The Templar Reprisals (The Best Thrillers Book 3) by James Best (free ebook reader for ipad .TXT) 📗

He made a point of looking her up and down. “Tell me, how do you make every style look good?”

She smiled. “Do you like my soccer mom look?”

“I do, but when this is over, I want my wife back. What happened to the glasses?”

“I tried contacts a few years ago. Put them aside because I didn’t like them, but my prescription hasn’t changed that much. They’ll do.”

“Do you have your glasses with you?”

She slid her purse onto the kitchen counter. “Of course.”

“Scrub your face, put on one of your designer numbers, muss your hair, and put on glasses. I don’t want Lewis to see you in disguise.”

“I have a wig I’ll use.” She cocked her head. “You distrust Mr. Lewis?”

“Distrust is a wimpy word.”

Chapter 30

“What are you drinking?” Evarts asked.

“Scotch,” Lewis answered breezily. “It’s kind of a traditional drink for us.”

Jim Lewis had arrived at precisely five o’clock. When introduced, Lewis was immediately taken with Baldwin. That wasn’t unusual, but his reaction surprised Evarts because he had assumed Lewis had a dossier on the pair of them that included photographs. Besides, she exuded none of her normal charm. Evarts had briefed her as she dressed, and she had become incensed that her life had been turned upside down to advance someone else’s agenda. Since Lewis had arrived, she had been polite, but reticent.

They escorted Lewis to the great room at the rear of the house and stopped at the bar. He poured a Macallan's for Lewis and a Jameson for himself. Normally, he drank scotch, but tonight he didn’t want to imbibe the traditional drink of the Templar Knights. He’d go with Irish whiskey just to be ornery. He freshened his wife’s wine and then distributed the whiskeys.

They sat on facing love seats and took a few moments to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Pacific coastline. It was a nice evening and Evarts had opened the floor to ceiling glass doors to allow a sea breeze to waft through the room.

“Very pleasant,” Lewis said.

“Why are you here?” Evarts asked.

“I didn’t think our conversation in D.C. was finished.”

“It was,” Evarts said.

“Recent events haven’t caused you to reassess?”

“They have.”

Lewis smiled. “Then you’ll allow us to help?”

“Any more of your help and we’ll be dead.”

Lewis sipped his drink. “I’m confused. We’ve done nothing. We’re not the source of your problem.”

“Bullshit!” Evarts snapped his leaded crystal glass onto the coffee table. “Why would these terrorists be after me. I killed two flunkies. That’s it. You’re telling me that losing a couple sword wielding jihadists devastated their organization so severely that these assholes put a million-dollar reward on our heads. They want revenge that badly? Against me … not you? Your men killed their A-Team. Further, I’ve left the field of battle while your feud continues unabated.”

“What are you implying?” Lewis asked.

“Implying?” Evarts picked up his drink, cupped it in his hands, and gave an exasperated sigh. “I’m not implying anything. I’m saying directly that you and your wannabe warriors are the cause of these attacks on our lives. Is that clear enough for you?”

“Very clear, but I remain confused. What do you think we’ve done?”

“You tell me. So far, you haven’t been forthright. You’re playing us. I want to know to what end?” Evarts sipped his drink. “Tell us … or swallow down your drink and get out.”

“I thought I had been clear previously. We want you to be a sergeant in the Templar Knights. It’s in your interest because the Ikhwan have put a sizable bounty on your heads.”

Evarts rolled the whiskey glass between his palms. “Did you drop the name Ikhwan to mollify my anger?”

Lewis laughed. “No … well, yes. I meant to give you that information this evening, but I’ll admit your anger prompted me to bring it up earlier than I intended.”

Baldwin held up her phone screen so Lewis could see that she had Googled the word. He nodded, and Baldwin said, “Ikhwan merely means brotherhood in Arabic. That’s worthless.”

“An innocuous word, perhaps, but not meaningless. This group has been around for nearly a century. I’ll tell you some of what we know, but the rest you must research for yourself. If you look hard, you’ll find loads of information about the Ikhwan. Many believe they were predecessors to al-Qaeda. Overlords would be a better description. They run al-Qaeda, ISIS, Muslim Brotherhood, and others. They have affiliates as well, including the Taliban, Boko Haram, and many you have never heard about … yet. They’re dangerous … and they’re the ones who put a bounty on your head.”

“Perhaps that’s the who,” Baldwin snapped, “but I want to know the why. I want a straightforward explanation. Right now, if you don’t mind.”

Lewis laughed again. “Dear, you must accept a little obfuscation until you’ve pledged fealty to the Templars. We haven’t remained anonymous for seven centuries blabbing about what we know. It’ll all be disclosed, but there are certain wickets you must pass through for each unveiling.”

Baldwin adjusted how her glasses rested on her nose, all the while glaring at Lewis with undisguised rage. “We understand how secret societies work. We’re not following your rules. Tell us why the Ikhwan wants us dead.”

“Or …?” Lewis smiled.

“Or we’ll assume that you leaked our names to Ikhwan to dangle us as bait,” Baldwin said angrily. “Insinuated that we’re Grand Masters or Seneschal. You callously put our lives at risk to draw your enemy into the open. You don’t want Greg as a simple Sergeant, you’re using us as tethered goats.”

“No, you’re wrong. We don’t operate that way.” Lewis insisted.

Baldwin settled against the cushioned back and sipped her wine before saying, “You’re lying.”

When no one spoke, Baldwin added, “I suggest you quit lying. You don’t know what we’re capable of.”

“Oh, but we do. We’ve researched you thoroughly. We know that a few years ago, you defeated an antebellum secret society bent on domination of the North America continent. You’re wickedly clever, capable of thinking on your feet, innovative in the moment, and