Read Online Faith Defiled (Gray Spear Society Book 14) by Alex Siegel - Free Book Online
Authors: Alex Siegel
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I was amazed when I saw the pictures. Theoretically, you could use Symbology of the Divine to decode the writing, but it would be a lot of work. The book was hard to understand and just not good, in general."
Ipo nodded. "I think we'll try to find this book broker. Thank you for your time."
"No problem."
Ipo and Yang walked away.
"Nice kid," Yang said.
"I bet he got screwed on the sale."
* * *
Ipo knocked on the door of an apartment in San Bruno.
Yang checked his watch and saw it was ten o'clock at night. It was very late to be making unannounced visits, but Ipo didn't seem to care. Yang had noticed members of the Society didn't pay a lot of attention to etiquette or manners. Marina's insensitivity was famous.
A man wearing a bathrobe answered the door. The robe had printed flowers on a black background and seemed Japanese in style. A gold chain was draped across his shaved chest. His blond hair was teased out, and a little gel held it in place. He had diamond studs in both ears.
"Yes?" he said.
"Alexander Reinagle?" Ipo said.
"That's me."
"We're looking for a book. Symbology of the Divine. Jorge Alba told us you bought it from him."
"Correct," Reinagle said, "but that purchase was for a private client, and I already delivered the book. It's not here."
"Who is the client?"
"I'm not at liberty to say."
Ipo pushed him aside and entered the apartment. Yang followed, feeling a little embarrassed about Ipo's bad behavior.
Yang looked around. There was another man in the apartment, and he was just wearing boxer shorts. His body had been waxed from head to toe, and even his scalp was clean. He stood up with an alarmed expression.
The apartment was furnished in a very modern style. Everything was made out of gleaming plastic or metal, and the contorted shapes were unconventional. Yang wasn't even sure how to sit on some of the chairs. A bookcase was packed full of books which appeared very old, and most of the titles were in foreign languages.
"Get out of here before I call the police!" Reinagle said in a hysterical tone.
Yang closed the door.
"We need that book," Ipo said, "and we'll pay whatever price is necessary."
"You and ten thousand other collectors," Reinagle said. " Symbology of the Divine is suddenly the hottest property since Da Vinci's Codex . I made a hundred grand tonight, but I could've asked for triple that. You may have to go to seven figures if you want a copy."
"Just tell me who to pay, and let me worry about the cost."
"How do I know you won't mug my client and steal the book?"
Ipo narrowed his eyes. "What if I pay you a finder's fee to prove my sincerity?"
Ipo's approach surprised Yang a little. Members of the Society often pretended to be police or FBI agents to garner cooperation. Enemies were tortured until they complied. Buying information struck Yang as somehow lazy.
"My integrity doesn't come cheap," Reinagle said. "My clients expect me to protect them."
"This one will be glad he met us," Ipo said. "Will fifty grand buy his name?"
"Two hundred."
"That's a lot."
"A sleazy deal like this could damage my reputation," Reinagle said, "and reputation is everything in my business."
"One fifty."
"Fine, but I'm coming with you, and I'll do the talking. I won't let you screw this up."
Ipo shrugged. "As you wish." He took out his gray phone and made a call. "Put one hundred fifty thousand dollars into the checking account of Alexander Reinagle. He's a book broker who lives in San Bruno." After a moment, he said, "Thanks. Bye."
"What just happened?" Reinagle said.
"You got paid. Check your bank account."
He went to a computer in the corner and logged into his bank. His eyes widened.
"Satisfied?" Ipo said.
Reinagle nodded. "Theodore Kern has the book."
"Get dressed. We're going now."
* * *
Corrie was shuffling through the San Francisco International Airport. Exhaustion made each footstep heavy. After being away from home for weeks, she wanted nothing more than to sleep in her
Ipo nodded. "I think we'll try to find this book broker. Thank you for your time."
"No problem."
Ipo and Yang walked away.
"Nice kid," Yang said.
"I bet he got screwed on the sale."
* * *
Ipo knocked on the door of an apartment in San Bruno.
Yang checked his watch and saw it was ten o'clock at night. It was very late to be making unannounced visits, but Ipo didn't seem to care. Yang had noticed members of the Society didn't pay a lot of attention to etiquette or manners. Marina's insensitivity was famous.
A man wearing a bathrobe answered the door. The robe had printed flowers on a black background and seemed Japanese in style. A gold chain was draped across his shaved chest. His blond hair was teased out, and a little gel held it in place. He had diamond studs in both ears.
"Yes?" he said.
"Alexander Reinagle?" Ipo said.
"That's me."
"We're looking for a book. Symbology of the Divine. Jorge Alba told us you bought it from him."
"Correct," Reinagle said, "but that purchase was for a private client, and I already delivered the book. It's not here."
"Who is the client?"
"I'm not at liberty to say."
Ipo pushed him aside and entered the apartment. Yang followed, feeling a little embarrassed about Ipo's bad behavior.
Yang looked around. There was another man in the apartment, and he was just wearing boxer shorts. His body had been waxed from head to toe, and even his scalp was clean. He stood up with an alarmed expression.
The apartment was furnished in a very modern style. Everything was made out of gleaming plastic or metal, and the contorted shapes were unconventional. Yang wasn't even sure how to sit on some of the chairs. A bookcase was packed full of books which appeared very old, and most of the titles were in foreign languages.
"Get out of here before I call the police!" Reinagle said in a hysterical tone.
Yang closed the door.
"We need that book," Ipo said, "and we'll pay whatever price is necessary."
"You and ten thousand other collectors," Reinagle said. " Symbology of the Divine is suddenly the hottest property since Da Vinci's Codex . I made a hundred grand tonight, but I could've asked for triple that. You may have to go to seven figures if you want a copy."
"Just tell me who to pay, and let me worry about the cost."
"How do I know you won't mug my client and steal the book?"
Ipo narrowed his eyes. "What if I pay you a finder's fee to prove my sincerity?"
Ipo's approach surprised Yang a little. Members of the Society often pretended to be police or FBI agents to garner cooperation. Enemies were tortured until they complied. Buying information struck Yang as somehow lazy.
"My integrity doesn't come cheap," Reinagle said. "My clients expect me to protect them."
"This one will be glad he met us," Ipo said. "Will fifty grand buy his name?"
"Two hundred."
"That's a lot."
"A sleazy deal like this could damage my reputation," Reinagle said, "and reputation is everything in my business."
"One fifty."
"Fine, but I'm coming with you, and I'll do the talking. I won't let you screw this up."
Ipo shrugged. "As you wish." He took out his gray phone and made a call. "Put one hundred fifty thousand dollars into the checking account of Alexander Reinagle. He's a book broker who lives in San Bruno." After a moment, he said, "Thanks. Bye."
"What just happened?" Reinagle said.
"You got paid. Check your bank account."
He went to a computer in the corner and logged into his bank. His eyes widened.
"Satisfied?" Ipo said.
Reinagle nodded. "Theodore Kern has the book."
"Get dressed. We're going now."
* * *
Corrie was shuffling through the San Francisco International Airport. Exhaustion made each footstep heavy. After being away from home for weeks, she wanted nothing more than to sleep in her
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