The Templar Reprisals (The Best Thrillers Book 3) James Best (best books to read all time .txt) 📖

you both can be lethally violent when the situation calls for it.”

“Good, you understand,” Baldwin said. “Now answer my question.”

Lewis appeared to think about it. Finally, he shrugged and said, “I’m going against instructions, but I’ll answer as honestly as I can.” He took a deep breath. “You’re correct. We set you up to draw out Ikhwan operatives. We never guessed they would react so fast … or use domestic gangsters. That’s very unlike them. We wanted Ikhwan, not garden-variety thugs. And we assumed that we’d have you under our protection before they moved.” His expression turned earnest. “I apologize.”

“Not good enough,” Evarts said.

“What do you mean?” Lewis asked in apparent surprise.

“We already surmised all that. Tell us something we don’t know.”

“I’ve already gone well beyond my brief. Plus, I gave you the name of the organization. The Ikhwan.”

“Damn, I’m tired of your horseshit,” Evarts said.

“That wasn’t horseshit. The organization calls itself Ikhwan.”

“Of course, they do,” Baldwin said sharply. “Otherwise your machinations wouldn’t work. Your intent is to beguile us into rummaging around the internet investigating the Ikhwan until it kindles the curiosity of the terrorists. They would undoubtedly be alerted by our use of their clandestine moniker.” Now it was her turn to snap her glass onto a side-table. “You’re here to take this charade to the next level. Weaving a web of intrigue that will end in violence … with us as the victims.”

“Wickedly clever, my dear. See, my earlier assessment of you was correct.”

“We aren’t playing,” Evarts said.

“Of course, you will. What alternative do you have? The Ikhwan is coming after you. You have no alternative but to work with us. We have the proper resources to take down the Ikhwan while keeping you safe in a protective cocoon.”

“My wife already told you that we’re not playing by your rules.”

Lewis laughed. “And what, may I ask, are your rules?”

Evarts thought. “Did you ever see the movie Hombre with Paul Newman?”

“Yes, it’s been many years, but I’ve seen it.”

Evarts leaned forward. “My favorite line is when the Richard Boone character finishes his white-flag negotiations, and Hombre says, ‘Hey. I got a question. How are you planning to get back down that hill?’”

Lewis looked perplexed and then ashen as he remembered the scene where Newman started shooting at Boone as he desperately scrambled down the hill.

Chapter 31

“Are you threatening me?” Lewis asked nervously.

Neither Evarts nor Baldwin responded.

Lewis tried to appear relaxed and smiled. “I don’t believe you. You’re an honorable man.”

“My wife isn’t.”

Baldwin removed a pistol from between the cushions and laid it in her lap.

When his eyes lifted from her lap, she said, “Our rules say we defend ourselves … and put extortionists away.”

“We’re not extortionists. Give us a—”

“Running a protection racket is extortion,” Evarts exclaimed.

“We don’t want your money.”

Baldwin moved her hand to grip the pistol but didn’t move it out of her lap. “No, you want something far less consequential to you … our lives!”

Until now, Evarts thought much of Lewis’ projected angst was acting. After his wife’s words, his frightened demeanor appeared more genuine.

“There are people who know I’m here,” Lewis said.

“Great. Introduce us,” Evarts said. “Call them in. They may be persuaded to tell us who you are.”

“You think they’re outside the door?”

Evarts shrugged. “Within a quarter mile. Call them.”

“No.” Lewis scooted forward and set his glass on the coffee table. “In fact, I’ll be leaving. Thank you for your hospit—”

Baldwin had raised her gun to point it mid-chest at Lewis.

“You came here to sucker us,” Evarts said. “You put our lives in jeopardy and show no remorse. Our rules now. At some point this evening, you’ll be put under arrest. The intervening time may be uncomfortable. It up to you. To defend ourselves, we need information.” Evarts paused and cocked his head as he examined Lewis. “Have you really done a deep dive into our background? You seem to know we defeated a militant secret society in years past, but did you discover the drastic steps we took to achieve that victory? Do you know the harm and humiliation inflicted on my wife? What I did to the perpetrators in revenge?”

“Not everything, no.” His fear was palpable. “I’m sure you did what you had to.”

“We did what needed to be done to survive,” Baldwin said.

“Okay, you’ve got me nervous.” He sat back. “Let me explain something. I’ll never tell you about the Templars. I made a solemn oath. Nothing you could do would exceed the punishment I swore to accept for violating that oath. I know the next few hours may be awful, but I’ll never tell you anything about The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon.” He took a large gulp of whiskey to bolster his courage. “Never. Do your damnedest,”

“We will,” Evarts assured Lewis. “Except we don’t want to know about the Templars. We know about secret societies and how they work. They’re compartmentalized and you know little beyond a few immediate colleagues. We want to know about the Ikhwan.” Evarts let that sink in. “You tried to trick us into triggering internet spiders to draw your enemy into the open. We’re not cooperating with that plan. We don’t need to cooperate because you’re going to tell us everything you know about these terrorists.”

Lewis somehow appeared simultaneously relieved and increasingly nervous. Evarts had used the interrogation tactic of framing the initial inquiry in an harmless direction. Evarts had purposely not asked Lewis to betray his oath, only tell him about their enemy.

He shook his head. “I can’t. I might unintentionally reveal something.”

“You can,” Evarts said. “We’re not going to step into your trap, so tell us.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll let me wife shoot you in the thigh. She’s been frightened to death by these attacks and when she came upon a stranger in our hallway, she acted in haste. After we maximize the pain, to interrogate you, I’ll arrest you for breaking and entering.”

“I’m not in a hallway,” Lewis said perplexed.

Evarts jumped up and swept