Page 24 (1/2)

MALONE LEFT THE HOUSE THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR, MAKING no attempt to hide his departure The two men he’d noticed earlier were stationed at the far end of the street, around a corner near the tohere they could see Lars Nelle’s residence Their problem was, in order to follow him, they would have to traverse the same deserted street Amateurs Professionals would have split up One at each end, ready to move in any direction Just like in Roskilde, this conclusion lessened his apprehension But he re as so interested in what Stephanie was doing

Could it really be the hts Te had made him think of Gary The death of a child seerief Maybe after he retired he should have stayed in Georgia, but Gary would not hear of that Don’t worry about me, his son had said I’ll come see you Fourteen years old and the boy possessed such a level head Still, the decision haunted hi his neck for soh, had been the sa when the sub a training exercise Malone was ten and he re the death hard At theoffered her by the honor guard But he’d accepted it and, ever since, the red, white, and blue bundle had stayed with hi was his only physical reminder of the man he barely knew

He calance back to know that one of thewith Stephanie at the house

He turned left and headed toward Sauniere’s doht place Bolted doors and shuttered s lined the way The restaurant, bookstore, and kiosks were all closed Darkness sheathed the lane in deep shadow The wind murmured beyond the walls like a soul in pain The scene was like so from Dumas, as if life here spoke only in whispers

He paraded up the incline toward the church The Villa Bethanie and presbytery were shut tight, the tree garden beyond illu past overhead

The gate to the churchyard reht for it, knowing that his tail would co darkness to slip behind a huge elm He peered back and saw his pursuer enter the ce As the man passed the tree, Malone pounced and jammed a fist into the other man’s abdomen He was relieved to feel no body ar his pursuer to the ground, then yanked hier man was short, ht hair He was dazed as Malone patted hie of a weapon He reached beneath the man’s jacket and withdrew a pistol A Beretta Bobcat Italian ned as a last-resort backup He’d once carried one hiht the barrel to the ainst the tree

"The name of your employer, please"

No response

"You understand English?"

The man shook his head, as he continued to suck air and orient himself

"Since you understood my question, do you coun

A stiffening signaled that the younger e

"Your e out and a bullet thudded into the tree trunk just above their heads Malone whirled to see a silhouetted figure standing a hundred feet away, perched where the belvedere met the cemetery wall, rifle in hand

Another shot and a bullet skipped off the ground within inches of his feet He released his hold and his original pursuer bolted out of the parish close

But he was more concerned noith the shooter

He saw the figure abandon the terrace, disappearing back onto the belvedere A new energy swept through him Gun in hand, he fled the ceeway between the Villa Bethanie and the church He recalled the geography froarden lay beyond, enclosed by an elevated belvedere that wrapped U-shaped toward the Tour Magdala

He rushed into the garden and saw the figure running across the belvedere The only way up was a stone staircase He raced for it and skipped up three steps at a tis and the stiff wind attacked hi his progress