“What if I’m recognized?” Matt asked.
“I don’t think there’s much chance of that. The only men who got a look at you are dead, but shave that crap off your face, and put on some nice clothes, just to be safe. If somebody does recognize you and tries anything, take him down and bring him to me for interrogation.”
“Shave my beard?” Matt raised a hand to his cheek. “But it’s just now filling out.”
“Shave it,” Bones said. “It looks redneckish.”
“I like it,” Kasey said. “It makes you look tough.” She shot a defiant glance in Bones’ direction.
“All right people,” Tam said, “let’s do this. And don’t forget, we might not have much time.”
Chapter 10
Key West Church of the Kingdom was a rectangular brick building with white columns at the entrance and a tall steeple that loomed high above the other buildings in the area. The morning sun shone on the stained glass windows and the golden cross atop the steeple. Matt thought it was an oddly happy image for a place suspected of such dark deeds.
Since the water had damaged the sanctuary, the worship service took place in a large, crowded room on the second-floor. Organ music wafted through the stairwell, guiding Matt and Joel upward. They entered just before the service began and settled into folding chairs on the back row. Joel, who seemed to know a lot about church for an atheist, explained that church visitors usually liked to remain inconspicuous on their first visit. That way, if the church wasn’t a good fit for them, they wouldn’t have to deal with awkward visits from the pastor or church members. Matt was happy to remain inconspicuous. He ran a hand across his smooth cheeks. He had gotten used to his facial hair, and now he felt naked without it.
Everything about the service was ordinary: hymns, prayers, and a sermon about repentance, followed by an altar call. By the closing hymn, he wondered if they were in the right place. He glanced at Joel, who nodded. Apparently he wasn't concerned. After the benediction, they took their time leaving. A few people sitting nearby greeted them and shook hands, but most stared at them with varying degrees of suspicion.
After a few minutes, they joined the crowd making its slow way downstairs and out onto the street. When they reach the front steps, a sandy haired, middle-aged man in a three-piece suit greeted them.
"Welcome." He shook hands first with Joel, and then with Matt. He had a firm grip and a tight smile. "Is this your first visit?"
"Sure is. Me and my brother here just moved to the area." Joel inclined his head toward Matt. "We are opening a business, and thought it would be a good idea to start getting to know some of the people in the community." Matt had to hand it to Joel. With just a few subtle changes in his posture, facial expressions, and vocal inflection, he had adopted an entirely new persona.
The man's features relaxed when Matt was introduced as Joel's brother. "I forgot to introduce myself. I am Davis Franks. So, what sort of business are you all in?"
"We'd like to open a pistol range. Maybe sell handguns and ammo. Matt here is ex-military and a pretty fair instructor. Of course, with the way the winds are blowing, it might not be the best business to get into."
"Gotta love the government." Matt rolled his eyes, playing the role of disgruntled soldier. “It’s like they’ve never heard of Constitutional rights.”
“Amen to that, brother.” Franks nodded sympathetically. "What branch of the service were you in?"
"Army." Matt didn't say anything else, letting Franks guide the course of the conversation.
"I take it you didn't like it very much?"
"I liked the Army fine. It's the federal government I don't love." Matt looked around, then lowered his voice. "I guess that's not a popular opinion around here, is it?"
"No, not in Key West, but you'll find sympathetic ears in this church. If you don't mind my asking, why did you decide to settle here? Most of the locals aren't exactly firearms enthusiasts."
Joel gave an embarrassed smile. "The worst reason in the world. I love Jimmy Buffett. I've wanted to live down here for twenty years. We just hope we can get the required permits and find enough like-minded people to keep our business afloat. If not, we'll figure out something else." He shrugged as if to say, “What are you going to do?"
"Well, you've already found one,” Franks said. "I love to shoot, and so do a lot of the fellows here. We’ve got to keep in practice. You never know when you’ll be called to stand up against tyranny.” He paused, thinking. “Listen, we have a men's group meeting tonight at six o'clock. If you two would like to visit, I’ll give you directions. I think you'd enjoy it. Lots of potential customers in that group."
After they accepted his invitation, he introduced them around. The church members were much friendlier now that Matt and Joel had been accepted by one of their own, and by the time they left, they'd already fielded and politely declined three invitations to lunch, explaining they needed to start scouting around for possible places to open their business.
"Good work today," Joel said as they headed back to their car. "We'll make you an undercover agent yet."
"Do you think we're on the right track?"
"Can't say for sure, but I bet we'll find out tonight."
Chapter 11
“This place is freakish.” Bones couldn’t help but stare at the frontage of the Quai Branly Museum. Set in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and a stone’s throw from the Seine, the building was, in itself, a work of art, with its tall, glass panes and protruding blocks of varying size and color. “It looks like a living cubist painting.”
“I don’t think you understand cubism.” Kasey made a face and looked to Greg, who ignored her, apparently having decided to tune out the bickering.
“Tell me that doesn’t remind you of Factory, Horta de Ebbo.” Bones pretended not to notice Kasey’s surprise. “Obviously, there’s no glass in that painting, but the way Picasso represents the sky…” He gestured toward the building and then watched out of the corner of his eye as she gave a reluctant nod.
“I see your point.” Kasey tugged at her ear, something she did, Bones noticed, whenever she felt annoyed.
Bones nodded. Truth was, he didn’t know much about art, but he’d picked up a few things here and there, mostly back when Maddock was dating Kaylin Maxwell, who worked as a professor of fine arts and was a painter herself. As with many other subjects, he knew just enough to carry on a conversation, or even take someone by surprise with his knowledge.
“You should see the green wall,” Kasey said.
“At Fenway Park? Been there, done that.”
“No, it’s a section of the museum’s exterior.” This time, she even sounded amused. “Imagine an office building with big, modern windows, but the rest of the building looks like it’s made of jungle. They call it a vertical garden. I’ve seen it in pictures, but never in person.”
“Sounds pretty cool, actually. How big is it?”
“Two hundred meters long, twelve meters high.”
“I could climb that easy. How about we grab a bottle of wine and race to the top?” Bones winked.
Kasey lowered her eyebrows and pursed her lips.
“Or we could do the Eiffel Tower. Your choice.”
“Okay, time to get to work.” Greg remained on his usual, even keel. “We’ll split up. You two go in first, I’ll follow in a few minutes. Keep in touch.” He tapped his ear, indicating the communication devices with which they’d all been outfitted.
“Why do I have to go in with him?” Kasey stressed the last word.