“He was nice,” June said as they strolled down the narrow path leading to the Lady Chapel.
“Lucky that we bumped into him,” Tommy said. “Guy just saved us a ton of time we would have wasted looking around.”
“Maybe,” Adriana said.
“Maybe? You heard him. He saw the symbols.”
“Yes, but we still don’t know what they mean for certain. And he said there were more that he couldn’t remember.”
“There’s something else, too,” Sean said. “The clue says that the symbols were hidden on high. How is a well cover on high?”
No one answered right away as they turned into the chapel and walked out the other side.
“I guess it’s a matter of perspective,” June said after realizing no one else had an answer. “If you’re down in a hole — surrounded by darkness and cold — getting to the light would be high.”
Tommy stared at her, full of admiration. “I have to say, I would have never thought about that. I think you might be right.”
“It’s a good explanation,” Sean agreed. “We’ll see what the kids have to say about those symbols. That is, if they can find any information on the original well cover.”
He looked up from the path and down toward the parking area. He froze and put his arm out to stop the others. “Wait,” he said.
“What?” June asked.
Tommy saw the look of concern on Sean’s face and instantly knew there was trouble.
“Get back in the chapel,” Tommy said. “Now.” He grabbed June by the shoulder and spun her around, ushering her back inside the stone building.
Sean and Adriana were right behind them. Once all four were back in the chapel, June searched the other three faces for an answer.
“What is going on?”
“He’s like Lassie with a sense for trouble,” Tommy said. “Whenever he gets that look on his face, I know I should have probably stayed at home.”
Sean ignored the comment. “We have trouble. Two black sedans in the parking lot.”
“Brotherhood?”
“Probably. Remember, that was part of the plan. They’re not who I’m worried about.”
Tommy peeked around the corner of the building at the cars. One of the North Koreans exited a silver SUV, which had also just pulled up. He was followed closely by another member of his gang.
Tommy retreated into the chapel. “Looks like a party. Brotherhood, the North Koreans.”
“Should make for an interesting dance,” Sean said.
“Yeah, but I don’t like this song.”
“Me, either. Which is why we’re going to sit this one out and let them dance alone.” He looked toward the back of the chapel at the ruins of the main sanctuary. “Time to run.”
Chapter 24
Tommy panted as he and the others sprinted down the path toward the opening in the ruins of the main sanctuary. Sean looked back to make sure no one was behind them. Surprisingly, the only people he saw were a few early-bird tourists who’d decided to come out and see the sights before the crowds arrived.
They cut in around the wall to the right and took shelter for the moment, trying to stay out of sight.
Tommy leaned against the wall and looked up to the sky as if that would somehow ease his breathing.
Sean poked his head around the corner but didn’t see anyone chasing them.
He darted across the aisle to the far wall and moved over to one of the window openings.
For a second, Tommy forgot about his need for air. “Sean,” he hissed, “what are you doing?”
Sean waved a dismissive hand at his friend. It was an impolite but effective way to get him to shut up.
Sean leaned out the window just enough to see beyond the chapel. From that vantage point he could see the North Koreans stalking their way to where the Americans had been just moments before. They stopped suddenly and turned around. Sean frowned at the odd behavior.
Then he saw what halted them. Seven men — plus Baldwin — sauntered toward the group of North Koreans. The faces of the Brotherhood were full of righteous anger, probably at having previously lost one of their own.
Sean looked over at his companions. “Cavalry is here.”
“Cavalry?” Tommy asked. “I know you don’t mean—”
“Yes, the Brotherhood.”
He dashed back to the other side of the nave and nodded his head to the left. “Come on, we’re going to double back.”
“Double back?” June asked. “No offense, but I don’t feel like getting shot at again.”
“You won’t,” Sean said. “They’re going to have their hands full with each other.”
“Clever,” she said, realizing the plan was working exactly as Sean hoped.
He motioned for them to run toward the back of the sanctuary ruins and then out to the right. “Go around that last corner, turn right, and head for the abbey kitchen,” he said.
“Won’t they see us?” Adriana asked. “We’ll be out in the open.”
“No,” Tommy said. “He’s right. The angle should put the Lady Chapel right between us and the two groups. Let’s just hope they’re too busy fighting each other to notice us.”
June didn’t wait for more instructions. She took off at a dead sprint, running through the grass to the other end of the structure in remarkably quick time. Even in blue jeans and boots, she moved fast. Adriana followed close behind her.
Sean’s eyebrows pressed together as he looked at his friend. “I think she’s faster than you.”
Tommy sighed and took a deep breath. “Who isn’t?”
He gave Sean no time to respond, instead lumbering across the grass, careful to keep close to the wall in case any of their foes might have an opportunity to see in. Sean ran right behind him, bringing up the rear to cover the other three.
When he reached the back corner, the other three were crouching behind the column, looking around it to make certain the coast was clear. Nothing was there except wide swaths of green grass all the way to the chapel and over to the kitchen.
“No time like the present,” Sean said. “We all go at once. I’ll cover the rear. Okay?”
The other three nodded.
“Good. Go!”
The four took off, running as fast as they could while keeping an eye toward the Lady Chapel. The huge stone building blocked their view to the parking area, just as Sean had predicted.
A sudden pop startled them, nearly causing June to stop in her tracks.
“That wasn’t aimed at us,” Sean said. “Keep going. We’re almost there.”
More muffled pops sounded from beyond the front of the chapel.
Thirty more feet, and the Americans would be temporarily safe behind the abbey kitchen. They heard yelling now but still didn’t see anyone.
With ten feet to go before they reached the abbey kitchen, Baldwin and his men came into view around the front left corner of the chapel.
“Cut to the left,” Sean said as they made it to the kitchen’s closest corner. “Stay close to the wall to keep out of sight.”
The other three scurried around to the left, making their way to the backside of the kitchen. Sean stayed at the front corner, just beyond the line of sight with the men involved in the firefight. He poked his head around and watched the battle play out.
Baldwin’s men had gotten the drop on the North Koreans, but they blew the element of surprise by getting out of their cars too soon. Approaching the North Koreans in the open presented a ton of problems. They had no cover, so unless they were planning on taking the men out right away, the North Koreans would have a chance to fend them off.
That’s exactly what happened.
Sean didn’t see the beginning of the firefight. He only heard the first gunshot. Since shooting someone in the back didn’t seem like Baldwin’s style, Sean figured it was the North Koreans who shot first.