The Relic Hunters

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

Hours later the team were nearing Olympia, Greece, with Heidi Moneymaker back in the mix.

“So,” the CIA operative said into an unusual quiet that pervaded the government jet. “Are we all rested?”

Bodie was laid half-reclined, arms and legs supported, staring up at the ceiling. He opened his mouth but no words came out.

Cassidy filled the silence for them all. “Hard day at the office, Frizzball.”

“Y’know,” Heidi said. “Assigned by anyone else I would take that moniker as an insult. But spoken by you, I can tell it’s not meant to be derogative. It’s just you.”

“Of course,” Cassidy said a bit surprised. “I don’t need to insult. There’s no agenda.”

“I know.”

Bodie didn’t move, but spoke up at the faux leather-lined roof. “Talk to us about that journal.”

“It’s genuine.” Heidi held it in her hands. “It’s concise. And it’s sad.”

Jeff was seated beside her. “I read it. Gunn too. The Illuminati didn’t keep it for any other reason than they are the dreadful, gloating scum of the earth Agent Moneymaker here has always said they were.” He stopped as his voice rose more octaves than he was comfortable with.

Gunn joined in. “For once, I agree with Jeff. They’re hideous.”

Cassidy was at Bodie’s side, nursing every muscle and with ice-packs strapped to at least three. “Give us the gist of it, boys.”

“We know much of it,” Jeff began. “Roland Hunt, our 1900s archaeologist, got wind of something big. He didn’t know what it was. He pursued it anyway, followed his nose and the rumors flying around a very small world of relic examiners back then, and ended up in Liege, where there stands a large statue of the one and only, Charlemagne.”

“Our French king?” Bodie said, still prone.

“Yep. Hunt states that the closer he got, the more details emerged although every scrap was mere rumor. Hunt was a terrier, a real go-getter. He rode the rumor down until it died kicking. The story coming together was that the Illuminati were much older than anyone gave them credit before, created in time immemorial and the forerunner of every single secret organization that came after. Charlemagne was a member of this group and came into possession of the Statue of Zeus sometime during his reign, which he was able to secrete at one of his many country houses. After his death the statue was removed and stored underneath that very statue in Liege, where it stayed for a thousand years. They built an underground viewing room and a secret tunnel to come and go undetected. They are the epitome of sneaky, these Illuminati.”

Whilst Jeff paused for breath Gunn continued: “All right, people. So Roland Hunt learned the statue was removed from Liege and taken somewhere at the behest of the new Illuminati leader of the time. Hunt chased and tracked it down, following clues and people to Bavaria, York and London. Later, he thought it would be good to leave waypoints at these places to help any who may follow.”

“He saw his own death coming then?” Jemma asked.

“In a manner of speaking. Hunt tracked the statue all the way to Olympia only to be caught by the order, or their Hoods, and imprisoned. It was decided that they couldn’t trust his assurances that he had told no one of his mission, so they found his family, put a herd of men into the village they lived in, and told Hunt if he ever declared the truth his wife and daughters would die very horribly.”

Cassidy bit her lips. “Shit, of course they did.”

“They kept his journal, but they let Hunt live,” Jeff continued. “Live with all he knew and knowing there was nothing he could do about it — as a terrible lesson to him. Because they could. In the end, as he grew old and infirm, they poisoned him — a final message that his life was theirs to play with — so Hunt spent his final hours traveling to Olympia and making the map which, on his deathbed, he buried in the ruins of one of the ancient temples, confident that it would be found at some point in the future. The Illuminati, of course, never knew. His family continued unaware… and here we stand.”

Bodie thought it through slowly as the jet engines rumbled. “A classic case of the underdog never giving up. Captured, he lives on. Cowed, he seeks a way to sneak the waypoints into the Illuminati lodges and makes a map. Dying, he thinks to conceal it where it will be found. It would be inspiring if it weren’t so sad.”

The jet flew on, the team discussing their options as they flew toward an ancient lost prize and a world-shattering confrontation. Bodie questioned their numbers and Heidi announced she had two Special Ops teams on the way.

“Rangers,” she said. “Army Rangers.”

Bodie knew enough about the US military to be impressed. “At least you’re taking it seriously now.”

Heidi smiled grimly. “I requested more. This is what’s available. Fucking suits and their military politicking will have America on its knees before long.”

“Always been the same,” Cross said. “They’re happy to cry for dead troops but cut the purse strings that might save them.”

“Ah yes, I’d forgotten you’re ex-military.”

“Through and through, young lady. Through and through.”

“The journal,” Bodie cut in. “Is there more?”

“Hunt’s final words center on the Statue of Zeus,” Jeff said. “The ancient wonder that changed his life. Destroyed his life, some would say. The day he traced it was both the best and worst day of his archaeological career. To find a stolen ancient wonder of the world and then be captured and subdued by its owners had to be heartbreaking. The last passage is a description of the final path to the hidden lair of the Illuminati king.”

“They’re not called kings,” Gunn said. “Novice. Minerval. That kind of—”

“Dude, they’re all fucking baboons to me,” Cassidy said. “King or not, they’re gonna be kissing the end of my boot.”

“The final path?” Bodie repeated, groaning as he sought to sit up now and all the aches and pains caught fire. “Hold that thought,” he told Jeff. “Cross. Throw me that bottle of pain killers.”

He caught it, swallowed some down, then decided on a few more. Finally, he nodded at Jeff. “Go on.”

“It’s twenty feet below the Olympia train station and arrow straight,” Jeff said.

Bodie’s mind worked in a stealthy way and he caught on immediately. “A tunnel?”

“Yep. The Illuminati built a tunnel underneath the busy train station so that members could come and go as often as they liked, as covertly as they liked, and as easily as they liked. It’s genius, really.”

“And Hunt knew this how?”

“The expelled member of course. Thomas Kilby.”

“Incredible,” Heidi said. “They expel a man and expect him not to harbor a grudge. Overconfident, egotistical asses.”

“Hey,” Cassidy grumbled. “Do not insult the ass.”

“Yeah, sorry.”

“So what’s next?” Gunn put the journal down, and turned to the window where a fresh dawn was just starting to take fire.

“It all comes down to this,” Bodie said. “We take them down now. Hit ’em hard and make them pay for every horrific act they ever did. And Heidi?”

The CIA agent looked over. “Yeah?”

“Face to face now. After that we part ways. Job done. Debt paid. Are we agreed?”

“Debt paid.” Heidi nodded in agreement, then held his gaze. “But that still leaves you all as criminals.”

“Crap, you’re kidding me?”

“I’ll agree to debt paid, Bodie, but you owe me more than that. The crimes you’ve committed. Some of the most audacious and clever in the world. If you’re not working for the government one way…” She paused. “You will be another.”

Bodie kept his temper. Jemma leaned over to Gunn. “She means in prison.”

“I know that!”

“After all this…” Cross appealed.

Heidi never once stopped looking at Bodie. “What’s it gonna be, Flash?”

He winced. “Flash?”

“Every time you open that mouth.”

“ ’Kinell,” Cassidy grumbled. “Can you two just go get a friggin’ room? Work it out.”

Bodie lay back. “Not in this life.”

“Or in your dreams.” Heidi pressed a button to consult with the pilot.

“C’mon, Bodie,” Cassidy said. “It’s as clear as that black microbe on your front molar. You two are into each other.”

“Any more of that talk,” Bodie said. “And you’ll be taking the quick way down to Olympia. Understood?”

Cassidy turned away, smiling.

Heidi announced the next news to the whole plane. “We’re about to start descending. You master thieves got any idea how to break into a secret HQ that’s been unnoticed for centuries and probably guarded by hundreds of elite warriors?”

Bodie couldn’t help but grin. “Yeah, CIA,” he said. “Yeah, I’ve got a few.”