The Belial Library (The Belial Series) (22 page)

Laney stared at him for a moment and then shook her head with a shrug.  “You know, not the strangest thing I’ve heard recently.”  She glanced through the door at Jake, who was talking into his cellphone.  "Who’s Jake speaking with now?"

"He’s helping make arrangements for the Shuar tribe to get them protection, and aid.  I've also begun preparations for helping them rebuild."

Laney smiled.  "I’m surrounded by good men."

Henry blushed, making Laney smile even more.  He glanced at Jen.  "I thought you might be a good point person for the reconstruction efforts.  That is, if you're staying for a little while."

Jen nodded.  "I am."

"I'm staying too," Laney said.

"No." 

All eyes turned to the doorway.  Nana stood there, her shirt still stained with Julian's blood.  Her back was straight, but her eyes held a world of grief.

Jen stood.  “Nana?”

Nana grasped Jen’s hand.  “He’s gone.  My husband is dead.” 

Laney felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.  She scampered off the bed. “What can we do?”

Nana nodded at Henry before turning to Laney.  "Do what Julian would want.  Jen will help us rebuild.  But it’s your duty to track down the men responsible for this.”

Laney was floored by the task.  How on earth was she going to accomplish that?  "I’ll try, Nana."

"No," Nana's voice lashed out.  "You will not try.  You will do it."  Her voice softened.  "You’re a warrior, Delaney McPhearson.  I have known that since I met you.  You’re capable of this task.  And you have resources we do not.”  She nodded at Henry.

Henry returned the gesture.  “Anything you need.  The Chandler Group is at your service.”

Nana turned back to Laney.  “You are one of us now.  I think you and Jen were sent to us for a reason.  Jen will help us rebuild here.  You will return what has been taken from us.”

Laney thought of Julian, his love for his family, his tribe.  She thought of all that the Shuar had been through, all the members they’d lost, all the destruction they’d experienced.  The men who’d attacked them had been without mercy. 

Laney walked over to Nana, who had tears streaming down her cheeks.  Laney pulled her into a hug.  "Yes, Nana."

CHAPTER 48

The next morning, Laney stepped out of the passenger seat of the old Range Rover at the airport.  The Chandler Group jet stood fifty feet away, its engine running. 

She’d spent most of yesterday and last night working on the report for the court.  Except for two hours at sunset.  Then she’d gone to be with the Shuar.  They held a memorial for Julian and all the others they had lost.  The grief had been palpable.  Laney’s chest constricted just thinking about it.

But that was all the time she’d had to grieve.  Right after the ceremony, Laney, Jen, and her uncle had continued their work on the report.  The report was good, but it would still need a little more editing.  She was going to have to leave that for her uncle and Jen.  She’d been voted off the island.

Laney walked around the truck as Nana climbed out of the driver seat.  "Nana, I can stay."

Laney liked to think that Nana was here to wish her well.  But she knew Nana was making sure she got on that plane. 

Nana hugged her and then pulled back, still holding Laney's arms.  “Good luck, Laney.”

Laney nodded, feeling the pressure of Nana's request.   She’d do everything in her power to help the Shuar retrieve what they’d lost and get justice.  She just wasn't sure it was within her power to accomplish this particular task.   "I hate leaving you guys right now."

"I know.  But you’ll help us better from afar."

Laney pulled Nana in for one last hug and whispered in her ear, "I'll miss you."

Nana smiled, but Laney saw the tears in her eyes.  "And we’ll miss you."

Laney turned and walked up the four steps into the plane with a deep breath.  She’d only met these people a few months ago and yet she felt like she’d known them her whole life.  Leaving right now, with everything they were going through, was killing her.

Jake glanced up from his seat against the wall on the left.  "You okay?"

"Yeah.  I'm good."   It was only the two of them on the plane, besides the pilot.  Henry had already returned to the States with Yoni.  Her uncle, Jen, and Jen’s brothers were staying behind.

"I'll go tell the pilot we're ready."  Jake got up, pulling the door to the plane closed and locking it before disappearing into the cockpit.

Laney took a seat across from where he’d sat.  She glanced out the window.  Nana was already driving away.  A lump in her throat, she let out her breath slowly trying to keep the tears at bay.  Leaning her head back against the seat, she closed her eyes.  

The plane began to taxi.  She glanced out again as the landscape flew past and then they were up in the air. 

She glanced over at Jake’s still empty seat.  Maybe he was going to sit with the pilot for the flight.  She shook her head.  She couldn’t blame him.  Everything was so stiff between them now.  Neither of them seemed to know what to say to each other.  She wanted to go back to when it was easy between them. 

Sadness weighed her down, opening the door to all the other emotions she’d been holding back.  Since the attack at the Shuar village, she ‘d been constantly on the move and when she laid down to sleep, she’d been too exhausted to think.  But she’d known it was only a matter of time before everything that happened caught up with her.  

Unwanted, the images flowed through her mind, a wave she couldn't hold back.  The attacks at the villages, the sight of Eddie and Elena disappearing under the water, Julian being shot, the wall of water rushing after them.  One terrifying scene after another crashed through her mind. 

"Laney?"

She looked up at Jake who’d silently slipped into the seat next to her.  He reached up his hand and wiped the tears from her cheek.  She didn't even realize she’d been crying.

"Jake, I-"

He put a finger to her lips.  "Laney, look.  I know we have a lot unsaid between us.  And we'll get to that.  But right now, you look like you need somebody.  And I'm right here."  He held out his arms.  "Two arms, no waiting, no strings."

Laney stared at him, debating what to do.  Her stubborn side told her, not to look weak. 

You need to talk things through first. 

The rest of her though told her to take comfort. 
He loves you.  Whatever else has happened, he loves you.  And right now, you need to lean on someone.
And, lord knew, Jake was strong enough.

Laney told her stubborn side to shut up.  She let Jake pull her into his lap.  Putting her arms around his neck, she let herself feel all the emotions she had shoved down for the last few days.  She cried for the Shuar, for Nana, for Julian, for Elena and for Eddie.  She cried for Jen and the secret she’d had to keep.  And she cried for herself.  For all the fear she’d refused to let herself feel over the last few days. 

The harder she cried, the stronger Jake's arms felt around her.   He leaned down, whispering in her ear.  "I've got you, Lanes.  I've got you."

CHAPTER 49

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sebastian sat in his office, watching a red-tailed hawk soar through the air.  Majestic, strong.  A predator of the skies. 

He turned from the window. 
Where was Gerard?  Why was there no word yet?

If he’d the strength, he would be pacing along the floors.  Who was he kidding?  If he had the strength, he’d be down in Ecuador.  Instead, he had to sit and wait for news.  It galled him.

"Sir?"  Gerard appeared at the door behind him.

Sebastian turned quickly, grabbing onto the back of the chair next to him.  "Have they succeeded?”

Gerard nodded.  "They just entered American airspace."

Sebastian released a breath.  Finally.  "Is everything ready for their arrival?

"Yes sir."  Gerard crossed the room, hitting the remote on Sebastian's desk.  The television, hidden within the buffet, rose.  Gerard opened the cabinet doors underneath, placing a DVD in the player.  "But there’s news."

"What?"

"The two archaeologists, McPhearson and Witt.  They survived the cave."

Sebastian sat back in surprise.  How on earth were they still alive?  Hugo was a brute, but he was an incredibly talented brute when it came to death.  His mind raced.  Delaney McPhearson seemed to be developing quite the track record of escaping death.  Maybe she required more attention.

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as the screen flickered to life.  "What’s this?" 

"It's the security tape from the Ecuadorian airport."

On the screen, the focus was on the rescue helicopter.  Two children were taken from it, followed by an Asian woman, and then a red-headed woman.  But Sebastian's attention wasn't on the individuals departing the chopper.  He was focused on one man at the edge of the screen.  The man was tall, easily over seven feet.

He felt a chill.  “Wh
o is that man?  The tall one?”

Gerard looked at the screen.  “Henry Chandler from the Chandler Group.  I’m surprised we got this picture.  As far as I know,
he’s never been photographed.”

“Chandler.  His company’s now overseeing the
dig out in Montana, correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

Sebastian went silent, taking in the tall man.  Like McPhearson, Chandler had been involved in the Montana situation, and here he was again.  And he was tall.  Extremely tall.

"This was back in the days when there were giants in
the land,” Sebastian mumbled.

“Excuse me, sir?”

Sebastian ignored him, a flash of memory pulling his attention.  His father had been talking on the phone a few days day before he died.  He’d mentioned a Chandler.  Hope began to bloom. 
Could it be?

He turned to Gerard, a renewed energy giving his words extra force.  “I want everything you have on Henry Chandler.  And I mean everything – school records, medical records, family history.  Everythi
ng.  And I want it yesterday.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And then I want you to go to the basement.  My father’s old files are in storage room B.   Look for any reference to the name Chandler.”

“Yes
, sir.  Can I ask why?”

Sebastian looked back at the screen and smiled.  “Because Henry Chandler may be the answer to our prayers.” 

CHAPTER  50

Baltimore, Maryland

Laney stepped out of the Navigator in front of the three-story estate house that was the Chandler Group’s headquarters.  The building, modeled after Jefferson’s Monticello, had two long wings on either side of the front entryway.  Black shutters contrasted sharply against the red brick.  Four white columns held up the circular roof above the entry. 

Dating back to the latter half of the nineteenth century, the building looked as it probably  had when first constructed.  Henry had taken pains to restore his family’s ancestral home to its original glory, both inside and out.

In spite of the building’s enormity, Laney felt relief at the sight of it. While she lived in upstate New York, she couldn't deny that over the last year, Henry's estate had become her home away from home. 

“Laney!”  Danny tore down the marble front steps. He threw his arms around her waist, nearly knocking her over. 

She hugged him back with the same enthusiasm.  “There's my hero.”

Danny pulled back so he could look her in the face, keeping his arms wrapped around her.  “You okay?”

She ruffled his hair.  “I’m fine.  Thanks for sending the cavalry after me.  You saved a lot of lives.”

“Me?  I didn’t do anything."

Laney hugged him to her again.  “You got the ball rolling.  Without you, none of the rest would have happened.”

“She’s right.” Jake walked up behind them.  “You did good, kid.”

Laney smiled back at Jake, but didn’t know what else to say.  She’d cried herself to sleep on the plane and he’d held her the whole time.  She'd only awoken when the pilot had come on to tell them they were landing.  Jake had smiled at her and she’d smiled back.  Then they’d studiously avoided any serious conversations. 

Right now, they were keeping everything light.  She weighed each word she spoke carefully to avoid any possible double meanings.  It was exhausting.

Danny looked back at the car.  "Where's Patrick?  I thought he'd come back with you."

"He decided to stay and help Jen with the reconstruction effort.  It's going to be extensive.  Henry made sure, though, they have everything they need."  She glanced around.  "Where is he, anyway?"

"He's on the phone with the head of the FAA.  Trying to track down the plane."

Taking hold of Danny's hand, she walked up the steps.  “Any trace of them yet?”

Danny shook his head.  “No, nothing.  I haven’t even been able to figure out who they were.  Everything about them was fake: the name they used when they filed their papers with the Ecuadorian government, the plane registration numbers, the flight plan.  Absolutely nothing was real.  They could be anybody and anywhere.”

Jake walked up.  “Don’t worry.  We’ll track them down,”

Laney met Jake’s eyes as the images from Ecuador ran through her mind.  He nodded at her.  And she felt the promise.  They’d find those responsible.  Whatever the cost, they’d find them. 

CHAPTER 51

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sebastian leaned back in his desk chair, paging through Devereaux’s preliminary notes on the Shuar collection.  He shook his head, unable to believe the riches and knowledge that had been hidden away in a cave for thousands of years. 
I did it, Father.  After all these years, it’s ours.

He flipped to the next page.  Deveraux estimated that there were three hundred folios.  The archaeologist hadn’t had a chance to unpack them yet, but he knew those were the priority.  Sebastian smiled, thinking of the knowledge they held.  And what that knowledge would earn him.