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

on those other teams. We were tracking this one so they would lead us to them. It was working until you stepped in to ruin our plans.”

“You had their dorms and hotel rooms bugged, so you must have known about the attack this afternoon.”

Surprise flitted across Smith’s face. Evarts had surmised that if Smith knew the cell was going to come after him and Baldwin, then the Templars must have been listening to their conversations.

Smith shrugged. “We knew.”

“When were you going to alert the FBI?”

“That’s a foolish question.”

Evarts was taken aback. “Explain.”

“This war has been going on for over nine hundred years.” He waved his arm to encompass everything around them. “This little skirmish is inconsequential. A gnat. We figured that after these attacks, the various cells in the area would plan their assault on you. When they did, we’d gather them up in a nice tidy package.”

Baldwin spoke angrily. “You would have abetted the deaths of your countrymen to capture some Ikhwan foot soldiers?”

“If that appalls you, then you’re even more naïve than I thought. A few politicians are inconsequential to capturing terrorists capable of leading us up the Ikhwan chain of command. Besides, Templars are my true countrymen. We don’t have a landmass with borders, but in all other respects, we’re as legitimate as any nation on Earth. Our citizens live all over the world, but we’re united with an exceptional esprit de corps, loyal to our brethren, and committed to a common cause. We’ve been around since 1118. We have laws, language, customs, and a governing structure that’s far superior to the one this nation is saddled with. In the end, what counts is victory in this righteous war, not a minor skirmish like this.”

“Even if you are a citizen of this boys club,” Baldwin said, “don’t you have a duty to others? People would be killed. You don’t have the authority to decide who lives and who dies.”

Smith smirked. “Yes, we do have a duty to others. Our obligation is to win this millennial-long war. And win it decisively. Then, and only then, will we have performed our duty to mankind.”

Instead of exploding, Baldwin appeared contemplative. “You said you were a lawyer. What kind of law do you practice?”

The subject change and question perplexed Evarts, but he realized what Baldwin was after when he heard the answer.

“Actually, I practice law peripherally now. You’d probably call me a lobbyist.”

Baldwin’s tone turned sharp. “And tomorrow you hand out review copies of The Vault to your clients.”

“No, my dear, not clients, oh no, those books are going to powerbrokers, people we lobby on behalf of our clients.”

Evarts said, “Damn, you act so sanctimonious and know so little. Those books are Ikhwan surprises intended to destroy the political leadership of this nation. Each book is a shrapnel bomb. If the plan succeeds, the United States will be brought to its knees.” Evarts let that sink in a minute. Then he asked the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question. “Tell me, Mr. Smith, don’t you find it curious that the Ikhwan is using a Templar Knight to hand deliver packets of death to their enemies.”

Smith face showed shock. “No! That’s not possible. That would mean …” His voice trailed off.

“Yes, that’s what it would mean.”

Evarts stepped forward with his left foot and knocked Smith to the ground with a right cross.

Chapter 68

Evarts waved over a couple MPs and had them restrain Smiths hands behind his back. He must have hit him hard because he hadn’t regained consciousness. He cursed himself because he was not sure he would still be allowed to question Smith. It was a stupid move to hit him. Frustrated with himself, he called O’Brian.

O’Brian answered with, “I hope you have another tip.”

“Perhaps,” Evarts said. “I just took custody of a Templar Knight. He bragged about supervising the team at Georgetown. He followed us from the college and confronted us outside ER.”

“To what purpose?”

“Not sure. He knew our identity. He claimed he wanted to warn us that the bad guys still had a bounty on our heads. Claimed he was a friend. He had inside info on the cell because they had wired their dorm long before we even knew they existed.”

“You have custody?”

“I handed him over to the MPs, but the FBI will probably claim jurisdiction.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to question him. Personally, without interference. Can the Army hold him?”

“No. We have arrest authority only for Army personnel who commit crimes on Army property. What are you trying to learn from him?”

“Is this call secure?”

“Assume listeners.”

“Okay, I got into this mess because someone used us as bait to draw out their enemies. We can’t fully dismantle either of the antagonists. Both are too big and powerful. At least not in any reasonable timeframe. To get us off their radar, my only alternative is to demonstrate unequivocally that I’m not who they believe I am. I can accomplish that with a major bust of the vigilantes. Do you understand?”

The phone was quiet for several moments. Then O’Brian said, “Understood.”

Baldwin was standing beside him and nodded concurrence with his plan. A big bust of the Templar Knights would prove to the Ikhwan that Evarts and Baldwin were not high up in the Templar food chain. If they would leave him alone, he could return to policing Santa Barbara and leave the Ikhwan to the national authorities.

O’Brian said, “I don’t believe we have any authority over this person, nor does it sound like he’s committed a crime serious enough that he can be held. I think the best course of action is for you to keep him close. Since he claims to be a friend, perhaps he’ll accept some hospitality?”

“Understood. As soon as he wakes up, we’ll take him someplace where he’ll be comfortable.”

“Wakes up?”

“He infuriated me … so I coldcocked him.”

“Aw, hell, Greg,” O’Brian moaned. “Is he hurt bad?”

“No, in fact, it looks like he’s coming around. Would you like to speak to the MP?”

“Yes.”

After a brief conversation, the MP