Free The Lafayette Sword by Eric Giacometti Page B

Scottish Rite, the ninth degree, called the Elu, or Elected Knight, is a vengeance degree—vengeance for Hiram’s death,” Pra gman said.
    Hiram was Freemasonry’s legendary founder and, it was said, the architect of King Solomon ’s temple.
    â€œThe French Rite has four high degrees called orders. The first-order degree, master elect, is a vengeance degree, close to that of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. The focus of this degree is the pursuit of Master Hiram’s assassins in the name of justice. Both Masons and their detractors have worried about how justice is rendered in the vengeance degrees.”
    â€œIs that all?”
    â€œThe authors go on to say that stabbing someone in the heart, as guilty as the person may be, is barbaric and that acting it out in a Masonic ceremony—which is what ninth-degree candidates do—is perhaps inconsistent with the teachings of Freemasonry. Does t hat help?”
    â€œYe s and no.”
    â€œThis wouldn’t have anything to do with the two murders in Paris, would it? The news has go ne viral.”
    â€œI can’t tell you much more, except to say that the bastard claims he’s a high-degree Mason. But I’ve got to go now. Give me a call the next time you’re in Paris. An d thanks.”
    â€œAny time, Antoine.”
    The doorbell rang just as Marca s hung up.
    So, during the passage to that degree, the initiate had to symbolically reenact a knifing. Was it possible that a brother had taken the ritual too much to heart? But why murder two innoce nt people?

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    Present day
    Aurora Source to all Aurora
    Trading price. The market in London is overheating, following reports of a five percent rise in gold transactions over the year. Our source predicts price increases in the next three days. We propose purchasing a value of fifty million dollars, to be divided among Aurora members and their clients, to stabiliz e trading.
    The profit allowance will hover around two percent, or a million dollars. Purchase and sale orders will be separated by six hours to avoid any suspicion of man ipulation.
    Operation Burning Desert. Our Security and Intervention Department has informed us that the agent has arrived in Kuwait to verify the tr ansaction.

32
    Hamadi oil complex, Kuwait
    Present day
    B ehind the wheel of the black SUV, Jack Winthrop left the line of traffic and made a smooth turn onto the road leading to well number fifty-eight. The thin strip of asphalt seemed to go on infinitely across the ochre sand studded with oil rigs.
    Winthrop, a former Marine captain and now the Aurora group’s security specialist, slowed when he reached the rusted carcass of a Soviet tank and turned onto a dirt road. He put his cold soda can in a cup holder and signaled to the man at his side, who was wearing a traditional Bedouin djellaba. The Kuwaiti smiled and pulled a shiny Uzi out of the glove co mpartment.
    Winthrop navigated the SUV over the rocky terrain. On either side of the vehicle, greasy black crusts dating from the Iraqi invasion were heating up under the sun. A flare rose up beyond a hill, and Winthrop slowed to a crawl. In a matter of minutes, he spotted the sheet-metal building.
    Aurora’s Kuwait representative had provided exact directions, and now all Winthrop had to do was follow his instructions, manage the transaction, and, as much as possible, avoid collater al damage.
    He took a final gulp of his soda, enjoying the coolness going down his gullet. He had never regretted his decision to work for the Aurora group after his dishonorable discharge from the Marines. An unfair discharge, as far as he was concerned, but his superiors had wanted to make an example of him. He wasn’t without friends, however, and a retired colonel quickly found work for him. He introduced Winthrop to a Swiss financier who was looking for a security specialist. The ex-Marine did well on his first two missions and earned the