Page 67 of The Last Kingdom

He chuckled. “I bet it was. It’s time for you to go to work.”

“I’m ready. What do you have?”

He liked that his old friend’s spirits were always buoyant and eager, with a hint of mischief.

“The listening devices you installed throughout Fenn’s castle paid off,” he told Knight. “After we rattled the cage last nightI got an earful. Cotton Malone is there.”

The attack on the Chiemsee had not gone according to plan. The idea had been to kill the thieves and retrieve whatever had been taken from the palace. But his men out on the lake had been forced to abandon the effort and escape into the water after the ferryboat interfered. Luckily, they’d both worn neoprene suits against the cold, which had allowed them to swim back to shore and escape hypothermia. The move with the ferry had been a carefully orchestrated act, done by someone who’d known precisely what they were doing.

Somebody like Malone.

Who’d apparently made quick contact with Marc Fenn.

Which had surely been Koger’s doing.

“After my visit, Grand Master Fenn was a busy guy,” he said. “He deciphered the clues Malone uncovered, then talked at length about them with some of his black-hooded brothers. This morning, Koger came to the castle to get Malone. He, Fenn, and Malone had a long chat.” He paused. “We’ve caught a break. Koger and Malone are meeting with Paul Bryie and Randy Miller in a few hours. Koger set the meet up.”

He saw that Knight seemed as pleased as he’d been. Some of those friends in high places had told him about the meeting, along with its time and location.

“Our adversaries need to know what they’re facing,” he said. “I don’t think they consider us much of a threat.”

Knight smiled. “I always did like to be underestimated. What do you have in mind?”

“It involves a helicopter and you.”

“Since you’re the pilot, what’s my part?”

“The meet is at Meridian Technology. Bryie and Miller are en route there now.”

“I know the place.”

So did he. “Get me access from the rooftop helicopter pad.”

“When?”

He told him the approximate time. Then reached into his pocket and removed a phone. “I’ll text you on this. When I do that roof door needs to be open five minutes later.”

“You’re asking a lot,” Knight said, “for only a few hours from now.”

“You can handle it.”

Knight laughed. “To get these bastards? You bet your sweet ass I can.”

Chapter 36

LUKE AWOKE.

The other side of the bed was empty, the shower in the bathroom running with the door open. He glanced at his watch.8:40A.M.He and Toni had been in his hotel room for nearly five hours. Some of that time had been spent talking, her bringing him up to speed, the rest in more personal endeavors. They’d both seemed to wantan escape into some irresponsible ecstasy. But, what the hell? They were both grown adults. The sleep part had been for the past two hours. A quick nap before a new day began. Normally, right after waking he worked a swift, vigorous ten-minute exercise regimen of squats and push-ups followed by a hot shower and shave. Not today. Perhaps he’d join her? The water switched off.

Too late.

She emerged from the bathroom with one towel draped around her toned frame, another wrapping her wet hair.

“About time you wake up, soldier.”

“Aren’t you the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed thing in the morning?”

“Best time of the day.”