Poseidon's Ransom

Chapter Thirty One

Early in the 12th century the French knight, Hugues de Payens founded the original order of Knights Templar. For almost 200 years the Templars grew in numbers, wealth and power, and their contribution to the Crusades was legend.

Not by accident, did the Templars develop into what would be known today as a multi-international corporation, with interest in banking, investments and the wider control of wealth, across the civilised world. Their links to Freemasonry and even the Illuminati, did nothing but strengthen their position.

As the Templar’s influence grew, it became clear King Phillipe 4th of France was in fear of their power and hold on the world of finance; this, plus the fact he was personally in crippling debt to them. To free himself from their grip, he initiated vile rumours that the Templars were nothing more than money-grabbing devil-worshipping Heretics.

On Friday 13th October 1307, Templars across Europe were simultaneously arrested, tortured and put to death. This action by Phillipe, was designed to deliver three goals. The first, get rid of his debt. The second, get rid of the Templars. The third, secure their vast wealth. The first two were achieved, not so the third, and although huge amounts of monies were seized, most of the Knights Templar fortune remained undiscovered.

Over the centuries, and to the present day, the original Templar fortune has grown and grown. It is a closely guarded secret just how much money is now in the hands of the descendants of the Knights Templar, and today, with their unlimited funding, they can direct world events, influence governments and control almost any situation.

It is believed there are about six hundred direct progenies of the original Templars, and although they are spread across the world, their High Council is based, and meets in Florence. Today, these descendants are known as, Templari Incrementum.

The Contessa Maria Alaria di Vincenzo, is the current Grand Master of the Templari, and head of the Council of Thirteen. This number of male and female council members, in reverence to the dreadful date their ancestors perished.

‘You are a very resourceful man, Jack,’ said the Contessa.

Jack finished his water and looked at the woman. ‘Not as resourceful as your organisation though, Contessa.’

She smiled. ‘Maria, please. Well, we have been established for almost a millennium, Jack.’

He nodded. ‘There is that, I suppose. May I ask a question, Contessa… Maria?’

‘Your organisation has been following us. Why? What makes us so interesting? And why are you so obviously willing to help us?’

‘Ah, the directness of the British. I do so like it. So, we come to the business of the evening,’ she waved her hand and said, ‘Giovanni, prego.’

‘Si, Contessa.’ The man took a stance in front of the huge fireplace, as if about to deliver a dramatic speech. Jack looked at Bogdan who was clearly supressing a grin.

‘We know of the recent and unfortunate Poseidon incident. We know your government paid three billion pounds to the high-jackers. We also know you have been tasked with recovering the money and finding the person or persons responsible.’

Jack picked up another bottle of water and poured it into the crystal tumbler, then looked across at DeVere. The Englishman raised his glass in a knowing gesture and smiled.

‘You traced the money,’ continued Giovanni, ‘thanks to your good friend Mr Bogdan here to the Henagar Bank, and have established the onward transactions.’

‘With respect, Giovanni, we know all this,’ said Jack.

‘Please…, Jack,’ said the woman. ‘We are coming to the point,’ she raised her hand in an elegant gesture and said, ‘Giovanni.’

‘Si, grazie, Contessa. What you have yet to discover, is who the responsible people are.’

‘And you’re about to tell us?’

Giovanni, with a look of mild annoyance at the interruption, put his shoulders back and continued. ‘The Templari are, at their core, the descendants of the original Templars, as I am sure your father-in-law, Dimitri Mikhailovich Orlov, has told you?’

Jack nodded, unsurprised that Mitri would know of the existence of such an organisation.

‘That said, it is not unusual for us to allow, on occasion, outsiders, shall we say, into our organisation. This of course is subject to the strictest criteria.’

‘Which is?’

The annoyed look returned. ‘That, I’m afraid I cannot go into, Jack. With one exception. The final requirement, for an outsider, is the ability to contribute to the organisation financially.’

Jack nodded.

‘The individual seeking affiliation with the Templari, must contribute two billion dollars.’

‘Wow,’ said Jack, ‘that’s me out then.’

‘Not so your father-in- law, Jack,’ said Takashi.

‘Ah… You know Dimitri?’

‘I do, Jack. And I am honoured to say we are now friends.’

‘Friends?’

‘Yes. For the last three years we have been negotiating the sale of my steel company.’

Jack nodded and smiled. ‘Right. So that’s how we came to be here.’

‘Gentlemen,’ said Giovanni, ‘we are getting a little off-piste.’

Takashi bowed his head slightly. ‘Excuse me.’

‘We have recently been approached by one such outsider.’ Giovanni turned and took a fine leather folder from the broad mantle. Passing it to Jack, he said, ‘This is the man who seeks to join us. This is also the man who, we believe is responsible for the Poseidon incident.’

Jack opened the folder and looked at the photograph, then passed it to Bogdan, who shook his head and handed it back.

‘Who is he, Giovanni?’

‘He is prone to using an alias, but now he goes by the rather colourful name of Mr Rick Washington. He has had extensive facial reconstruction to hide his real identity of course.’

‘Which is?’

Giovanni smiled. ‘I believe you know him as Greg Stoneham.’