“And why do I need to know this?”
“Madison called the temple his summer study. I need you to find what he hid beneath it.”
“Why me?”
“Because, thanks to Senator Rowan, you’re the only one who can.”
TWENTY-NINE
SALZBURG
MALONE FLED THE GOLDENER HIRSCH AND WALKED DOWN A crowded Getreidegasse toward his hotel. He’d gone to rattle Josepe Salazar and he supposed that mission had been accomplished. But he’d also wanted to send a three-pronged message to Cassiopeia. First, she was not alone. Second, he knew she was there. And third, Salazar was dangerous. When he’d insulted Cassiopeia he’d caught the contempt in Salazar’s eyes—how he’d been personally offended by the attack on her honor. He understood that Cassiopeia would have stayed in character, playing her part, but he still wasn’t sure it was a part. He didn’t like anything about this. The fact that they were both staying at the Goldener Hirsch, having dinner, about to attend an auction together, then head back to the hotel for—
Stop it.
He needed to think straight.
He turned and headed for the Residenzplatz, an open cobbled square bordered by the city’s cathedral and its former archbishop’s residence, centered by a white marble Baroque fountain. His hotel was just to the northeast, past the state museum. Daylight still shone, but evening was taking hold, the sun rapidly fading in the west.
He stopped at the flowing water.
Time to start acting like an agent.
So he found his phone, and did the sensible thing.
STEPHANIE’S PHONE VIBRATED IN HER JACKET POCKET.
“You going to get that?” Daniels asked.
The pulse of the hum could be heard in the quiet of the dining room.
“It can wait.”
“Maybe not.”
She found the phone and read the caller ID. “It’s Cotton.”
“Answer it. On speaker.”
She did, laying the unit on the table.
“I’m in Salzburg,” Malone said.
“Like I’m surprised.”
“It’s a bitch being predictable. But I have a problem. I’ve rattled Salazar and he now knows we’re all over him.”
“Hopefully not at Cassiopeia’s expense.”
“No danger of that. This guy thinks he’s her knight in shining armor. It’s touching to watch.”
She saw Daniels smile at the sarcasm and wondered just how much the president knew. He definitely seemed like a man informed.
“There’s an auction happening here. I want to buy a book.”
“You’re the expert on that.”
“I need money.” He told her the amount.
Daniels mouthed, Do it.
“Where do you want it deposited?” she asked.
“I’ll email my account info. Wire it immediately.”
The president reached over and drew the phone closer. “Cotton, this is Danny Daniels.”
“I didn’t know I was interrupting a presidential conference.”
“I’m glad you did. It’s important you keep Salazar busy for the next day or so. Can you manage that?”
“Shouldn’t be too much of a problem. If I can buy that book, I’ll be tops on his list of things to do.”
“Then buy it. I don’t care what it costs.”
“You know he needs a bullet in his brain.”
“He’ll pay for what he did to our man. But not yet. Be patient.”
“I specialize in that.”
The call ended.
She stared at Daniels.
“Stephanie,” he said. “If we lose this one, it’s all over.”
CASSIOPEIA TRIED TO ENJOY HER DINNER, BUT COTTON’S appearance was troublesome. Josepe, too, seemed distracted. He’d apologized to her, expressing concern that the man named Malone was deranged. She’d again suggested the police, but he’d vetoed the move. Ten minutes after Cotton left another man appeared in the restaurant—young, muscular, short hair—obviously someone who worked for Josepe, and they stepped outside.
A Danite?
She’d watched them through the windows, sipping her water, trying to seem disinterested. Cotton had come to deliberately announce his presence to both Josepe and her.
Of that there was no doubt.
But he wanted her to know about the dead agent, too.
Was it possible Josepe was involved?
“Are you enjoying the food?” he asked her, returning to the table.
“It’s delicious.”
“The hotel chef is renowned. I always enjoy visiting here.”
“You come often?”
“There’s an active stake in Salzburg, started in 1997, now with over a thousand members. I’ve visited several times, as part of my European duties.”
“The church has truly become worldwide.”