The Omega Factor(46)
Her gaze bore in.
“I do not dispute you,” one of the women said. “But I do dispute the necessity for us to have acted in the manner in which we did. Patience was the better course.”
Many heads nodded in agreement.
And Claire did not disagree.
“What of our exposure?” one of the others asked. “Sister Rachel’s body is within police jurisdiction. She can be identified.”
“Thankfully, nothing came of their search of the convent in Ghent,” the abbess said. “Yes, there is now a connection between the panel’s destruction and us, but it’s a tenuous one. Let’s hope that the trail goes cold. All they have is the word of one man, as to what he may or may not have seen. And, yes, Rachel’s identity could be learned, but that will take time.”
“We have never been this vulnerable,” one of the women noted. “It is quite disconcerting.”
She agreed. And it was her fault.
“We can only hope that the Vatican is not vigilant,” she said. “But, as the abbess has said before, we have to assume, whether we personally agree or not, that they are.”
“Are we going to bring Rachel back?” one of the women asked. “She is a maiden and we have never abandoned anyone.”
That duty traced itself all the way back to Joan of Arc, a maiden herself, whose remains were snatched from the smoldering pyre and brought back to the mountains where they’d remained since 1431.
So her duty was clear.
“I will bring her home,” Claire said.
“And what of the electronic images?” came a question.
“I have dealt with those,” the abbess said. “They are, right now, being obtained.”
“Then what?”
“We shall destroy them,” the abbess said, “bury our sister, and, hopefully, this matter will be at an end.”
Chapter 30
Nick entered the Novotel Gent Centrum. Nothing shy about its décor, a bold modern splash of color atop white marble. Beyond a set of tall windows and glass doors at the far end he spotted an inner courtyard that accommodated a pool. He was taking a chance coming inside, but Kelsey had confirmed that the laptop was at this location and there was no way to electronically narrow that down any further. She’d checked on the internet and learned there were 117 rooms. But it wasn’t necessary to find the computer. The plan had been to learn where it was headed.
He studied the spacious interior and decided on a location inside a lobby bar where he could watch the exits and elevators without being readily seen. He sat at a small table against the wall and kept his eyes focused. He was surprised by Kelsey’s admissions, especially that she still loved him. Of course, it wasn’t the love of a man and woman, husband and wife. But a connection still existed, one that she’d obviously wanted to rekindle.
And he was glad.
If friendship was all she could offer, then he’d take what he could get.
Two nuns entered the lobby through the front doors. Older women. Dressed in the same gray dresses and veils as the other two with the laptop. More Maidens of Saint-Michael, the retired version. They calmly walked to the elevators and disappeared inside. He hustled over and watched the floor indicator stop at 3, then begin a descent.
Okay. He’d narrowed things down.
He was about to head up to the third floor when, across the busy lobby, Inspector Zeekers entered through the main doors accompanied by four uniformed officers.
He darted left and found the stairwell.
Zeekers and the other officers never saw him. They headed straight for the main desk, flashing badges and talking with the people behind the counter. He watched through a small glass window in the door. What was he doing here? It would not be long before Zeekers headed to the third floor. Kelsey had wanted to know why her prioress had betrayed her. Why the twelfth panel had been destroyed. And what was so important about the images she’d recorded. All excellent questions. Which Inspector Zeekers might or might not care to answer. But those nuns? They had answers.
He found his phone and reconnected with Kelsey. He’d ended their continuous call when he’d first entered the hotel.
“The police are here,” he told her.
“I know. I called them.”
He was shocked. “Why?”
“This is a matter for them.”
He told himself to stay cool and not show irritation. She didn’t know better. “I wish you’d run that by me first.”
“What else would we do? They have my laptop. You have them. Let the police take over.”
“Kelsey, I don’t try to tell you about God. How about you let me handle the investigatory stuff?”
“I was only—”
No time to explain. “I have to go.”
He ended the call and rushed up the metal risers two at a time. Before he reached the door for the third floor it opened and four nuns hastily entered the stairwell. The two from the market along with the two older women who’d just arrived. One held the laptop. Another carried two small knapsacks.
They froze and stared at him.
“Now, this is awkward,” he said. Then he raised his hands in mock surrender. “I’m not your enemy. Okay?”
None of them said a word.
“The prioress told you the password, so you’ve surely discovered there are no images on that machine. I removed them.”