13th Apostle Read Online Free PDF Page A

sympathetic face. Peterson smiled his gratitude, then opened the door.
    Maluka hesitated. He wanted to frame his next question carefully. He required only one final piece of information.
    â€œA safe journey to you, Mr. Peterson. I assume that you and Professor Ludlow are heading back to London in the next day or two?”
    â€œYes. Tomorrow night. Though I’m not looking forward to the long flight.”
    â€œYes, yes,” Maluka said brusquely and closed the door.
    Even as Peterson made his way to the street, Maluka had already snapped open his cell phone to reserve airline seats for himself and Aijaz on the first morning flight to London.

Chapter 6
    Day Two, late evening
Regent’s Park Tube Station
Camden Town, London
    Professor Arnold Ludlow struggled up the steps, two heavy suitcases in tow. Sweat from the strain dripped into his eyes, and his back hurt like the dickens. A welcome bit of cool air wafted from the street above. He breathed it in, then with a sigh, renewed his climb.
    Sarah would be furious. She had begged him to arrange for a private car from the airport but he had refused. They had not put away enough money in the safe yet, he had protested. If Sabbie should need it…Neither Ludlow nor his wife had allowed themselves to linger on the thought.
    â€œUntil there is a comfortable cushion of funds, the tube will suit me fine,” he had concluded. “Besides, the exercise will do me good.”
    Sarah had kissed him on the bald spot on his head and had given his shoulders a squeeze. Now, she’d be rubbing his back with her infamous Chapman’s Liniment for a week.
    â€œBloody stuff is made for horses,” he would protest.
    â€œThat’s what you get for acting like an ass,” she’d be certain to counter.
    Ludlow smiled.
    He had reached the street and, revived by the cool air, he headed toward Upper Harley Street and the pleasures of home.
    The walk was surprisingly invigorating and his apartment house greeted him like an old friend. Perhaps if his back hadn’t been hurting him so badly, he might have realized something was wrong. Perhaps he might have become alarmed at seeing the apartment windows dark when he knew Sarah would be wide awake and anxious to hear the details of his trip. In any case, he still would have walked unknowingly into their apartment and into the stark terror that awaited him.
    Two strong arms seized his and pulled him into the room, even as he struggled to free the key from the lock. They encircled him, and with one great wrench against his chest, left him breathless and in agony from ribs that splintered and gave way. Ludlow slumped to the floor. The room, suddenly flooded with light, seemed oddly filled with white. Two huge figures towered above him, each in clothes devoid of color and faces devoid of expression.
    Only Sarah brought color to the moment, her face, hands, legs, and nightgown, all covered with the sickening brown-red of blood. One eye was swollen shut, and a red trickle ran from her ear, but she was alive.
    â€œPlease, take what you want. Take it all,” Ludlow pleaded. “Just leave us alone. We’re old. Take whatever you want and go.”
    â€œYou know what we want,” the first intruder said softly.
    Sarah’s sob broke the silence that followed.
    While one tormentor held Ludlow’s head in place so that he would bear witness to the scene that was to follow, the other walked toward his beloved Sarah. The intruder hesitated for a moment, smiled at Ludlow, then kicked the prone woman full force in the side of the head.
    Ludlow heard the crack of her neck as it snapped the life out of her. For a moment, the room was silent, save for a tiny exhale of her last breath.
    â€œNo!” Ludlow shrieked. He was on his feet, and his hands found the face of the executioner. Ludlow held him by his hair as one eye yielded its soft viscosity to his death grip. Ludlow’s screams of rage drowned out