Julien smiled wickedly. “I played Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Oxford. I got a standing ovation, in fact!”
As they returned to the reference desk, ostensibly to return the Bible, Julien doubled over suddenly and let out a ghastly groan. He put his hands up to his chest and sank towards the floor, moaning.
“What’s wrong?” Kieran asked, alarmed, reaching for his shoulders to keep him from falling.
The librarian rushed over to assist them. “Is he all right?” she asked, alarmed. “Should I call an ambulance?”
Julien was panting weakly, but managed to reply, “No Madame, no. My pills … the car. This happens at … times.”
“I’ll get them!” Kieran said, urging Julien to a chair by the front door. “Just wait right here!” He sprinted outside to fetch the pills while the librarian hovered solicitously, wringing her hands. In a flash, Kieran was back and handed Julien two small tablets. “I think we should get you to a doctor right away,” he declared.
“Yes,” Julien agreed weakly. “This is my worst attack … oh, I’m such a bother!” He turned to the librarian and managed a feeble smile. “And thank you, dear lady,” Julien said, his voice recovering. “You’re an ornament to this establishment.”
Kieran made a show of helping Julien shuffle slowly to the car. When they were safely inside and driving away, they began laughing, with relief as well as pride that they had pulled off such a stunt.
“I didn’t think I could keep a straight face!” Kieran chuckled. “You really are wicked!” He pulled the heavy tome from his coat and handed it to Julien. “Well, take your ill-gotten Bible, our second theft in as many days.”
“Yes, I’m growing rather too easily accustomed to thievery,” Julien smiled. “Now let’s go and find our young accomplices.”
“They said they were going to stroll along the Port de Plaisance.”
“Ah, yes. Well, you’ve been on my little powerboat, haven’t you?” Julien asked. “We should take a ride down the Seine and examine our find at greater leisure.” They drove down Boulevard Bourdon and parked alongside the quay.
“I see them,” Kieran said, pointing to a small group in the distance, peering over a steel bridge at the boats below.
“Excellent,” Julien said, stowing the Bible in his leather case, “let’s go meet them.” Kieran followed him down the cobbled walk towards the bridge.
A few moments later, a menacing voice behind them said, “You two had better come with me.”
They turned to find a man in a dark suit and sunken, cold eyes staring at them. “Excuse me?” Kieran arched an eyebrow at him. “Who are you?”
“Someone you’d be wise to listen to,” the man replied, opening his jacket to show a pistol strapped to his side.
Kieran and Julian glanced at each other, undecided as to their best course of action. If they ran, the man might shoot; if they went with him, he could shoot them later. Julien’s mind was racing. He had the Bible, but Calvin had the manuscript and Natalie had the print by Merian and the letters from Milton and Lucy Diodati. He had to lead this man away from his family at all costs. He and Kieran were very careful not to so much as glance at the bridge where the group were standing a second ago. Did they see what what was happening down here? Julien could only hope they were able to assess the situation and get themselves to safety.
Julien and his friend locked eyes silently, communicating. Kieran nodded, and they let the man take them back the way they’d come. They were pushed towards a long black car with tinted windows, and Julien couldn’t help but think how cliché such a vehicle was. Were they dealing with the Mafia, or some other organization that borrowed the mob’s style and methods?
“What is it you want?” Julien asked
“You probably have a good idea,” the man answered. “I just hope you’re in a position to provide it, or you could end up like your brother.”
Julien turned red but bit back a reply. Hot anger flowed through him. This could be the very person who killed Richard! Kieran squeezed Julien’s arm furtively and showed him his open palm. Somehow he had written a message on it. It simply said, At car, hit ground!
They were fast approaching the ominous vehicle. There was no way of telling whether there were more individuals inside. When they reached it, Kieran tapped Julien’s arm again, and Julien threw himself to the ground as directed. What happened next was so fast, it took Julien a while to process it. As soon as he hit the pavement, he heard a gunshot, followed by shouting and then more gunshots. Next he heard scuffling and then the sound of someone running away. He saw a man lying on the ground and noticed with immense relief that it wasn’t Kieran, nor was it the man who had taken them to the car. But where was his friend?
Julien got up cautiously and tried to get his bearings. There didn’t seem to be anyone around. He decided he’d better hide until he located everyone else, but where? The boat, of course! He made a dash down the Port de Plaisance. He was glad he kept a little powerboat there and prayed he made it there before anyone found him. He sprinted down the gangplank and climbed aboard. His heart pounded as he unlocked the hatch and climbed down the narrow stairs to the galley. What relief when he saw his niece and Angelique inside!
“Where are Calvin and Finley?” Julien asked, panting.
Natalie looked ready to cry. “They went running after Kieran and one of the men,” she explained, clutching her uncle. “I’m so worried! What if they get hurt? We should do something!”
“Angelique, do you still have your cell phone?” Julien asked. “We have to call the police. There’s no more avoiding it.”
“We already have,” she said. “When we saw you fall, we thought you’d been hurt.”
“You did the right thing,” he replied. “Well, now there’s nothing we can do but wait, I’m afraid.”
Angelique paced the small cabin nervously, peering repeatedly out the port window to see if anyone returned. Natalie sat on a bench, biting her nails and trembling. Uncle Julien tried to comfort her but could hardly contain his own anxiety.
“Oh, no!” Angelique cried suddenly. “The man in the suit! He comes back!”
Julien jumped up and looked out the window. “He seems to know we’re in this boat,” he said ominously. “He’s looking straight at us and heading this way, talking on his phone.”
Natalie sprang to action. “Where are the keys?” she asked. “We’ve got to get out of here!”
He shoved them into her hand, saying, “I’ll untie us. Get the motor started!”
She jumped behind the wheel in the pilot house and turned the key. The engine sprang to life and she quickly guided the boat out of the slip after her uncle had loosed the mooring.
Angelique kept watch behind them. “He’s almost to the bridge!” she cried.
Julien looked ahead, tense. “We may have to abandon the boat at the lock. Sometimes there’s a line to get out.”
Sure enough, there were several boats already waiting at the end of the port. Julien pointed to a spot along the quay. “Dock there,” he instructed. “We’ll have to make a run for it. I think we can make it to the Quai de la Rapée. There’s a metro station there, and maybe we can lose them on the train.”
They quickly jumped out of the boat and threw a rope around a dock hitch. Without losing a second they began running as fast as they could towards the river. Many tourists strolled about, enjoying the fine weather. Finally they were able to cross the Pont Morland and enter the Metro Station on the other