Read Online Detective Danny Cavanaugh 01 - The Brink by Mark Fadden - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mark Fadden
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remained as rigid as the lifeless memorials scattered across the D.C. landscape while he delivered the shocking news. “He examined the ink; iron gall with traces of gum arabic and logwood colorant. The ink make-up exactly matches the ink on the Constitution. The handwriting also matches letter for letter. The documents themselves are parchment. There are several rough areas on both documents, as there are on the Constitution. He said they were undoubtedly made by the scribe using a penknife to erase his mistakes. As you may already know, parchment is an unforgiving medium, and was very expensive at the time. Scribes had only one shot when working with parchment. The documents have also been damaged by years of humidity and moisture, not to mention that insects have nibbled away at their edges over the years. There was also random ink splatter—”
The president held up his hand. “Just tell me if he thinks they’re authentic.”
Simon cleared his throat. “He says they’re authentic, Mr. President. There’s no doubt in his mind.”
Chapter 16
Anthony Fantroy heard his private line ringing from across his study. Two staccato shrieks followed by a full second of silence. Then another two shrieks. He picked it up on the fourth round of rings. Before he put the phone to his ear, Fantroy prepared himself for the news. Even though their phone lines were completely secured, they all knew the rules. Communications are halted during missions, except for emergencies. Fantroy could only assume things were not proceeding as planned.
It was Nathan Broederlam, and yes, the news was as bad as it could get.
Anthony Fantroy continued listening to Nathan Broederlam, but he had already heard the most important words.
Sydney Dumas has escaped.
“Have you heard back from Taber?” Fantroy asked.
“Not yet, sir,” Nathan replied. “But Mr. Taber and his men are professionals. It shouldn’t take long to find her.”
Fantroy sat back in his antique leather chair, its wood frame creaking under his unassuming weight. He began formulating his wishes to deal with the situation. He had been the one who made sure Nathan used the monastery for this exact reason. Without suitable transportation, there was nowhere to run. There was little chance that Ms. Dumas would last for more than a day or two in the Mexican wilderness without food, water, a cell phone, or money. Still, Fantroy couldn’t take any chances. He was listening to the meeting when Sydney Dumas had tabled the discussions. It was before Broederlam made her and Joseph Ambrose the offers they couldn’t refuse. Something in the lawsuit must have tipped her off. Fantroy had reviewed the lawsuit ad nauseum. One could read whatever they wanted into it, but ICJ judges were not armchair conspiracy theorists. Sydney Dumas must have known something else that pertained to the case. But what?
Nathan was convinced that Sydney didn’t see or hear Ambrose’s murder, but Fantroy had another theory. He thought about what he knew of Sydney Dumas. She was the adopted daughter of a French professor who decided to follow in her father’s footsteps before being selected for the ICJ. It was assumed that she didn’t know of The Group’s existence. Fantroy had to now assume differently. He also had to assume that she knew what The Group was planning.
Fantroy reeled back to The Group’s meeting at the Schloss Velden hotel in Austria. Hideo Akimoto, a Bank of Japan official and foot soldier for The Group, insisted on the Schloss Velden for his disclosure. He also insisted that The Group rent out the entire hotel. Hideo was sure what he had to tell them needed the utmost privacy.
Usually when The Group met, they rented entire floors of suites, even several floors of suites, to accommodate their numbers. That was standard protocol for groups attending large meetings and conferences. They had only commandeered an entire hotel once before during Fantroy’s tenure. It was a year to the day
The president held up his hand. “Just tell me if he thinks they’re authentic.”
Simon cleared his throat. “He says they’re authentic, Mr. President. There’s no doubt in his mind.”
Chapter 16
Anthony Fantroy heard his private line ringing from across his study. Two staccato shrieks followed by a full second of silence. Then another two shrieks. He picked it up on the fourth round of rings. Before he put the phone to his ear, Fantroy prepared himself for the news. Even though their phone lines were completely secured, they all knew the rules. Communications are halted during missions, except for emergencies. Fantroy could only assume things were not proceeding as planned.
It was Nathan Broederlam, and yes, the news was as bad as it could get.
Anthony Fantroy continued listening to Nathan Broederlam, but he had already heard the most important words.
Sydney Dumas has escaped.
“Have you heard back from Taber?” Fantroy asked.
“Not yet, sir,” Nathan replied. “But Mr. Taber and his men are professionals. It shouldn’t take long to find her.”
Fantroy sat back in his antique leather chair, its wood frame creaking under his unassuming weight. He began formulating his wishes to deal with the situation. He had been the one who made sure Nathan used the monastery for this exact reason. Without suitable transportation, there was nowhere to run. There was little chance that Ms. Dumas would last for more than a day or two in the Mexican wilderness without food, water, a cell phone, or money. Still, Fantroy couldn’t take any chances. He was listening to the meeting when Sydney Dumas had tabled the discussions. It was before Broederlam made her and Joseph Ambrose the offers they couldn’t refuse. Something in the lawsuit must have tipped her off. Fantroy had reviewed the lawsuit ad nauseum. One could read whatever they wanted into it, but ICJ judges were not armchair conspiracy theorists. Sydney Dumas must have known something else that pertained to the case. But what?
Nathan was convinced that Sydney didn’t see or hear Ambrose’s murder, but Fantroy had another theory. He thought about what he knew of Sydney Dumas. She was the adopted daughter of a French professor who decided to follow in her father’s footsteps before being selected for the ICJ. It was assumed that she didn’t know of The Group’s existence. Fantroy had to now assume differently. He also had to assume that she knew what The Group was planning.
Fantroy reeled back to The Group’s meeting at the Schloss Velden hotel in Austria. Hideo Akimoto, a Bank of Japan official and foot soldier for The Group, insisted on the Schloss Velden for his disclosure. He also insisted that The Group rent out the entire hotel. Hideo was sure what he had to tell them needed the utmost privacy.
Usually when The Group met, they rented entire floors of suites, even several floors of suites, to accommodate their numbers. That was standard protocol for groups attending large meetings and conferences. They had only commandeered an entire hotel once before during Fantroy’s tenure. It was a year to the day
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