Page 87 of The Medici Return

She looked puzzled.

“A few days ago a Swiss Guardsman was killed in Cologne, Germany.”

“No one said a word about that before—”

“You agreed to help us?”

She nodded.

“Would that have changed your mind?”

“Perhaps. A jockey is dead. That may have been avoidable.”

“Really? Yesterday you did not seem to mind what was done, so long as the Porcupines lost.”

“We must go,” she said, ignoring his insult. “I promised access to the monastery, and I always keep my word.”

COTTON ENTERED THE HEADQUARTERS FORGOLDENOAK. THE PLACEseemed to double as an assembly hall and museum. Thecontrada’schapel was attached to one end. Winning banners from Paliosdating back to the early twentieth century had been hung with reverence inside glass cases. Quite a few. Golden Oak seemed to have enjoyed a great deal of past success.

The building also came with a locker room where people could change and clean up. He’d used it before the race and now entered again, ditching his sweaty livery. He then took a quick shower and re-donned his own clothes. He checked his phone, and a text from Richter said he and Camilla were headed his way. He took the moment to send a text to Stephanie informing her that he was making progress. She would know that meant he was working the situation and did not require any assistance. No need to bore her with details. She wanted results and that was what she was going to get. He left the locker room and headed into the assembly hall. But not before tucking the Beretta that Stamm had supplied under his shirttail and pocketing the spare magazines. Not quite Magellan Billet issue, but it would do.

The doors at the other end opened.

Richter and Camilla Baines entered.

He listened as they explained what had happened during the race.

“I saw when that jockey took the bullet,” he said. “That round was meant for me.”

“Somebody is trying to kill you? Over me?” Richter asked.

“I assume whoever it is does not want you having my help.”

“Why not just take me out?”

“Good question. You might have been next.”

“How lucky for me.”

Cotton faced Camilla. “When can we get inside the monastery?”

“We leave in half an hour.”

Good to hear. No need to put anything off. Like the Cable Guy would say.Let’s get ’er done.

“The police are dealing with the shooting,” she told them. “I will be kept informed. And by the way, you were officially disqualified, though the horse you were on at the end is the official winner.”

“The Giraffes should be happy,” he said.

“To say the least. They have not won a race in a long time.”

He checked his watch. 8:20P.M.“It’s getting late to visit a monastery.”

“On the contrary. The late hour is exactly what we need. But there is something you both must know before we get there.”

CHAPTER 59

THOMAS STEPPED FROM THE PLATFORM AND ENTERED THE TRAINbound for Florence. He had no intention of staying aboard. His plan was to use the train to see if anyone may be following. The idea was to keep his actions both casual and expected, like eating a hamburger and enjoying a soft drink. Nothing had seemed unusual during his dinner. People had come and gone from the station, no one loitering. No one had followed him to the train either. The car before him was sparsely occupied. Less than a dozen people spread out among the seats. Not many people were traveling tonight. He walked through the car and entered the next, which contained even fewer people. He kept moving until he came to the last car, where he found the exit door and stepped back out onto the platform.