bodies remained still, but the fourth, one of the new arrivals, had begun to crawl toward the tower. Giuseppe saw a second arrow suddenly embed itself in the man, putting an end to his suffering, and the threat he may attract others.

  As they neared the wall their view of the courtyard was blocked, but so far no one had appeared. Marco stopped at the wall, dropping to a knee, cupping his hands. Without slowing, Giuseppe jumped onto the hand then used the push his master gave him to easily grab onto the top of the wall, swinging a leg over and straddling the stone. Reaching down he grabbed his master’s left hand and pulled him up then rolled over to the other side, dropping to a crouch, his bow at the ready.

  But there was no need. The four bodies still lay in the dark, as yet undiscovered. But those inside would probably be expecting the relieved guard to arrive, and at any moment someone may come looking for the missing men.

  Marco rushed to the side of the Red Mosque, its tower looming
overhead, at this distance appearing impossibly high. His master’s plan might work, but there were so many assumptions he wasn’t sure he had the same level of faith Marco at least portrayed. The design of the mosque up close confirmed what his master had suspected—and thankfully it worked to their advantage. The red stone that clad the structure had decorative white stones that jutted out creating a foothold every arm’s length, ringing the tower, from top to bottom.

  Marco didn’t hesitate, removing his gloves, slinging his bow over his back and beginning the long climb to the top. Giuseppe began to follow but was waved off.

  “Cover my exit!” hissed Marco, reiterating the part of the plan Giuseppe didn’t agree with. The idea his master should execute the most dangerous part of the plan alone was insane, at least in Giuseppe’s mind. He returned to the ground and fell back toward the western wall, edging ahead so he could see the main entrance.

  Still nothing.

  He watched his master quickly scale the side and within minutes he was already halfway up. A change in the light at the entrance had Giuseppe drawing back on his bow, the appearance of a soldier stepping out into the cold triggering the release of his arrow. He readied another as the man dropped in his place, a second arrow hitting him at almost the same time, the knowledge Roberto and Vincenzo were still outside providing him with some comfort.

  The body lay unmoving and undiscovered, but that wouldn’t remain true for long. A split second decision, perhaps a stupid one, had Giuseppe rushing forward toward the door. He reached it within seconds, peeking inside and seeing no one. He grabbed the collar of the downed guard and pulled him around to the side of the tower, then sprinted back toward his assigned position.

  A voice called behind him then cut off with a groan as the thump of two arrows followed by the sound of their victim collapsing to the ground caused Giuseppe to spin only halfway between the tower and wall. As he rushed toward the body in the hopes of clearing it away and out of sight, he glanced up to see his master disappear through the uppermost opening, the speed of which he had cleared the structure impressive.