Free The Cleric's Vault by Ernest Dempsey Page A

and exited the mouth of the bull so
that the screams of those inside would be amplified and contorted for any
observers.   As soon as his sentence
was pronounced, Aramus Dawson realized the gravity of what he’d done.   He then began to beg and plead with the
conclave to give him another chance, promising to give them double what he
owed.
    The
group was unimpressed.   Once he was
dead, they would take control of all of his assets, a fact the Imperator made sure he knew just before the brass
door was sealed.
    Mornay
and Carrol cast each other a quick, uncertain glance.   There was just such a device on the premises.   They’d both seen it in passing while on
a tour of the compound.  
    “We
won’t make any decisions without consulting you again,” Carrol said sheepishly.
    Mornay
said nothing; his silence revealing that he understood the gravity of the
situation.  
    “Good.”   Lindsey turned around and walked towards
the door.  
    “Alex,”
Mornay spoke up.  
    He
turned and looked back at the snooty character.  
    “Any
word from our mole in the Justice Department?”
    Alexander
stood thoughtful for a moment, considering the man he’d had thrown from the
helicopter earlier that evening.   When he spoke, it carried a cryptic tone.   “I don’t think we’ll be using him anymore.”

 
 
    Chapter 16
    Atlanta, Georgia

 
    Tommy
and Will had what they needed, though Tommy’s friend had had to die for it.
Both men tiredly strolled out of the lab and towards the exit of the building
and simultaneously noticed some kind of movement at the end of the
corridor.   The other detectives had
already left the premises leaving only two policemen to guard the crime scene,
both of whom were nowhere in sight.
    “Did
you see that?” Tommy spoke just barely above a whisper.
    Will
nodded and pulled his gun out of its holster.   A flash and short pop burst from the dark shadows where
they’d seen the motion, pinging a bullet off the wall nearest them.   Both men ducked into the alcove of the
opposite doorway to take cover.  
    “Didn’t
the police check this whole building for suspects?”   Schultz wondered out loud.
    “Yeah.   They did.”   Will turned around then edge and squeezed off two quick
rounds. Two more shots replied from the other end, one shattering a door window
behind them.   “Whoever killed the
professor must have come back for what they were looking for.”
    Tommy
looked skeptical.   “To a fresh
crime scene?”
    “I’ve
seen dumber things done by criminals.   It’s the only thing that makes sense here.   I guess he figured we’d be less likely to suspect such a
move.”
    “True.   Or maybe the guy never left the
building.”  
    “We’re
going to have to change plans, Tommy.   My guess is they figure you have what they’re looking for.”   He looked at Schultz with a serious
eye.  
    Tommy
knew what that meant.   They were
willing to kill whoever got in their way to get what they wanted.   “What’s the move then?”
    Will
thought quickly.   “My car is out
back.   I’ll lay down a little
covering fire while you go.   I’ll
meet you out there.”
    “I
can’t let you do that.”   Tommy
shook his head.
    “It
wasn’t a question.”   He gave a sly
grin.   “Now go.”
    The
young cop swung around the corner again on one knee letting off a series of
shots in the direction of their attacker.   Simultaneously, Tommy took off towards the door closest to their
end.   He could hear Will’s weapon
laying down a steady barrage of hot metal as he barged through the door and out
into the Atlanta night.   He kept
running until he saw what he believed to be Will’s silver Dodge Charger.   Though it was unmarked, he recognized
the similarities between that and other more obvious police units.
    More
muffled shots rang out inside the building.   Tommy wasn’t sure what to do.   He wished he could help the young officer but he was
unarmed.   What if Will