Before he could ask what he was looking at, June spoke up. “The sample we analyzed was definitely different than anything else we’ve investigated. This data shows that whatever Charlemagne had going on genetically was certainly something special.”
“Special?” Adriana asked.
“Yep. We’re not entirely sure what to make of it. However, it does seem to be some kind of mutation. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“This mutation,” Sean said, “it kept him human, though. Right? I mean, he didn’t become a monster or anything like that?”
“Not at all,” June said. “It is definitely human DNA. If I had to guess, it just made him stronger, possibly a little quicker with his mind as well. Again, that’s only a guess at this point. As it pertains to the legend of King Arthur and his fabled sword, Excalibur, are you suggesting that the sword may have caused Arthur to be stronger and smarter than other humans?”
“He’s only one of them,” Tommy said. “There were others who also had incredible abilities when it came to combat.” He hesitated a moment and then went on. “You know the sculpture of the Nine Good Heroes in the Cologne rathaus?”
June had to think for a second. “Seems to ring a bell. I only went in there to do the touristy thing. This country has so many rathauses, it starts to feel like if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all.”
“This sculpture has nine men — three Christians, three Jews, and three pagans.”
She smirked. “Sounds like the beginning of an epic joke.”
Tommy was thrown off by the comment and then pushed through his laughter to continue. “True. Anyway, you know the names.” He rattled off all nine of the men in the sculpture and the similarities of the swords they carried.
Then he took a plastic bag out of his jacket and placed it on the table. June’s eyes were drawn to the golden object inside. “What is that?” she asked.
“A medallion I found in France when I was here last. I think it belonged to Godfrey of Bouillon.”
Sean cut in. “Except that Godfrey is buried in a tomb at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.”
“Right,” Tommy agreed. “So the tomb I found couldn’t have been his.”
“It was probably a relative then, right?” June said, looking up from the medallion as she pulled it closer.
“Possibly,” Tommy said. “We’re not sure. I’ve still got people on site in France looking around for more clues.”
June squinted her eyes as she tried to process the information. “Okay, so let me get this straight. You wanted to know about Charlemagne’s DNA, which I could have just told you over the phone or via email. Yet you flew all the way here to find out in person? On top of that, it’s not just Charlemagne you’re investigating. It’s a whole series of ancient kings?”
“To be fair, Judah Maccabee wasn’t a king,” Sean offered. “And Joshua was more of a guide than anything. A ruler of sorts, but not a king.”
Tommy ignored his friend’s cynical comment. “We’re also here to have a closer look at the sculpture in Cologne. I’m hoping there could be a lead there, a clue that could help us figure out the next place to look.”
“To look for what? Excalibur?”
“I know it sounds crazy, but yes. I have reason — we have reason — to believe it might actually exist. Think about it. Every man in that sculpture had a similar sword. From what we know about the Arthur legend, it gave the one who carried it incredible power. If those leaders were able to get their hands on it, they would have wielded the same power.”
“If I may,” Adriana said, “I’m as skeptical as anyone when it comes to this sort of thing. Tommy makes a good argument, though. And I have to say, I’m definitely curious.”
June sighed after taking it all in. “I have to say, this is pretty overwhelming. You three do this sort of thing all the time, running all over the world, chasing leads to old legends?”
“Well,” Tommy said, “it’s not the only reason I came to Europe.”
“No?”
A sly grin crept across his face. “No. It was a perfect excuse to see you again.”
It was June’s turn to blush.
She reached over and touched Tommy on the arm. “That is so sweet.”
Sean rolled his eyes. Adriana noticed and nudged him with her knee.
“Stop it,” she mouthed.
“So do you want to come to Cologne with us?” Tommy asked.
June considered the offer. Before she answered, Tommy already knew what she was going to say. “I do. I really do. It sounds fun, but I have to work. If you’re still here this weekend, maybe we could spend some time together?”
Tommy hid his disappointment well. “It’s okay. And yes, I would definitely like to stick around over the weekend. I look forward to it. One of the perks of having a company jet is we can decide how long our stay will be.”
Sean fought off the urge to remind his friend that he and Adriana would still need a ride home. Instead, he decided to let Tommy have his moment.
His friend hadn’t had a significant love interest since college. And even then, Tommy was so absorbed in his studies that he didn’t make time for dating. Those habits carried over into adulthood. By the time he’d started feeling lonely, the time he could have used to hone his social skills had passed him by, leaving him a bit awkward when it came to engaging with members of the opposite sex.
He still wasn’t very smooth, but with June it didn’t seem like he had to be. Deep down, Sean hoped his friend had finally found the right girl.
A different server approached wearing a black button-up shirt and matching pants. He appeared to be in his late twenties, maybe early thirties, with dark blond hair. “Has anyone helped you yet?” he asked.
“Yes,” June replied in almost-perfect German. “The girl with the short brown hair took our drink order.”
Sean’s eyes had drifted to the people passing by on the street before the server began speaking. When he turned his attention to the younger man, it was already too late.
Sean saw the towel draped over the server’s right hand. More importantly, he saw what it covered: a subcompact 9mm pistol.
Before Sean could warn the others, the server pulled the towel back so everyone at the table could see the tip of the weapon. The few passersby going about their morning routine or visiting touristy spots didn’t notice.
“Now if you don’t mind,” the man switched to English, “slide the medallion over to me, as well as the folder. I’d prefer not to kill anyone.”
“And yet you’re pointing a gun at us,” Sean said through clenched teeth.
Tommy eased toward June to keep between her and the weapon.
The server shrugged and tilted his head to the side. “I do what is necessary, Mr. Wyatt. If you want to protect your friends, you’ll do what I say.”
“I’m sorry,” Tommy said. “Do you two know each other? Sean, who is your friend here?”
“Mr. Wyatt does not know me, Mr. Schultz. Nor do you. Again, give me the medallion, and no one gets hurt.”
“You’re not going to use that gun here,” Sean said, his voice cool as the other side of the pillow. “You’re bluffing or bullying, but you’re not shooting. Not with this many people around. And if you know me, you know that if you pull that trigger, you’d better put one through my skull. If you shoot one of my friends, you’ll be dead before you hit the ground. I can promise you that. But my money says that you have no intention of squeezing that trigger. Too many witnesses who’ve seen your face. So I think maybe you should put that peashooter away and walk on.”
The gunman swallowed hard. His eyes turned to slits. Sean knew at that moment he was spot on. Whoever this guy was, he didn’t want attention. Thieves rarely did.