Free TEMPLARS QUEST: LUCEM SANCTAM (THE TEMPLARS QUEST CHRONICLES: A Historical Mystery Book 3) by Thomas H. Ward

of a long story.” Maggie thought for a moment. “I’m a dog trainer so I decided to join the Army. I was selected to join the Special Ops group because of Jack and Captain Baldwin. They needed some super dogs and that’s what I train.”
    “And you’re also Jack’s personal bodyguard. How did that happen?”
    I took Maggie off the hook by telling him, “Maggie is one tough cookie. Don’t let her looks fool you. She has terminated more men in the last year than anyone I know.”
    The Chief nodded in approval and asked, “How many terrorists did you say you’re following?”
    Baldwin answered, “Originally there were twenty-six of them. We terminated eleven of them, so fifteen are still on the loose. We’ll terminate all of them sooner or later.”
    “Let’s hope it’s sooner.” Siebert raised his glass. We raised ours and Maggie said, “Here’s to sooner.”
    After finishing up dinner, the Chief said, “I’m satisfied our money is being well spent helping you men out.”
    We all shook hands and I said, “Thank you for your support, Chief. We’ll be in touch.” He gave Maggie a hug.
    “Thank you, gentlemen. God Bless you and good hunting. Anything you need let Officer Stevens know.”
    “Roger that, Chief,” Baldwin said. “See you tomorrow, Stevens.”
    After bidding them a goodnight, we proceeded to our rooms. Baldwin said, “Goodnight, I’m gonna watch a movie.”
    Maggie, who was sleeping in the same room with Adam and I, proceeded to our room with me. She stopped me from opening the door by touching my arm. We were standing in the hallway, outside our room. Maggie said, “That went … pretty well.” Maggie was slurring her words from too many drinks.
    “Yep, it sure did,” I said.
    Maggie grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me in towards her, kissing me hard on the lips. “I love you, Jack Gunn.”
    “I know, and I love you, Maggie. But we can never be lovers.”
    “Damn you anyhow. You’re so righteous, so pure. I know you want me, so do something about it.”
    “Maggie, you’re drunk. I admit that I want you. Any man would, but then we wouldn’t be friends anymore. I value your friendship and loyalty. Let’s go to sleep, it’s been a long day.” Maggie didn’t say another word as I opened the door, but she did give me a friendly punch in the arm.       
    As we entered the room, Adam excitedly said, “I found out some important stuff.” I noticed the empty plate and the dogs gnawing on a steak bone. “Oh, thanks for the steak, it was great. I shared it with the dogs.”
    “What did you find out?” I asked, as I rubbed his head messing up his hair.
    Adam turned on the computer pad. “I found out that the Havasupai and Hualapai have found a lot of caves in the canyon. They stated that some of the naturally made caves were modified by man. Someone, it doesn’t say who, interviewed the Indians who said many of the caves had strange markings or writing on them.”
    “I think we need to talk to these people.”
    “I agree. They might be able to help us,” Maggie said, after she flopped on the bed.
    “Maybe, but these people don’t like talking about the caves. They won’t go in the caves because they considered them off limits, due to their beliefs,” Adam commented.
    “So you’re telling me that the Indians have never gone into any of the caves,” I said.
    “That’s what it says. But maybe some were curious and did go in the caves.”
    I nodded in agreement. “Yeah, you bet they did. Probably the Chiefs and Medicine men went inside the caves to try and gain knowledge for themselves. They wanted to be more powerful than the common person. Knowledge is power, so they sought to gain any type of information that would give them an edge.”
    “Maybe the Indians took the treasure. Maybe they took the Ark,” Maggie said.
    Adam replied, “Maybe, but I doubt it. They would believe it was the property of the Gods. I don’t think they would touch it and I