The Templar Reprisals (The Best Thrillers Book 3) by James Best (read any book txt) 📕

“I need to. We’re still processing the scene.”

“Then if you can get me books and documents from my study and the safe, I’ll go on sabbatical.”

“A Lincoln book. Good. You get lost in those.”

Baldwin was a nationally renowned Abraham Lincoln scholar. He guessed the subject of her book because she kept priceless Lincoln books and documents in the library’s walk-in vault. That would keep her busy.

“What’s in the tactical case?” she asked.

The question didn’t surprise him. Although a scholar, she had faced some violent episodes in her life.

“Everything you’ll need to defend yourself against anything less than a platoon.”

She smiled. “Just what a girl wants to hear on a romantic evening.”

Chapter 27

Over breakfast, Evarts and Baldwin finalized their schedules for the day. They were going to be busy. Evarts had to meet with the mayor, have his department order two rental cars delivered to the Biltmore, check out the processing of his home as a crime scene, gather up an extensive list of books and documents for Trish, and hopefully issue Standish her new assignment. Baldwin had to rent the apartment, meet with her department head to request a sabbatical, write course notes for her replacement, get a stash of cash from the bank, visit the Biltmore spa for a complete makeover, and shop for clothes that weren’t her style. Luckily, Trish still had an untraceable offshore account left over from her parents’ estate that she could use it for the apartment rental. Evarts would drop her at school and then drive her Mercedes sedan back to the house to be left in the garage. The Biltmore would send a car for her return to the resort. From now on, neither of them would move around the city in their normal vehicles.

The idea was to disappear in plain sight. They would move into a quiet community and drive nondescript cars. Baldwin wouldn’t teach or go to her office. The resort salon would darken her light brown hair and change the style, and from now on, she would wear atypical clothing. Many townsfolk knew her, but if she avoided her normal haunts, she should be able to move around without drawing attention. Evarts would continue to work but stay surrounded by police. Both would use evasive driving techniques when returning to their leased apartment.

Evarts first task was to get money out of his tightfisted boss. He showed up at Mayor Walsh’s office fifteen minutes before his appointment but was ushered in immediately. From his email updates, she knew about the attack and interviews, but this would be their first face to face meeting since the assault incident. He wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Good morning mayor.”

“Good morning. What mayhem have you planned for my city today?”

“Hopefully, none. We charged our arrestees with multiple class A misdemeanors. They should get a couple years.”

“Only misdemeanors?”

“We allowed them to plead down in return for cooperation. They were only getaway drivers.”

“Hopefully, you got your money’s worth.”

“Yet to be seen. The others escaped. Just like last time.” He shook his head. “They sure know how to skip town.”

“Greg, that’s not supposed to be easy when your city is hemmed in by ocean and mountains.”

“Both times they moved fast … before I could reposition resources.”

“Is that why you’re here: to give me an update … or is there something else?”

“Something else. I want to start an anti-terrorism task force. I’m here to request a bump in our budget.”

Evarts slid over a green folder used by the city for budget issues.

She opened it and scanned the contents.

“Approved.”

“That easy?” Evarts said, a bit astonished.

“It’s not a huge sum and I believe it’s needed, especially after these incidents. I can use it with the media and council to show that we’re doing something.” She leaned forward. “Also, I’m grateful you’re not requesting an extended leave.”

“No, I’d like to stay put. At my job, surrounded by my police force. That means no more middle of the night flights to Washington.” He hesitated. “Megan, I could be a magnet for more trouble.”

“I know, so how do you intend to keep some hothead from collecting that bounty?”

He told her everything.

“I like it. I’d hate to break in a new chief, so stay out of the way of flying bullets. The only thing I ask is that you accentuate the street gang violence ruse. It should be easy since the arrestees are gang members.” She saw the concern on his face. “You can mention that the new task force will address every variety of terrorism, just don’t get specific.”

And with that, the meeting was over. He glanced at his watch and realized that the conference had ended before it had been scheduled to begin. He liked this mayor.

He next drove home to discover that the crime scene processing was almost complete. It was a simple scene because he had hightailed it out of there before the actual attack. They found a splice in the gate wiring mechanism which accounted for how they got through the gate, but it didn’t explain how they got their hands on supposedly secured codes. That was worrisome. Thank goodness other elements of his system had forewarned him.

He spent nearly an hour collecting materials for his wife and loading them into a Police Utility Interceptor. The documents were contemporaneous with Lincoln’s lifetime and highly sought by collectors. He intended to install a hardened security system and a large gun safe at the apartment so her collectables should remain secure.

By the time he finished, the forensics team was done with the crime scene and a garage door company had installed a new door. Normally, repairs couldn’t start until after the police released a scene, but rank had its privileges. Evarts drove his wife’s car into the garage, closed the door and climbed into another officer’s Interceptor for a ride to the station. So far, so good.

When he got to the station, he discovered three more call slips from General O’Brian. He bet in another