Anna sat with folded arms, watching the startled faces of the men around her. It didn’t give her much comfort to see Vitori Delega in the middle of it all trying to give strategic advice. She had hoped for some kind of strong willed military commander. Unfortunately this looked to be it.
It had been reported that a force consisting of dozens of men and multiple vehicles surrounded the entrance to the building. Gunfire had been exchanged in the beginning but so far there were no injuries. That was over an hour ago, since then, nobody had tried to come in or out of the building.
“We’re all accounted for though it might be awhile before our reinforcements arrive,” one of the men said. “But we have found a possible second exit from the area. It’s in the back and we do have vehicles over there. It’s through the main warehouse and out on the South side of the building. They’re concentrating on the front and only have one or two men watching the rear. I think we should take this chance and go.”
“And miss this opportunity for information,” Vitori said. “We have enough firepower for them not to want to get into an all out battle. The police will descend on this place if that happens. Nobody wants that. They probably just want us to get out. I think it’s time we talked.”
The old man started walking for the entrance. Anna followed. There was little else she could do. They walked down the yellow hallway at Vitori’s pace, which gave a slow sense of calm to the situation. When they arrived, he gradually cracked the door. Anna heard multiple weapons click into place. He stuck his arm out and waved.
“I would like to talk to whoever is in charge,” Vitori said through the door. We can talk right here, a place neither side has an upper hand. He pulled his arm back in. “Now we wait.”
Moments later they heard the door handle click and it slowly swung open. A man filled the frame. He was tall and Anna could see the muscles bulging beneath his shirt. “What the fuck are you doing in my building,” he said.
“Elias? I didn’t expect to see you in this country again. ” Vitori returned. “Though I did hear you killed your father.”
“Delega,” he spat back. “I guess your son lacks the balls to have done the same. Though I feel it is way past time.”
“So you’re running things now.”
“I am, and you should know I have more men on the way.”
“As do I,” Vitori replied. “But that won’t do anybody any good now will it.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Looking for something.”
“I have the rose old man. Your cause is lost. You should never have come here.”
“Anna Riley tells me there is a good chance there may be copies floating around. Have you secured everything? Or is Rock Tilton still somehow eluding you.”
“That’s the thread you’re pulling on.”
“I only need find him before you.”
“So then you came here looking for Sayla. Did you find her?”
“Harrison told us what we needed before he stopped breathing.”
“Then you did me a favor, that slob was past his time, and his niece I have safely tucked away. I fear you’re not going to find anything. The rose is well protected.”
“As I said before, I only need the information, it doesn’t matter who holds the real thing.”
“And it doesn’t matter anyway because you’ll never leave here alive.”
“I’ll be sure to let my men know to shoot you first, Elias.”
“My father was right about you.”
“And I was right about you, your father probably should have listened to me. He’d still be alive.”
Elias face grew red in anger. He turned his back and started walking away. Vitori immediately backed up and shut the door, slamming the lock in place. “He’ll be coming in, get the men to any portal that could be used to infiltrate this place. Lock all the doors and we’ll make an organized exit through the back.” He looked at her. “Come Anna, we need to be on the first vehicle out.” They started jogging across the front hangar.
Anna stopped. Harrison. “Where’s his body,” she asked.
“Who?”
“Harrison, where’s his body?”
“It’s behind the desk, “ one of Delega’s men answered. “We left him there.”
Anna ran towards desk. She skidded to a stop near the body as a loud blast sounded from the hallway. She heard shouts of warning, letting them know a breech was in progress. Smoke billowed from the entrance and immediate pops of gunfire erupted into the hangar.
She heard Vitori calling for her through the discharge of firearms and focused movement. It all mixed together to form a strange chaos. She stooped next to the body and fished in his pockets. Finally she pulled forth a cell phone and clenched it in her fist. She sprang to her feet and ran back towards Vitori.
“Let’s go,” she said as she reached their position, already heaving in effort. Bullets pinged off the metal walls and equipment. Small bits of shrapnel burned her skin as she flicked them away. Delega’s men quickly moved them through the warehouse full of the artifacts and then through two separate halls to come to another door. They burst into a small room where a line of Delega’s men waited. Two doors stood open to the outside and they would dart out and fire and then duck back in. Anna’s heart felt like it was going to burst out her chest, but she kept moving with the rest of them.
“Go!” Someone pushed her in the back. She lurched forward and suddenly found herself outside. To her left she saw the white flashes of gunfire and winced as a bullet ricocheted off a railing near her head. Quickly she gained her feet and ran towards two cars. She lunged into the backseat of one and kept her head down. She waited, huddled on the floor until the other doors slammed shut and she felt the vehicle lurch and then peel out of the drive. They jumped over a few speed bumps that sent her hurtling into the air and then they crashed through a fence and over curbs. Moments later she felt smooth road beneath them and she dared open her eyes.
She peeked above the window and saw buildings and trees gliding by. She took in deep breaths. She turned to her side and saw the wrinkled face of Vitori Delega, smiling.
“Are you ok,” he asked.
She patted herself down hoping not to find any holes or pain, masked by adrenaline. “I think so. How about you?”
“Couldn’t be better,” he said. “But what was that all about back there, you almost got us all killed running back to the fat man’s body.”
“I got this,” she said holding up his cell phone. I have no doubt Sayla’s been in touch with her uncle, we just have to find out which number she is.” Anna flipped the phone over to Vitori.
“ I think you should do the calling,” he said throwing the phone back to her. “She knows you, she won’t trust any of the rest of us. You have the best chance to wrest the information from her but put it on speaker so we all can hear.”
Anna quickly thumbed through the numbers but Sayla wasn’t listed. She looked at the call log and there were five numbers that weren’t attached to any name. Maybe she had called from a new number, she had lost her phone back at Oak Island.
She dialed the first number. No answer. She quickly moved to the next one and dialed. It rang three times.
“Uncle Harrison?” It was Sayla.
“No it’s me,” Anna quickly answered.
“Anna? How did you get this number and why are you calling from my Uncle’s phone. Is he ok? Wait, you’re ok. ”
“Sayla, I know who you are, I know you’re with the keepers of the rose but I need to know if you have Rock.”
“I’m not with them, I’ve tried to tell Rock that but he didn’t believe me.” Anna was grateful Rock had seen through the girl.
“So where are you?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Then just tell me where Rock might be. I need to find him.”
“How’d you get away f
rom Delega, Nate said.”
“I’m with Delega now.” She cut her off. Sayla thought Nate was alive, now wouldn’t be the time to tell her.
“But.” Sayla hesitated. “He’s no better than the people I worked for. Seth killed Brett. How could you be on his side?”
“Brett’s dead?” Anna felt like a ton of bricks slammed into her chest. She started tearing up again.
“You didn’t know? I’m sorry Anna, I thought you knew.”
“What about Rock,” she quickly tried to get back on topic.
“I don’t know, he kicked me out of the car when we neared Miami.”
“You know more Sayla. Tell me.”
“You’re with Delega. I’m not going to tell you anything.”
“I’m not with Seth, I’m with his father, he’s a more honest man than his cruel and fucked up son.” She looked at Vitori. His face betrayed no emotion as though he wasn’t surprised or concerned by anything she said.
“I don’t know,” Sayla’s voice wavered.
“If they, as in your people get to him first, he’s dead, do you want that.”
“No, no.”
“Then tell me. You know more about him right now than anybody, where is he going next?” The girl didn’t respond. “Sayla.”
“His boat, but that was a few days ago. They were going to the Caribbean to find the missing pages.”
“Anything else that could help.” Sayla stayed silent. “Sayla, anything else.” Still nothing. “Sayla.” Anna looked back at Vitori, “she hung up.”
Vitori slammed his fist to the back of the seat. “She gave us nothing. We’ve had people at his boat since this morning when we first got eyes on it. Nobody has been there.”
“Is it true?”
“What’s that?”
“Did Seth kill Brett?”
“I don’t know Brett.”
“He was on Oak Island, he was Rock’s diving partner. He disappeared right before we left.”
Vitori scowled. “I don’t know what my son did up there but it is a possibility. You have to understand the pressure of what we were trying to do at Oak Island. It’s life and death. Millions of lives are at stake!”
“I know,” Anna raised her voice to match. “But that’s no excuse to kill an innocent life. Brett never hurt anybody and never did anything against Seth. Your son needs to be put away. Where is he now?”
“I don’t know. He left town. I am sorry for your friend Anna, but there is nothing I can do.” He put a hand on her shoulder. She immediately swiped it off. “Maybe when we get back, you should get some rest,” he said. “I’ll have my men out tonight, perhaps we’ll have a new lead for tomorrow.”
Anna threw Harrison’s phone down. “Sometimes I don’t know if helping you is in my best interest.” She turned away. The car stopped at a red light and she brushed her hand against the door handle.
Vitori grabbed her wrist and held tight. “I don’t think you should go anywhere,” he said, never taking his eyes from hers.
In that instant she knew she was a captive. She was his way to get to Rock. Somewhere along the line he had made her forget that. Nobody was here to help her. She was alone, and now she knew it.
Chapter 41
Florida, August 2012