Free Sins of the Titanic (A James Acton Thriller, #13) by J Robert Kennedy

won’t be dying today, Colonel.”
    Astor
and Dodge exchanged glances. “How do you plan to escape?”
    Jones’
smile broadened. “The same way I came aboard.”
    Both men
looked puzzled, then the young man’s jaw dropped. “You came on a ship!”
    “Give
the man a cigar!” He pointed at Dodge with his gun. “Colonel, I’d tell you to
hire this man right now, before he gets away, but alas, it’s too late.”
    Astor put
a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “I would be honored to have this gentlemen
in my employ.” He nodded toward the pocket Jones had stuffed the money into.
“You have enough cash and jewels there to change your life forever. To make a
good life for you and your family. Why not take it?”
    “I am
taking it.”
    Astor
smiled. “I’m not referring to the money, I’m referring to the opportunity. Take
the opportunity to change your life.” He paused, glancing at Jones’ left hand.
“I see you’re not married.”
    Jones
looked at Astor. “Standard operating procedure would be to remove all
identifiable jewelry, so I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions.”
    Astor
smiled. “You have tanned hands, mister, with no tan line on your ring finger.”
    Jones
glanced at his hand and chuckled. “You’re a sharp man, Colonel.”
    “Thank
you, sir. And I’m sharp enough to know you have someone important to you in
your life.”
    Jones
frowned, unsure of how the man could possibly know that.
    He’s
playing for time.
    “You
wonder how I know that.”
    Jones
said nothing.
    “You
work for The Assembly.”
    Jones’
eyebrows popped almost imperceptibly.
    “You
seem surprised.”
    Almost imperceptibly.
    Again he
said nothing.
    “Then
let me enlighten you, sir. The Assembly is an ancient organization, no one
really knows how old as it is very secretive, but let us say at least many
centuries. The members are few, only a dozen, and change only through death or
murder. They are usually succeeded by family members, or when that isn’t
possible, by a unanimously agreed upon new member, welcomed into the fold of
unthinkable wealth and power. These men control the lives of millions, millions
who have no clue they are being controlled. And those millions, good sir,
include you.”
    Jones
still said nothing, his mind soaking up all the forbidden knowledge. He knew
there was big money behind whoever had been hiring him, and their targets were
always political or financial, so they were powerful.
    But he
had, for some reason, always assumed he was working for the United States
government, some sort of top secret spy, working for some even more secretive
agency.
    It had
never occurred to him that he was working for a private group, centuries old,
that was manipulating world events for their own benefit.
    Though
if he were truly honest with himself, he had known he wasn’t really working for
the government. His government wouldn’t kill its own citizens for financial
gain.
    No, he
had always known he was working for bad people.
    Incredibly
powerful, bad people.
    He inhaled
deeply, yet still said nothing.
    “I can
tell from your demeanor, sir, that you knew how dangerous your employers were, though
you didn’t know who they were.” Astor pointed to the safe. “Yet, despite
knowing how dangerous these people are, you took the money and jewels. A man
like you would only do that for one reason.”
    Jones
felt his chest tighten.
    “You are
looking to escape this life.”
    The man
was good. Too good. He seemed to be able to read him like a book, and it was
making him uncomfortable.
    Shoot
him already!
    Water
washed over his feet, the icy Atlantic reminding him of the time constraint
they were all under. He glanced at a clock on the mantle.
    Time
to go.
    He aimed
his weapon at young Mr. Dodge. “Your copy of the papers.”
    Dodge
looked at Astor, who nodded slightly. He reached into his pocket and produced
an envelope, handing it over to Jones. Jones glanced inside then placed it in
his breast