Crusader's Gold

SIXTEEN

“Napoleon?” Crouch echoed. “Are you kidding? That means—”

Caitlyn nodded, interrupting in her eagerness. “Yes, they were taken from St. Mark’s Basilica in 1797 and installed in Paris.”

Russo turned with a raised eyebrow. “So how’d they get back here? Galloped, did they?”

“When Napoleon was defeated in 1815 the conquering allies returned them to Venice.”

Alicia grunted. “Not Constantinople? I bet that irked.”

“No doubt, but here they stand. And the good news is they’ve not been stolen since.”

Crouch looked over at her. “Are you suggesting that Napoleon, enamored enough to dismantle and remove the Horses, might also have found the Hercules and stolen that too?”

“Why not? If he knew the provenance of one he’d have known the other. If the Hercules was hidden he’d have grasped its importance pretty quick. He spent time in Venice and he was a bona fide conquering hero like Dandolo and the Roman Emperors before him.”

“But we have no proof,” Crouch stressed. “The trail is still cold. What we need to find is something tangible.”

“Well, history states that Napoleon captured Venice and took plunder. He kept the Horses for eighteen years until Wellington defeated him. France then ceded the Horses back to the Venetians. So, did Napoleon originally keep the statue for his private collection as Dandolo no doubt did?”

“That’s not proof,” Healey pointed out.

“No, but the statue has now hit its own quiet point in history. The trail is cold. We have to somehow prove Napoleon took it to Paris.”

Crouch rose and wandered over to the food counter as Alicia finished her sandwich. “Hate to say this, guys,” she said. “But you’re grasping now.”

Caitlyn shrugged. “Hey, we failed at the basilica. Where else do we go from here?”

“Their reasoning is true,” Russo said unexpectedly. “It must have cost Napoleon enormous effort to remove those Horses. He would have taken the superior treasure too.”

Alicia spotted the man moving toward Crouch immediately. She rose quickly even as Crouch wheeled toward him, and then they both paused.

“Ah.” Alicia said. “This could be awkward.”

Crouch smiled as the man approached.

“Beware of false prophets,” he said.

Crouch nodded. “Always am. Thanks.” And turned away.

The man pointed to the board that hung around his neck. I am the way, the truth, and the life, it said. The words of Jesus Christ.

Alicia had no problem with religious views so long as they stayed below the level of fanatical. She nodded at Caitlyn to pass Crouch’s tablet across. “I think the boss is gonna be a while.”

“Beware of false prophets,” the man reiterated, turning to address the entire café now. “Which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Alicia knitted her brows. Russo glanced away from the window. “Is he talking about us?”

“Why, Rob? Are you false?” Alicia’s comment was off-the-cuff, because she was actually thinking about Crouch and his previous statement concerning Beauregard. False prophet? Never.

Russo tapped the table, drawing the man’s attention. “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

“Good quote,” Alicia said, wondering if there was more to Russo than she had previously thought.

“Old quote,” Russo said. “Not mine. And one of the best.”

Crouch turned to them just as the man grinned; just as the café door swung open so violently its glass smashed; just as windows on all sides shattered; just as all hell broke loose in the city of heaven.

War had come to Venice.