The Secret of the Stones by Ernest Dempsey (reading fiction .TXT) 📕

you's. Sean looked back at the lady, who now sat staring thoughtfully at her folded hands upon her lap. “Did this man happen to have any scars or an odd accent, just something that would set him apart?”

Her head cocked a few inches to the right. “You know, now that you mention it, I thought I picked up something odd in his voice. I didn’t think much of it at first, but some of his words seemed to sound almost too controlled, like he was trying to cover up his accent.” She paused for a moment, visibly realizing something was certainly out of place in this whole scenario. “But why would he…?”

“Mrs. Borringer,” Sean answered before she could finish. “I don’t believe that guy was a cop.”

The statement struck her even though now it was becoming obvious. “I don’t understand.”

“Earlier this week, my friend Tommy Schultz was kidnapped. He had been working on a project with your husband.”

Her face was dazed. “Tommy was here a few weeks ago.” She looked down thoughtfully. The poor woman had been through too much in the last week. “And you think that this Jurgenson may have had something to do with my husband’s murder and Tommy’s disappearance?”

“I don’t know, Mrs. Borringer,” he leaned closer to her, setting his mug down on the wooden table in between. “Is there anything you can tell us about what Frank was working on? What Tommy and he discussed? If we can figure out what he was doing, maybe we can find Tommy. And if we find him, we find the guy that killed your husband.”

Her face changed from confused to resolute. The look was a little scary to both of the visitors. “I cannot say for certain what it was Frank had found, but I do know what he was looking for.” The older woman stood and started walking toward the stairs on the other side of the room. “I may know where we can find what you are looking for though.” She smiled and motioned for them to follow.

Sean shared a skeptical glance with Allyson.

14

Blue Ridge Mountains

“Now, Thomas, this is how it is going to work.” Ulrich circled the large desk like a big cat sizing up his prey. “You are telling me that you do not know where the chamber is.” He stopped directly in front of Tommy, looking down at him with an almost pitying look. “You will figure it out.”

“Why can’t you figure it out yourself?”

Ulrich leaned back and smiled wickedly. He brought the side of his hand down hard across Tommy’s face. Tommy grimaced for a moment from the quick strike. “Do not insult me, Thomas.”

Pain and anger mingled in his brain. “That was unnecessary,” Tommy managed through clenched teeth.

“Come now, Thomas,” the voice had somehow grown even more sinister, “I know what you found. And I know that you have been working with Dr. Borringer on translating the code.”

A horrific realization crossed Tommy’s mind. “How did you…what have you done to Frank?” He struggled against the ropes in the chair, but he could barely breathe, much less escape. Thunder rolled outside following a flash of brilliant lightning not too far in the distance.

“You do not need to concern yourself with Dr. Borringer. I know what you and he were working on.” Ulrich repeated the statement.

“If you did anything to Frank, I’ll…”

“You will find the chamber for me, or you and the Wyatts will both die by this time tomorrow!” This was the first time he had heard Ulrich sound really angry. The tall man’s face had turned red, his jaw tightening while he spoke. “You found the Stone of Akhanan! But you could not interpret the code. So, you took it to Borringer, the foremost authority in the Southeast on ancient languages.”

Ulrich calmed momentarily and wiped a small bead of sweat from his forehead. “Now, I know that Borringer interpreted the code on the back of the stone. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the results of his work or even the stone itself. You can make this a lot easier if you just tell me what the code means.”

“You’re going to kill me either way,” Tommy’s face became twisted in rage. “You killed Frank, didn’t you?” The question was direct, full of anger.

“I do what is necessary.” Resolution now manifested itself in the man’s voice. Ulrich stood erect and stepped to the window. “Sacrifices must sometimes be made for the greater good.”

“Spare me your righteous speeches. Frank had a wife, you son of a…”

“Mr. Schultz!” Ulrich’s voice thundered, “There is nothing you can do to help Dr. Borringer now.” He thought for a moment, almost savoring it, before he continued. “It may comfort you to know that he died, unfortunately for me, rather quickly. The blade must have gone too deep into his back.”

The chair strained against Tommy’s adrenaline. Still, neither the rope nor the wood gave way. Moments later, his body relaxed, spent from the futile effort. His face blushed a bright red. Staring down at the ground, a sick-looking smile appeared on his face. In a quiet, matter-of-fact tone he said, “I will kill you.”

“Now, Thomas, I seriously doubt that. The current situation would lead me to think otherwise.” Ulrich had come back from the window to stand in front of his now-insane-looking captive. He walked around behind him, pulling a gun out from inside a holster concealed within his jacket. A second later, he produced a large blade in his other hand. “What you are going to do is exactly what I tell you.”

“I don‘t know what the code means, you freak! Frank had everything.