The Coptic Secret Read Online Free PDF Page A

pass. He was discussing it in a hotel dining room."
    The older man's head snapped up. "What else could he deduce from a boarding pass?"
    "The reservations were made under an alias, all contact points untraceable "
    "But Reilly has the assets to ascertain such a trip was made. Such a man could be a danger. If he discovers our ancient relationship with the island, it could lead him to us."
    "We will watch him closely, Grand Master."
    The senior thought for a moment. "And what did he have to do with Weatherston-Wilby?"
    "As far as we can tell, they only knew each other through their charitable works. I regret I do not have more precise answers to your questions."
    The older man gave a chilly smile. "Considering the little time you have had to gather information, you have done well."
    "Our brothers are worldwide and cooperative. What are your wishes?"
    His companion thought for perhaps fifteen seconds. "This man Reilly could be dangerous. See to it."

Chapter Two
    I.
    Excerpt from the London Times:
    Kidnapping Victim Stoned

LONDON—Scotland Yard announced today a grisly discovery next to St. Paul's Cathedral: the body of Sir Eon Weatherston-Wilby, who had been kidnapped the previous evening from the British Museum during a robbery at an affair sponsored by Weatherston-Wilby celebrating his donation of several ancient manuscripts from Egypt.

Police sources who declined to be identified stated the badly bruised body had apparently been thrown from an upper-story window and then subjected to trauma from blunt objects, quite possibly stones found nearby. Police are investigating the significance of a scallop shell placed on the victim's body, possibly by the killers.

An autopsy is under way. Whether the victim survived the fall and was alive at the time of the possible stoning has yet to be determined as has any motive for the kidnapping and murder.

Inspector Dylan Fitzwilliam said, "I doubt the motive was entirely robbery. Since the manuscripts are related to a murder, they would be difficult to sell on the open market"

The inspector did not exclude the possibility the theft was a "contract" job, that is, that the robbers were commissioned by a collector who wished the manuscripts for himself.

The British Museum declined to place a value on the stolen objects.

The abduction of Weatherston-Wilby took place...
    II.
    Delta Flight 1701
    Gatwick-Atlanta
    Lang Reilly reread the article for the third time. He had only seen it because the airline's supply of USA Today had not been delivered prior to the first leg of the Atlanta- London-Atlanta trip the 777 would make that day. For that matter, Lang usually took the foundation's Gulfstream IV to the UK purely as a protest against the Labour government's latest manifestation of wealth envy, a $250 tax on first-class seats.
    Right up there in the league with abolishing foxhunting.
    The remonstration had been impossible this trip. The Gulfstream's annual inspection was in process and the aircraft grounded for at least a week.
    A flight attendant, regulation smile painted across her face, dangled a steaming hot towel in front of him. Without thought, he murmured his thanks and took it.
    Lang spread the hot towel across his face as though preparing for an old-fashioned barbershop shave before dropping it on the wide seat divider.
    He was lost in thought when the other attendant with an identical smile retrieved it.
    Why kill Eon?
    If the texts were the point of the robbery, murder made no sense. If for some reason they wanted Eon dead, why take the books? If Eon were complicit in the theft, the thieves might want to eliminate him, but why would he arrange to steal something he was donating? Unless the robbers feared identification, killing Eon was pointless. Lang examined his memory like a student reviewing a text for a final exam. Had Eon given any evidence of recognition? If so, Lang had missed it.
    No, none of the possible solutions so far was the correct one.
    The only clue was