Free American Heroes Series - 01 - Resurrection by Kathryn Le Veque Page A

looking around. “To tell you the truth, I’m not really sure,” she admitted. “I just saw three of them this morning when they briefed our security people. The rest, as I understand it, are mingling with the crowd; plus, there are four of them walking the property perimeter with dogs. I saw them out in the parking lot this morning.”
    “All right,” Anne-Michelle cast a lingering gaze at the televangelist. “I wonder if I should mention that woman to Milt?”
    Cydney shook her head. “No, don’t,” she said. “He’ll come racing up here and create a big scene. Just leave it alone. She won’t be here too much longer.”
    With a grin, Anne-Michelle left the gallery to report her findings.  Stu grumbled something undeniably unkind and went about his business, checking on his people throughout the gallery and heading for the ticket takers at the entrance. Cydney continued to stand there, observing the crowd and finding a few familiar faces in regular museum patrons, when a figure was suddenly beside her. Startled, she found herself looking into a Dali-like canvas of black mascara and blue eye shadow.
    “Excuse me,” Coral Chastity Aames was standing next to her. “Do you work here?”
    Cydney tried not to stare at the garish makeup. “Yes, I do.”
    “What do you do?”
    “I’m the Director of Operations. My name is Cydney Hetherington. How can I help you?”
    “Miss Hetherington,” Coral extended a hand with two inch long red nails. “My name is Coral Chastity Aames. I’m an evangelist from Costa Mesa.”
    Cydney took the woman’s hand and shook it. “I know who you are,” she said. “It was nice of you to come.”
    Coral’s big blue eyes welled with tears again. “I would not have missed this for the world,” she sniffed. “To think that the robe in that case was actually the robe worn by Christ during his trial before Pilate is simply overwhelming. I am overcome with joy and glory.”
    Cydney smiled weakly. “Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
    Coral grasped Cydney’s wrist, raking her with the red nails. “But it’s more than enjoyment. It’s… it’s everything a Christian prays for; a great holy relic to support our faith.  Did you have the opportunity to touch it, Miss Hetherington?”
    Cydney shook her head, discreetly removing her wrist from the woman’s grip. “No, I didn’t,” she answered. “It came to us sealed up in the box. We’re not allowed to open it.”
    Coral’s raccoon-eyed gaze moved to the case several dozen feet away. “You’re not allowed to open it at all?”
    “I’m afraid not. The Bristol Museum was quite specific. They’re afraid that exposure to the air and pollutants will damage it.”
    Coral gazed at the acrylic case as if seeing something that the rest of them couldn’t see; she was staring at it with unnatural intensity. But Cydney didn’t notice the odd gleam or the way her eyelid twitched with tension. Everything about the woman was odd so one more bizarre ingredient didn’t make a difference. Finally, the woman looked back to Cydney and dabbed at her wet eyes.
    “How unfortunate,” she said quietly. “I was hoping… well, I was hoping that you would allow me to inspect it outside of the case.”
    It was a bold request, something that rubbed Cydney the wrong way. She didn’t like pushy people and she could tell, just by that statement, that Coral Chastity Aames expected special treatment from the rest of the adoring masses.
    “No one can touch it,” she repeated. “But we’re glad you were able to come and see it on opening day.  We’ve had quite a lot of buzz about it.”
    Coral stared at Cydney a moment before breaking into a plastic-looking smile. “You’re sure I can’t touch it?”
    “Very sure.”
    “Then I thank you, Miss Hetherington,” she said politely. “I appreciate your time.”
    Cydney merely nodded and the woman headed off towards the entrance.  Cydney watched her until she reached the door before