Part 26 (1/2)

Robert smiled. ”Let's go.”

36.

”I don't see anyone,” said Robert.

”Doesn't mean they're not there,” said Thorne. ”More troops might have arrived while we were gone.”

They jumped the fence and crouched low. Nothing moved in the yard, and they sprinted to the barn.

Robert peaked inside and saw two people, one of them Edward, standing next to the casket, talking softly. They appeared to be alone.

Robert held up two fingers. Thorne nodded. On three, they burst inside.

Robert hit the floor and rolled to his left. Thorne rolled to the right.

”Get your hands up,” she shouted, the gun aimed at their heads.

Both men slowly raised their hands. Robert recognized the second man. Vernon Campbell.

”I told you we'd be back,” said Robert. ”By the way, Marilyn and Simon send their regrets. They're permanently indisposed and won't be able to join us.”

”So what?” said Edward, lowering his hands. ”n.o.body gives a s.h.i.+t about those two.”

”Son, you don't know what you're doing,” said Vernon, calm and cool.

”Really,” said Robert. ”Let's see. We have hard evidence from the Kennedy a.s.sa.s.sination, and you two a.s.sholes who helped plan it. I think I know exactly what I'm doing.” Thorne snickered.

”Look, Mr. Veil,” said Edward. ”Let's keep this business. There's a lot of money at stake, and you my friend...” A gunshot exploded past Edward's head.

”Your money can't buy you out of this,” said Thorne. ”Offer it again, and I'll blow your a.s.s away.”

Edward's hands went back up into the air. Vernon stayed calm.

”Now see here,” said Edward, looking at Robert. ”Can't you rein this b.i.t.c.h in?”

Thorne tossed the gun to Robert, walked over to Edward, and hit him hard in the stomach. He bent over and crashed to the ground.

”No,” she said. ”He can't rein this b.i.t.c.h in.” Thorne glared at Edward and Vernon, then resumed her position. Robert gave back the gun.

”We're taking the evidence with us,” said Robert.

”I'm afraid I can't let that happen,” said Vernon. He slowly reached down and helped Edward to his feet.

Robert shook his head in disgust. ”Get the truck, Thorne. We're getting out of here.”

”With pleasure.”

Thorne turned to leave, but stopped abruptly. ”Robert,” she said, in a low careful voice.

He turned and saw three armed men wearing ski masks enter the barn.

”Drop the gun,” one of them ordered.

Thorne hesitated. One of the men fired into the ceiling. ”I won't ask again, Miss.”

Thorne tossed the gun on the ground and kicked it over. Robert faced Edward and Vernon.

”Like I said, Mr. Veil,” said Vernon. ”I can't allow you to take this.

I have orders.”

”Yes,” coughed Edward, holding his stomach ”My orders. Kill them, Vernon. Kill them.”

”I'm afraid that's not quite in the plan either,” Vernon continued, waving one of the masked men over. ”Cover Mr. Rothschild. If he even so much as farts, kill him.”

Edward looked at Vernon in shock. ”What the h.e.l.l is this?” Vernon smiled and pulled a cell phone from his inside jacket pocket.

Robert struggled to make sense of what was going on. Thorne looked just as puzzled.

”It's me, sir,” Vernon said into the phone. ”No, sir, we haven't. Yes, right away, sir.” He motioned to one of his men and pointed to the casket. ”Open it.”

One of the men put a crowbar to the casket. Robert felt a mix of aggravation and dread, helplessness and relief.

The agent pried at the lock. It didn't budge. He worked at it for over ten minutes, leaning down on the crowbar so hard his feet lifted off the ground. The lock snapped. Robert and Thorne stepped closer, ignoring the guns at their heads.

”Let them come forward,” ordered Vernon.

Edward straightened up, his face ashen. Vernon grabbed the casket's lid and lifted it back on its hinges.

”Empty,” Edward whispered. ”Absolutely, empty. ”

”Check and see if there's a hollow bottom,” ordered Vernon. The agent pawed and knocked on the bottom of the box, then shook his head in the negative.

A chill hit Robert's spine. Fiona!

Vernon walked to a corner of the barn whispering into the phone.

The agent continued to examine the casket, tearing away its lining.

Edward, frozen in one spot, mumbled, shaking his head.

The men behind Robert and Thorne drifted closer, straining to get a better look. Robert watched them. Closer. He looked over at Thorne. She smiled. Now!

They dropped to the ground and swept the legs of the man closest to them. The agents fell backwards, feet in the air, firing into the ceiling.