Read Online Faith Defiled (Gray Spear Society Book 14) by Alex Siegel - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alex Siegel
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I am," Ipo said.
"Is that a threat?" Kern said. "Are you going to rob me?"
"I would rather not, but I'm under orders, and the person who gave those orders doesn't tolerate failure."
The two men stared at each other. Yang knew Ipo was telling the truth. The legionnaire wouldn't leave without the book, even if that meant resorting to violence.
"I have an idea," Yang said. "Maybe we don't need the actual book. A copy might be good enough for our purposes. We can take pictures of every page with a phone."
Kern and Ipo turned to him with expressions of surprise.
"A copy?" Kern said in a tone of derision.
"I'll call the boss," Ipo said. He took out his phone and stepped away.
"Who are you people?" Kern said.
Yang shrugged. "I'm not allowed to say. Our money is good though. You really should make a deal with us."
"That's not going to happen."
Ipo returned a moment later. "The boss told me pictures are acceptable, provided we get a clear shot of every page. Also, we must physically examine the book."
"I'm not comfortable with you touching it," Kern said.
"It's a reasonable compromise, certainly better than the alternative. How much will it cost to rent the book for a half-hour or so?"
Kern had a sour expression. "A hundred grand."
"Seems a little pricy," Ipo said, "but fine. It's too late at night to quibble over details."
"I assume you're going to write a check. How do I know it's good?"
Ipo snorted. He walked away and made another call. Yang assumed Ipo was calling Jia, and Yang felt bad for her. She had to stay up as late as everybody else.
Ipo returned. "It's done. Check your checking account."
"Huh?" Kern stared at him. "You made a deposit into my personal account without my authorization?"
"Exactly. Let's go inside."
They entered the house. The walls were painted royal blue, and the floor was made of redwood. There was a lot of empty space with not much furniture to fill it. Most of the lights were off, and Yang didn't hear anybody else.
"Are you alone?" Yang said.
"Yes," Kern said. "So?"
"It's a very big house for one guy."
"It's an investment property. I live here for the tax credit. Stop butting into my personal life."
Kern led the group through the house. Their footsteps echoed down the long hallways. Its emptiness saddened Yang who felt such a beautiful home needed a big family to fill it. He was glad he had Jia and Olivia as his own family of sorts.
They arrived in the one room that seemed fully utilized. It was Kern's study. A huge wooden desk had to be an antique, but it was in pristine condition. The chairs were richly upholstered with velvet. A chandelier had bulbs made to look like gas lamps.
Three entire walls were dedicated to books. They filled all the shelves, and Yang could tell they were old. He leaned in for a closer look at the leather bindings and discovered Alice's Adventures in Wonderland . Yang guessed it was an original edition.
"You like books?" Kern said.
"Sure, but I don't have much time to read," Yang said.
"You're missing out on one of life's great pleasures."
Kern went to a computer on his desk.
After typing for a minute, he said, "The money is there. I don't believe it."
"Of course," Ipo said. "Where is the book?"
Kern pointed to a book on his desk. "Be careful. Touch it gently."
Ipo and Yang walked over. Symbology of the Divine looked like a cheap, paperback novel. The cover had a cartoonish picture of a man staring up at symbols in the sky. The geometric squares and circles looked a lot like the writing on the walls.
Ipo picked up the book and examined the pages. He frowned after a moment, obviously disappointed.
Yang took a turn with the book. The paper was rough and slightly yellow. He tried to read it but was quickly put off. The text looked like religious gibberish with a little algebra thrown in for variety.
He picked a random paragraph and read out loud, "'William Branham at the early ages of three and seven had an angel appear to him. In a cave in
"Is that a threat?" Kern said. "Are you going to rob me?"
"I would rather not, but I'm under orders, and the person who gave those orders doesn't tolerate failure."
The two men stared at each other. Yang knew Ipo was telling the truth. The legionnaire wouldn't leave without the book, even if that meant resorting to violence.
"I have an idea," Yang said. "Maybe we don't need the actual book. A copy might be good enough for our purposes. We can take pictures of every page with a phone."
Kern and Ipo turned to him with expressions of surprise.
"A copy?" Kern said in a tone of derision.
"I'll call the boss," Ipo said. He took out his phone and stepped away.
"Who are you people?" Kern said.
Yang shrugged. "I'm not allowed to say. Our money is good though. You really should make a deal with us."
"That's not going to happen."
Ipo returned a moment later. "The boss told me pictures are acceptable, provided we get a clear shot of every page. Also, we must physically examine the book."
"I'm not comfortable with you touching it," Kern said.
"It's a reasonable compromise, certainly better than the alternative. How much will it cost to rent the book for a half-hour or so?"
Kern had a sour expression. "A hundred grand."
"Seems a little pricy," Ipo said, "but fine. It's too late at night to quibble over details."
"I assume you're going to write a check. How do I know it's good?"
Ipo snorted. He walked away and made another call. Yang assumed Ipo was calling Jia, and Yang felt bad for her. She had to stay up as late as everybody else.
Ipo returned. "It's done. Check your checking account."
"Huh?" Kern stared at him. "You made a deposit into my personal account without my authorization?"
"Exactly. Let's go inside."
They entered the house. The walls were painted royal blue, and the floor was made of redwood. There was a lot of empty space with not much furniture to fill it. Most of the lights were off, and Yang didn't hear anybody else.
"Are you alone?" Yang said.
"Yes," Kern said. "So?"
"It's a very big house for one guy."
"It's an investment property. I live here for the tax credit. Stop butting into my personal life."
Kern led the group through the house. Their footsteps echoed down the long hallways. Its emptiness saddened Yang who felt such a beautiful home needed a big family to fill it. He was glad he had Jia and Olivia as his own family of sorts.
They arrived in the one room that seemed fully utilized. It was Kern's study. A huge wooden desk had to be an antique, but it was in pristine condition. The chairs were richly upholstered with velvet. A chandelier had bulbs made to look like gas lamps.
Three entire walls were dedicated to books. They filled all the shelves, and Yang could tell they were old. He leaned in for a closer look at the leather bindings and discovered Alice's Adventures in Wonderland . Yang guessed it was an original edition.
"You like books?" Kern said.
"Sure, but I don't have much time to read," Yang said.
"You're missing out on one of life's great pleasures."
Kern went to a computer on his desk.
After typing for a minute, he said, "The money is there. I don't believe it."
"Of course," Ipo said. "Where is the book?"
Kern pointed to a book on his desk. "Be careful. Touch it gently."
Ipo and Yang walked over. Symbology of the Divine looked like a cheap, paperback novel. The cover had a cartoonish picture of a man staring up at symbols in the sky. The geometric squares and circles looked a lot like the writing on the walls.
Ipo picked up the book and examined the pages. He frowned after a moment, obviously disappointed.
Yang took a turn with the book. The paper was rough and slightly yellow. He tried to read it but was quickly put off. The text looked like religious gibberish with a little algebra thrown in for variety.
He picked a random paragraph and read out loud, "'William Branham at the early ages of three and seven had an angel appear to him. In a cave in
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